Boo To You

Theres a video thats been hanging around on the internet for the last few years and it popped up on my Facebook feed not long ago. I hadnt seen it before, and its intriguing because it subverts expectations.

Take a look.

The video is only 17 seconds, but its more effective than many 120-minute horror films. Why?

Because even though theres no dialogue, there is a moment that is pure misdirectionalmost exactly what magicians do when constructing an illusion. The first time you watch it, its almost too obvious that the guy under the sheet walks into the table, looks down, then continues around itbut that moment is what makes you think theres a person under the sheet. Think about it. If Mr. Ghost had made a genuine mistake, they simply would have shot the video a second time without him accidentally bumping into the table. But if he didnt bump the table, you wouldnt assume it was some yutz under a sheet.

Now you want to know how its done. Could it be CGI? No, because it looks like someone made this for about 10 cents. Then what is it? A magic trick that depends upon a secret that is 150 years old. But since its not presented as an illusion by a magician, it has fooled everyone. And thats its best secret.