Stream It Or Skip It: ‘Death By Magic’ on Netflix, A Part-Travel, Part-Magic Show That Will Leave You Breathless

Netflix’s latest offering in the magic genre is Death by Magic, a series hosted by British magician Drummond Money-Coutts, aka DMC, where he attempts to perform his version of an illusion similar to those that have killed previous magicians. By traveling around the world and meeting and impressing tons of human beings along the way, he puts his skills to the ultimate test in a show that manages to make every moment exciting. Each episode is dedicated to the magic he performs in a particular city; for this review I’ve screened episode 3 of the series (there are 8 episodes total), based in Detroit.

Death By Magic: STREAM IT OR SKIP IT?

Opening Shot: The show opens on DMC in a fancy gray suit with ominous music as the following disclaimers flash across the screen, warning:

“Everything you’re about to see is real. All reactions are genuine.”

“This show contains dangerous stunts. Do not attempt to duplicate them.”

Over clips of people cutting large cords, DMC can be heard saying, “Today the power of life and death lies in your hands.” Is that intense enough for you yet?

The Gist: DMC spends the first two-thirds of the episode showing off increasingly impressive tricks that only grow in awe. Some are as “simple” as turning a one dollar bill into a 100 dollar bill, the kind of magic you could see from a typical magician, leading up to the episode’s big stunt at the end, which proves to be much less typical and much more intense. These are the tricks inspired by the magicians before him, ones that have not always ended in magic, but rather in tragedy.

Our Take: If you liked Magic for Humans, which also landed on Netflix earlier this year, Death By Magic is like that show’s older, more dangerous brother. You’ll still do the same gasps and laughs along with the innocent people involved, but this one certainly takes it up a notch in terms of risk.

As I watched the magic, again, ranging from basic to brilliant, each move was still surprising, thrilling, and highly enjoyable. Plus, DMC does an excellent job incorporating key elements of each location he visits into the episodes in a way that intertwines the soul of the city with the crazy, daring activities he’s attempting. You’ll find yourself tense and holding your breath, laughing with relief, and unable to blink so you don’t miss a second of what’s happening on screen.

Sex and Skin: None of that here but the tricks he pulls off are much more impressive than most nakedness anyway.

Parting Shot: You can watch each of these episodes as a standalone, so it’s not a cliffhanger at the end of each episode that will keep you watching, it’s simply due to how enjoyable each continues to be. The episode ends by showing the big illusion from different, somehow even more dramatic angles, serving as a recap of the incredible moments we just witnessed, while the people involved try to make sense of it all.

Sleeper Star: The reactions are always key, so the children he teaches to blow out a candle with their punches, and the guy he gives a pair of Nikes to are incredibly fun to watch. But DMC is THE star here. He’s serious because the stunts are, but that’s not to say he doesn’t have any fun or smiles or a sense of humor hiding inside that suit. He sets the intense tone for the series that only makes the payoffs that much more rewarding. He’s a fascinating subject, host, and master all in one.

Most Pilot-y Line: Before he choses the group that will participate in the biggest number of the episode, he tells them, “It is imperative that I can mentally connect with each of my 12 jurors, the stakes of my stunt are far too deadly for error.” It’s a little bit dramatic, but so is the risk of getting crushed by a car.

Our Call: Stream It! Whether you like or LOVE magic, it’s impossible not to get hooked on this series.

Where to stream Death by Magic