Whether taken as an intellectual horror film, a symbolic self-portrait, or a Christ parable, The Magician is one of Ingmar Bergman's most compelling films. “From its haunting opening scene where we follow a touring magician's troupe through a dark, shadowy forest, The Magician immerses us in a spellbinding atmosphere. This tale of the supernatural is set in the 19th century, and has the gothic mood of a horror film. Max von Sydow is Vogler, a magician who claims supernatural powers. His troupe spends a night at the mansion of the liberal councillor Egermann, where Vergerus (Gunnar Bjornstrand), a doctor, attempts to expose Vogler as a fraud. The conflict between Vogler and Vergerus echoes many Bergman themes: art vs. science, irrational vs. rational, belief vs. non-belief... The Magician is a nocturnal film. In one nightmarish scene, a haunted attic comes to life... During this mysterious night, the forces of love also come to life... The power of this provocative film, which Fellini has called one of his favorite movies, can be felt when a dying character in The Magician says, ‘Step by step we go into the dark. Motion is the only truth.'” -- Film Folio