Houdini

:

Season 1
User Score
7.2

Generally favorable reviews- based on 31 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 19 out of 31
  2. Mixed: 11 out of 31
  3. Negative: 1 out of 31
Watch Now

Where To Watch

Buy on

Review this tv show

  1. Your Score
    0 out of 10
    Rate this:
    • 10
    • 9
    • 8
    • 7
    • 6
    • 5
    • 4
    • 3
    • 2
    • 1
    • 0
    • 0
  1. Submit
  2. Check Spelling

User Reviews

view
per page
  1. iheartmoviess
    Sep 1, 2014
    5
    Oscar winner Adrien Brody does his best with this dreary look at who and what motivated illusionist Harry Houdini, but that isn't enough to propel the mini serie's mediocre writing and overall structure. 'Houdini' feels like a History Channel special on magic tricks rather than a biopic with it's overused fast paced cuts and cheesy sound effects. Although the one thing used effectively toOscar winner Adrien Brody does his best with this dreary look at who and what motivated illusionist Harry Houdini, but that isn't enough to propel the mini serie's mediocre writing and overall structure. 'Houdini' feels like a History Channel special on magic tricks rather than a biopic with it's overused fast paced cuts and cheesy sound effects. Although the one thing used effectively to draw our attention throughout the series is the spectacle of Houdini's genius.… Expand
  2. BogKid
    Sep 2, 2014
    5
    Well this is a weird one. The writing is generally awful. Certainly some of the most stilted dialog heard on TV. The acting is strange. Even Adrian Brody, whom we know is a more-than-capable actor, tends to act like he is appearing in a comic strip. I think that that is my overall reaction to the show. It's actually interesting. My wife and I will watch it to the end (first halfWell this is a weird one. The writing is generally awful. Certainly some of the most stilted dialog heard on TV. The acting is strange. Even Adrian Brody, whom we know is a more-than-capable actor, tends to act like he is appearing in a comic strip. I think that that is my overall reaction to the show. It's actually interesting. My wife and I will watch it to the end (first half oily seen so far). BUT, it is essentially a comic strip. Is it planned to be that way. I don't see why it should be so. Is it an accident.The writing is so bad that maybe the only thing missing is the close-captioning appearing in balloons over the characters' heads.… Expand

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
51

Mixed or average reviews - based on 16 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 4 out of 16
  2. Mixed: 10 out of 16
  3. Negative: 2 out of 16
  1. Chicago Sun-Times
    Reviewed by: Lori Rackl
    Sep 17, 2014
    50
    If only Houdini could have waved a wand and made half of this too-long miniseries disappear.
    Read full review
  2. The Oregonian
    Reviewed by: Kristi Turnquist
    Sep 2, 2014
    40
    Instead of bringing us closer to what it felt like to be the great Harry Houdini, we instead hear Brody adopt a tough-guy tone as he rattles off clichés that sound like anachronistic film noir parodies.
    Read full review
  3. St. Louis Post-Dispatch
    Reviewed by: Gail Pennington
    Sep 2, 2014
    50
    Adrien Brody is impressive as Houdini in the History Channel's two-night biography, and many of his stunts are re-created (and explained) in fascinating detail. But the miniseries, a co-production with Hungary, Houdini's home country, is too slow and too-often hokey to rate a rave.
    Read full review
See all critic reviews »