Lord of Illusions (1995) User Reviews

Still Great in 2020

[claudio_carvalho · 7/10 · 20 July 2020]

In 1982, a group led by a man called Swann breaks in a cult in the Mojave Desert to rescue a teenager from the evil leader Nix the Puritan. Thirteen years later, New York private detective Harry D'Amour (Scott Bakula) is assigned to investigate a embezzler that is spending money in Los Angeles and he stumbles upon the fortune teller Quaid (Joseph Latimore) that was tortured and murdered by two men. Soon he is hired by Dorothea Swann (Famke Janssen), the wife of the famous illusionist Philip Swann (Kevin J. O'Connor), to investigate the murder of Quaid. She invites D'Amour to go with her to a show of magic of her husband. When Swann is killed on stage during his act of illusion, D'Amour meets other illusionists in the Magic Castle where he learns that magic does exist in the beginning of his weird journey to the evil world of Nix.

"Lord of Illusions" is an horror film written and directed by Clive Barker and still great in 2020. The noir-style makes the film timeless and with an intriguing beginning. The special effects are ahead of time (for a 1995 movie), with good performance of Scott Bakula and the debut of Famke Janssem in a feature. My vote is seven.

Title (Brazil): "O Mestre das Ilusões" ("The Lord of the Illusions")

Lord of Illusions brings the viewer into a universe where film noir, pure horror, mystery and fantasy blend together in an almost magical way

[plpregent · 7/10 · 29 January 2019]

My fascination for Lord of Illusions dates back from the video store days, where I would wander around in the horror section of the video store, and would contemplate all these VHS boxes with horror imagery and titles in all sorts of funky, bloodied up fonts. Right next to the Hellraiser films, which all had the highest age restriction rating (18+), there was this new release, which also was rated 18+. This means a lot where I'm from, as only very few films obtain that rating. To be perfectly honest, I would often rent films based on age rating alone, expecting that it would be concomitant with the level of gore (I was fascinated with practical gore effects, at the time). I was ten or eleven years old.

Back then, the screenshots on the back of these VHS cases would spark my imagination, and when I grabbed Lord of Illusions', there was plenty of horror scenes for me to imagine: you could see a man lying down with multiple swords through his body; a screaming man wearing a strange metal mask that looked like a bear trap; a hairy, shirtless Scott Bakula holding a revolver; and what appeared to be a zombie, holding a screaming woman. I tried to imagine what the scenario must have been like in order to pack so many horror scenes that had seemingly very little in common.

Despite our young age, a friend of mine and I ended up persuading his mother to rent the film and let us watch it, to which she agreed, only if she was to watch it with us. Needless to say, it scared the living sh** out of us and, as two native French speakers, we did not understand much of the scenario (the VHS copy at the video store was in the original English version). The first scene alone with the baboon and the spooky cult members had us totally frightened, and we knew my friend's mom was close to stopping it. Then came the scene where Butterfield pulls glass out of his body...boy she came close to stopping it there. However, we somehow kept watching until that one scene which involves Swann and plenty of swords. That's when she turned it off.

Fast-forward to a decade later, when the technology shifted to DVD and video stores were getting rid of their old videocassettes for cheap. I found this film that I had almost forgotten and bought the director's cut on VHS.

I got to watch Lord of Illusions again as an adult who speaks and understands English. I have to say, although it certainly has its flaws, this is a very well executed thriller that offers a unique blend of horror, fantasy, magic, and genuine mystery. The very first scene is very intense and the setting was just as scary to me as an adult as it was when I was a child. You are introduced to terrifying characters that are very unusual to the sound of an excellent, haunting theme song.

From there, the film takes somewhat of a more conventional turn, where you get to meet the protagonist, Harry D'Amour, a private investigator who ends up in charge of protecting a popular illusionist against members of an obscure cult. Despite D'Amour being depicted as one of the lone characters truly grounded into reality throughout much of the film (although there are some interesting flashbacks showing that he's had glimpses of true evil before), it is fascinating to see him step into this world where the line between illusion and magic becomes disturbingly blurry, and where an unimaginable evil awaits. And if you think you've seen scary films before, wait until the final 20 minutes of this one. Oh boy.

Despite some lengthy developments mid-way through the film, a somewhat dreary romance building up and minor pacing issues, Lord of Illusions brings the viewer into a universe where film noir, pure horror, mystery and fantasy blend together in an almost magical way - something that can only stem from a mind like Clive Barker's. The cinematography has a unique feel to it, whether it be scenes in the desert or in Swann's mansion. Clive Barker's direction is also very good.

The soundtrack is haunting, mysterious, and has an almost epic feel to it. The theme song, especially, is absolutely memorable.

Daniel Von Bergen stands out as Nix, the cult leading villain. But really, the whole cast does a great job. Those cult members are absolutely bone-chilling.

While a minor portion of the visual effects may not hold up to today's standards, all the practical effects and makeups are incredible and look way better than what you see in most horror blockbusters nowadays. In terms of gore, this is definitely not the bloodiest film I've seen, but it definitely features plenty of quite inventive deaths and sophisticated horror imagery.

My love for this film may have a bit to do with nostalgia, but it has much more to offer than just gore and horror imagery - those things that I was craving so badly as a kid. I have seen many films in many genres, but oddly enough, nothing quite comparable to Lord of Illusions. A true little gem forgotten by many that certainly deserves to be revisited.

