Reviewed · LAS VEGAS
Paranormal – The Mindreading Magic Show at Horseshoe Las Vegas
Frederic Da Silva’s Paranormal is built around one delicious question: is he reading minds, guiding choices, or using very clever magic? You may watch him identify something hidden in a pocket, reveal a secretly chosen number, or name a person someone is thinking about. The small theater keeps the action close, and audience participation is a major part of the show.
I like the intimate room, where you can follow Da Silva’s expressions and reactions instead of watching a distant figure on a giant stage. I also like the 4 pm start, which fits neatly before dinner or a flight home. The main caution is that the show depends on audience participation, so anyone hoping to sit quietly in the dark may feel a little exposed.
Key points to know before you book

- Frederic Da Silva leads the show: The international mentalist combines mind reading, hypnosis, comedy, and illusion.
- The theater is fairly small: With roughly 300 seats, even standard seating can give you a clear sense of the action.
- You get several seating choices: Four categories let you match the ticket to your budget.
- The 4 pm performance is useful planning: It leaves time for dinner, another show, or an evening flight.
- Expect audience involvement: Volunteers and spontaneous participation are central to the entertainment.
- Reserve ahead: The theater can sell out, and the ticket is non-refundable after purchase.
What Paranormal is really about

This is not a traditional stage magic show built around large props, dancers, or elaborate scenery. The main equipment is Da Silva himself, a willing audience, and a steady stream of choices that seem too private or too random to predict.
The program mixes mentalism with hypnosis, comedy, and emotional moments. One routine may ask someone to imagine a time on a watch. Another may involve a word chosen from a random novel. A different segment may reveal the name of a person in someone’s thoughts.
That variety helps keep the pace moving. You are not watching the same card trick repeated with different volunteers. The central question changes from prediction to suggestion to apparent mind reading.
I also like that the show leaves room for humor. The comedy is not just filler between tricks. It helps Da Silva build a connection with the room, especially when a participant reacts in an unexpected way.
Some of the strongest moments appear to come when the audience is unsure what kind of act it is seeing. A person may begin the show skeptical, then end up on stage with a prediction that seems to match a number or thought precisely. You are free to decide that it is psychology, stagecraft, suggestion, or something stranger. The show does not require you to settle the matter.
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Inside the Horseshoe Las Vegas theater

The venue is one of the experience’s biggest advantages. The theater is described as holding around 300 people, which gives Paranormal a more personal feel than many major Las Vegas productions.
That size matters for mentalism. You want to see a participant’s face, hear a quick exchange, and notice how Da Silva handles hesitation. In a huge auditorium, those small details can disappear. Here, the performance is designed to feel closer to the room.
The room is not completely free from practical theater concerns. Seating categories differ, and the exact value of an upgrade depends on how much you care about being closer to the stage. I would compare the four available options before booking rather than assume the most expensive ticket is necessary.
The in-house bar sells drinks, but beverages are not included in the ticket. That gives you an easy option before the show or during the visit, though you should add the cost to your evening budget.
The theater is inside Horseshoe Las Vegas, so you will also be entering a casino property. Allow a little extra time to find the theater and reach your seat. The show starts at 4 pm, and arriving early is sensible if you want to buy a drink, use the facilities, and get settled without rushing.
The 85-minute afternoon schedule
The total visit lasts about 1 hour and 25 minutes. The performance itself is listed at roughly 1 hour and 15 minutes, with about 10 minutes associated with the Horseshoe casino portion of the visit.
That makes the show easy to fit into a Las Vegas day. You can use the 4 pm performance as a break between daytime sightseeing and dinner. It also works well before an evening reservation or a late flight, although I would not schedule anything with a tight connection immediately afterward.
The timing has earned particular praise from people who used it before dinner or a red-eye flight. I agree that 4 pm is a smart slot. You get a full show while your energy is still decent, then have the rest of the evening free.
Do not treat the advertised duration as an exact stopwatch promise. Live shows can vary slightly depending on audience interaction. If you need to be somewhere immediately after the performance, leave a cushion.
The predictions and audience participation

Da Silva’s act depends on details that appear personal, hidden, or freely chosen. The examples provided include predicting what someone has in a pocket, stopping a watch at a privately imagined time, identifying a word selected from a random book, and naming a person someone is thinking about.
These routines work because the choice appears to belong entirely to the participant. The entertainment comes from watching that private thought become public, usually in a way that seems impossible at first glance.
Participation is not a minor extra. It shapes the show. If you want the best chance of enjoying the experience, arrive ready for the possibility of being asked to respond, make a choice, or come on stage. That does not mean you must volunteer, but it helps to know that the room is part of the act.
The audience interaction also gives each performance a slightly different character. Da Silva has to respond to real people rather than simply perform a fixed sequence. That can produce funny moments, surprises, and a few unpredictable pauses.
If you are highly skeptical, that is fine. In fact, skepticism may make the show more enjoyable. You can watch for verbal cues, timing, misdirection, and the ways people make decisions. If you prefer to accept the mystery, you can simply enjoy the shock of the reveal.
One routine described by an attendee involved someone seeing English as Portuguese, which became a comic moment. That detail gives you a sense of the show’s tone: mental feats are mixed with playful situations rather than presented as solemn supernatural claims.
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Why the intimate format helps
A close setting is especially useful for this type of entertainment. You can watch Da Silva’s body language and the participant’s reaction at the same time. The show feels less like a distant spectacle and more like a conversation that keeps taking strange turns.
That does not mean every seat has the same view. Four seating categories are offered, and the exact experience will depend on where you sit. Still, the relatively compact theater should make the performance easier to follow than a large production with a faraway stage.
The small room also helps explain why booking in advance matters. The venue is reported to hold about 300 seats, and a performance can sell out. At $37.50 per person, reserving ahead is a modest way to protect a planned evening, especially if Paranormal is the main reason you are visiting Horseshoe.
The ticket price is good value if you enjoy live comedy, magic, or unusual audience experiences. You are paying for a full performance rather than a brief casino-floor attraction. The price is less compelling if you dislike being addressed directly or have no interest in figuring out how mentalism works.
Is $37.50 a fair Las Vegas price?

