Is The Kidnapping of a Wizard Worth Watching? Honest Movie Review & Audience Verdict (1989)

📖 The Core Premise

With the release of The Kidnapping of a Wizard (1989), audiences are invited back into the world of History, Science Fiction. At its heart, the film explores complex themes wrapped in a compelling storyline. As the plot unfolds, we see characters navigating a world where stakes are high. "A young post-graduate from Minsk Anna Mazurkevich comes to her native village, where she hasnt been for 12 years, to stay in her grannys house. Here, in peace and quiet, she is intended to write a thesis. But suddenly two strangers come and claim that yesterday in Minsk the houses owner let out to them for two weeks, and to convince her they switch on TV-set, where Annas mother confirm their words and asks her to stay for a while with their neighbor ankle Gena. All this looks very strange because not very clear how they managed to organize live broadcast. Then absolutely inexplicable things start to happen. The strangers say that they have to go to the XVIII century to find a genius, living at that moment right here, and take him to the future."

🎬 Performance & Direction

A movie's success often hinges on its execution. Unfortunately, Yuliya Aug feels underutilized in a role that lacks depth. The direction aims to balance pacing with character development, a hallmark of good History. While there are moments of brilliance, the pacing occasionally dips.

🤔 Why You Should Watch (or Skip)

Is The Kidnapping of a Wizard worth your time? If you appreciate History, Science Fiction films that take risks, this is likely a decent one-time watch. However, if you are looking for a flawless masterpiece, you might find some plot points predictable.

🏆 Final Verdict

Ultimately, The Kidnapping of a Wizard misses the mark on several fronts. With a runtime of 105 minutes, it asks for a significant time investment, but for the right audience, it pays off.

Our recommendation: Skip It.