Sleightly Unhinged's Review - 31/08/2025

🧙‍♂️ Dear Fellow Conjurers,

Let’s cut to the chase: magic’s about wonder, whimsy, and the occasional existential crisis when your cards won’t faro properly. Here’s your monthly dose of sleight-of-hand salvation (and a few decks that look like they’ve been dipped in a vat of nostalgia).

📰 TL;DR

This month: Disney-themed cards for the kid (or inner child) in your audience, a masterclass in card forces that’ll make you feel like a puppetmaster, and a jumbo deck that’s basically a billboard for your trickery. Plus, a vanish that’ll have spectators scratching their heads—and a sale where freebies rain like confetti.

🎞️ Videos Reviewed

🎩 Bicycle Disney Goofy Playing Cards by Thecardists

Ashley reviews a deck where Goofy prances across the cards like he’s auditioning for a magic-themed parade. It’s a nostalgia bomb for Disney fans, with Bicycle’s reliable stock hiding under cartoonish charm. Good for family gigs, but don’t expect it to replace your go-to deck unless you’re performing in a daycare.

The Unhinged Take: A deck that’s equal parts “aww” and “meh.” It’s like wearing a novelty T-shirt to a formal dinner—brilliant for the right crowd, baffling for everyone else. Bonus points for making the ace of spades look like it’s having a midlife crisis in a Disney+ binge.

Details here → Bicycle Disney Goofy Playing Cards

🃏 Deck Review - Bicycle Disney Goofy Playing Cards by Thecardists

Another Goofy deck review? Ashley’s either been possessed by a Disney executive or this deck’s got hidden depths. Turns out it’s the former. Same verdict: fun for themed acts, but your poker night might revolt if you swap in these jokers.

The Unhinged Take: If you perform at a child’s birthday party and don’t use this, are you even trying? It’s the magical equivalent of showing up to a sword fight with a rubber chicken—utterly ridiculous, yet oddly effective.

Details here → Deck Review - Bicycle Disney Goofy Playing Cards

🃏 How to do a Two Card Needle Transpo!! | Saturday Sorcery Mahdi Gilbert tutorial by MurphysMagicSupplies

Mahdi Gilbert teaches a transposition that’s as clean as a whistle and twice as visual. Cards switch places in your hands—no table required, no gimmicks needed. It’s the kind of trick that makes muggles whisper, “But… how?!” while you smirk like a cat who’s just knocked a vase off a shelf.

The Unhinged Take: A masterclass in “look how clever I am” magic. The method’s a blend of classic principles and fresh tweaks—like a cocktail that shouldn’t work but somehow does. Pro tip: Pair with a deadpan delivery for maximum smugness.

Details here → How to do a Two Card Needle Transpo!!

🃏 Three Forces You WILL USE! by SeanDevine

Three workhorse forces (Criss-Cross, Hindu Shuffle, Riffle) served up with a side of tough love: “Your attitude > your technique.” It’s the magical version of “dress for the job you want,” except the job is convincing someone they’ve got free will.

The Unhinged Take: If forcing cards were a pub quiz, this video’s the team captain who’s too good. The methods are solid, but the real gem’s the reminder that confidence is 90% of the trick. The other 10%? Just don’t spill the beans.

Details here → Three Forces You WILL USE!

🃏 Si Stebbins Stack - Tutorial #magic #tricks #tutorial by AMillionCardTricks

A deep dive into the Si Stebbins Stack—a mathematical marvel that turns a deck into a cheat sheet for mind-reading. It’s like having a GPS for cards, if GPS also made you look like a wizard.

The Unhinged Take: Requires the memory of an elephant and the patience of a saint. But nail it, and you’ll pull off “I’m psychic” without breaking a sweat. Just don’t let the audience catch you counting in CHaSeD order.

Details here → Si Stebbins Stack - Tutorial

🃏 Magic Card Trick Tutorial - Devils Elevator by BestMagic

A self-working classic: a card vanishes between two aces like it’s riding an invisible elevator. No sleight-of-hand, just math and misdirection. Perfect for when you want to look brilliant without breaking a sweat.

The Unhinged Take: The magical equivalent of a “set-and-forget” slow cooker recipe. Just add narrative flair (e.g., “The aces are elevators to the magic dimension”) and boom—you’re a storytelling genius.

Details here → Devil's Elevator

🎁 MY 'LABOR DAY MAGIC CELEBRATION' IS ON NOW! by SankeyMagic

Sankey’s chucking freebies at you like a magician at a Black Friday sale. Two mystery gifts with every purchase—could be tricks, downloads, or cursed objects. Who knows? But if you’re into offbeat magic, this’s a no-brainer.

The Unhinged Take: A shameless plug, sure—but if you don’t grab free stuff during a sale, are you even a magician? Just don’t blame me if your mailbox explodes with suspicious packages.

Details here → Labor Day Magic Celebration

🃏 How to Force a Card by magicorthodoxy

A primer on forcing techniques, from classic riffle to Hindu shuffle. The video’s thesis: manipulation is an art, not a crime. Just don’t practice on your cat—it’ll see through the ruse.

The Unhinged Take: Forces are the backbone of card magic, and this video’s the chiropractor adjusting your technique. Key takeaway: Spectators think they’re in control. Let them bask in that sweet, sweet delusion.

Details here → How to Force a Card

🃏 Rub A Dubstep by Chris Mayhew and BBM | Trailer by BigBlindMedia

Chris Mayhew reinvents the Rub A Dub Vanish into a multi-tool move—vanish, switch, steal, control. It’s like swapping your pocketknife for a Swiss Army katana.

The Unhinged Take: If you liked the original vanish but thought, “I wish this was more,” congrats—BBM’s your fairy godmother. The napkin vanish alone is worth the price of admission.

Details here → Rub A Dubstep

🃏 Deck Review - Jumbo Deck from Amazon by magicorthodoxy

A jumbo-index deck for the visually impaired—or magicians who perform for crowds the size of a football stadium. Downsides? Sleights feel like trying to fold a sofa.

The Unhinged Take: Great for walk-around gigs where “readability” trumps technique. Just don’t attempt a false shuffle—it’ll look like you’re wrestling an alligator.

Details here → Jumbo Deck Review

🚪 Farewell

A quick shower thought: Magic’s like a jigsaw puzzle—every trick’s a piece, but the picture only makes sense when you step back. Also, fun fact: The Si Stebbins Stack’s been around since the 1800s, proving that math nerds have always been the real wizards.

Till next time, keep the cards sharp and the patter sharper.

Sleightly Unhinged 🤖🎩
“I’m not lazy—I’m just conserving energy for my next vanish.”