Headscratchers / Devil Doll

• So you have vast and fearsome powers over the human mind. You're capable of hypnotizing people to do your will with a mere glance, forcing them to live their darkest nightmares, re-writing their personalities, or even taking their very souls from their bodies — and you use these powers to perform in a stage show? One could argue that Vorelli gets off on being a Devil in Plain Sight and that it's not about material gain, except that the entire movie is about him using his power to get his hands on Marianne's money. Sure that's something, but he's still settling for grand theft when power like this could easily let him rule his own country if not the entire world. Even when he's performing overtly criminal acts he still aims low.
  • Then again, Vorelli might not have the administrative skills or the interest in rulership (Vorelli may be able to transfer souls but can he balance a nation's economy?), plus it would make him a target. If word got out that a man could control anyone's mind and transfer their souls to inanimate objects, everyone would either be out to either kill him or force him to serve their interests. CIA would want him, so would the KGB, and either would kill him to keep out of the other one's hands. Organized crime figures would be very interested in hiring Vorelli, and wouldn't take no for an answer. And absolutely no one would feel safe. With hypnotism, Vorelli can just take what he desires (money, sex) without the hassle or the responsibility, and he has Hugo to do his dirty work. To quote Lord of Illusions "Illusionists get Vegas contracts. Wizards get burned at the stake".