At $37.50 per person, Paranormal sits at the affordable end of Las Vegas entertainment. A couple can attend for $75 before drinks, parking, or valet fees, which makes it easier to add the show to a larger evening plan.
The value comes from the length and the format. You get about 85 minutes at the property, with a 75-minute performance that combines several types of entertainment. There is enough variety to make the ticket feel like a complete activity rather than a quick trick demonstration.
The four seating choices are useful for different budgets. I would pay more only if the better location is important to you. Since the room is relatively small, a lower-priced category may still provide a satisfactory view, but the most engaged audience members may prefer to move closer.
Remember that drinks, parking, and valet service cost extra. If you are driving, include those charges when comparing the total price with other Las Vegas shows. If you are already staying nearby or using public transportation, the ticket becomes an even simpler purchase.
The show also offers a free meet and greet after the performance, according to the experience details shared by attendees. Autographs and an additional one-on-one mind-reading moment may be available. Treat that as a pleasant extra rather than the main reason to book, since the core ticket is for the stage show.
Who should choose this show
I would recommend Paranormal to you if you enjoy:
- Mentalism and prediction acts
- Comedy mixed with magic
- Shows where the audience affects what happens
- Shorter afternoon entertainment
- A theater experience that feels personal rather than enormous
- Trying something different from a singing, dancing, or acrobatic production
It is also a good pick for couples, families, and friends who like discussing how a trick might have worked afterward. The show gives you plenty to talk about on the way to dinner.
Families should use their judgment based on the ages and interests of their children. The supplied information says most people can participate, but it does not give a specific minimum age. Children who enjoy puzzles, magic, and being part of a crowd may have a good time. A child who strongly dislikes public attention may prefer to watch from the seat.
I would be more cautious if you want complete control over your evening. The show’s appeal comes from its interaction, and the performer may invite people into the action. You can enjoy the program without volunteering, but audience participation remains part of its identity.
Practical planning at Horseshoe

The meeting time is 4 pm at Horseshoe Las Vegas. There is no hotel pickup or drop-off, so you need to make your own way to the property. The location is near public transportation, which gives you an alternative to driving and paying for parking or valet service.
Bring your mobile ticket and keep it easy to access. The ticket includes the selected show category plus taxes, fees, and handling charges, so there should be no separate ticket charge at the venue.
Confirmation is sent within 48 hours of booking, subject to availability. Because the experience can sell out and the cancellation policy is strict, I would not wait until the last moment if the show is central to your schedule.
The ticket cannot be refunded or changed for any reason after purchase. The stated policy also says the experience requires good weather. If the operator cancels because of poor weather, you will be offered another date or a full refund. For an indoor performance, that weather condition may seem unusual, so it is worth knowing before you commit.
What the strongest praise gets right
The most consistent praise centers on Da Silva’s showmanship, the amount of audience participation, and the way the material keeps people guessing. Many of the strongest reactions describe the show as mind-bending, funny, and difficult to explain.
That combination is important. If the act were only a series of impossible predictions, it could become repetitive. The humor and personal connection give the program warmth, while the varied routines keep the mystery moving.
Da Silva’s personal story and message of love also form part of the performance. The tone is not only about proving a supernatural claim. There are emotional and inspirational notes among the comedy and mental feats.
The show has also earned repeat attendance, which is notable for a performance based on surprise. Some people return because the fun is not limited to knowing the mechanics. The pleasure comes from seeing how a new participant reacts and how Da Silva shapes the moment.
One minor concern is front-of-house service. At least one attendee found the ushers rude. That is separate from Da Silva’s performance, but it is a reminder that a strong stage act does not guarantee a perfect theater experience from the moment you arrive.
My call: book it if you want a close-up mystery show
I would book Paranormal if you want an affordable Las Vegas show with a 4 pm start, plenty of audience involvement, and a performer who blends mentalism with comedy and hypnosis.
Choose it over a larger production if you prefer seeing expressions, hearing quick exchanges, and wondering how a prediction was made. Choose a higher seating category if being close matters to you, or a lower category if you mainly want the full show at a reasonable price.
Skip it if you dislike public participation, want a purely visual spectacle, or need a ticket that can be changed later. For everyone else, $37.50 buys a lively 75-minute performance in a compact room, with enough strange predictions to keep the conversation going long after you leave Horseshoe.
FAQ
Where does Paranormal take place?
The show takes place at Horseshoe Las Vegas in Las Vegas, USA.
What time does the show start?
The listed start time is 4 pm.
How long does the experience last?
The total experience lasts approximately 1 hour and 25 minutes. The performance itself is about 1 hour and 15 minutes, followed by about 10 minutes connected with the Horseshoe casino stop.
How much does admission cost?
The listed price is $37.50 per person. Four seating options are available, and the selected category is chosen when you book.
Are drinks included?
No. Drinks are available for purchase at the in-house bar, but beverages are not included in the ticket price.
Can I cancel or change my ticket?
No. The experience is non-refundable and cannot be changed for any reason. If the operator cancels because of poor weather, you will be offered a different date or a full refund.
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