Pretty good horror film, not Barker's best

[willywants · 6/10 · 6 July 2005]

Private investigator Harry D'Amour must stop a supernatural cult from raising Nix, a man with god-like powers, who was killed 13 years before hand. Now he's back, and he must save illusionist Philip Swann and his wife, Dorothea. Clive Barker's "Lord of Illusions" may not be his ultimate masterpiece, but it sure is an entertaining horror film. Pretty good performances from most of the lead cast members, though Kevin J. O'Connor was a little wooden as Philip Swann. The make-up effects, courtesy of the boys at KNB FX, are really cool, and there's enough gore (My favorite being the messy "sword accident" scene) to satisfy horror fans. The visual effects were also very well-done for the most part.

An enjoyable, well-done horror film overall. Not a masterpiece but gory, fun and often imaginative. Worth a viewing.

6/10.

"I was born to murder the world."

[Backlash007 · 6 September 2002]

"There are two worlds of magic. One is the glittering domain of the illusionist. The other is a secret place, where magic is a terrifying reality. Here, men have the power of demons. And Death itself is an illusion."

Clive Barker's Lord of Illusions is a terrifying glimpse into another world in which few have traveled. Those who have been there, didn't like what Barker had to show them. I wasn't even impressed with it upon my first viewing. I simply forgot it, lumped it in with the other, countless horror films I've seen and will never see again. However, I recently rediscovered it...and was completely awestruck. The theatrical release did not do the film justice. It dropped priceless minutes of film and much need footage. I strongly urge you to seek out the uncut director's version on DVD format. This is a very big horror movie, and a hidden treasure at that; hidden under a brilliant detective story and surrounded by film noir. But I promise you there is a horror spectacle buried under there. It may be a little slow going at times...but all that build-up makes whatever happens all the more effective. Lord of Illusions is an unbelievably awesome, genre-twisting experience (and was never bastardized by a sequel). Everyone needs to take this journey again. Please Mr. Barker...make another film.

Dorothea: "What the f**k are you?"

Nix: "A man who wanted to be a God...and changed his mind."

Flesh is a trap, and magic sets us free.

[Bored_Dragon · 7/10 · 19 July 2018]

Legendary Clive Barker skillfully combines the elements of detective story and horror into a mystery thriller that, although of mediocre quality, remains carved into memory. This is not a typical horror that will upset your stomach and raise the hair on your head, nor a thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat, but a dark adventure that leaves an impression similar to reading Barker's books. The relatively well-known cast gives quite believable performances and there's just enough amount of demonic and gore scenes not to disappoint horror fans. I am satisfied.

7/10

looking back on it

[lee_eisenberg · 7/10 · 3 May 2006]

Knowing that "Lord of Illusions" is directed by the same man who brought us "Hellraiser", you would probably expect two hours of torture scenes. But Clive Barker has a real treat in store for you. This movie is not a series of torture scenes, but a descent into the unknown. And a cool one at that.

The movie begins several years earlier when a cult leader named Nix (Daniel Von Bargen - aka Commandant Spengler on "Malcolm in the Middle") was killed by follower Philip Swann (Kevin J. O'Connor). In the present, New York detective Harry D'Amour (Scott Bakula) comes out to LA and gets to know Swann and his wife Dorothea (Famke Janssen - of "Goldeneye" and "X-Men" fame). But D'Amour has no idea what's about to happen, because some of the cult members want to resurrect the cult. And this will require certain accidents to happen.

I can't really do justice to this movie by trying to explain it. Barker makes such an interesting use of mind-bendingness that you have to see it to understand it. Just see if you don't come away with your mind blown. You may never believe your eyes again after you see this. And I also would like to say that Famke Janssen is kinda hot in this movie.

Visually stunning fantasy horror with a hint of mystery.

[paulclaassen · 7/10 · 22 January 2022]

From the imaginative and twisted mind of Clive Barker comes another surreal tale of good versus evil - and this time also directed by Barker.

Scott Bakula stars as a detective Harry D'Amour, who is sent to Los Angeles to catch a guy commit insurance fraud. However, this simple mission is about to plunge him into the depths of hell - literally! Soon after arriving in Los Angeles he finds himself on the run from crazed people destined to kill him. As he investigates, he gets drawn deeper to the Dark Side, where evil awaits him.

Years ago the magician Nix was a sect leader and called himself the Puritan, who abducted a young girl to be tortured. One of his disciples and fellow magician, Swann, and a handful of people saved the girl and brought an end to Nix's rule. The girl is now Swann's wife, Dorothea, who hires Harry to investigate a tragic accident during one of Swann's magic shows.

Essentially a fantasy horror, 'Lord of Illusions' also serves as an interesting mystery thriller. The film has a great production design, with excellent visuals and make-up. Scott Bakula is in perfect shape, and dishes up enough eye candy for his fans. Thankfully Barker uses every excuse to show off Bakula's great physique. I enjoyed Famke Janssen as Dorothea, who also serves as the love interest.

'Lord of Illusions' is a great blend of action, adventure, horror and mystery, with a good climax. This is one of my all-time favourite horror movies.

The Worst Barker Film Ever Made

[TheRedDeath30 · 5/10 · 27 August 2014]

There are quite a few things going for this movie that attracted me to it and should have added up to a movie that I loved. First, I'm a big fan of Clive Barker. I love his aesthetic. I love the mythology that he creates in his works. I feel like his vision pulls the curtain back on Hell's fiery gates, just a bit, and creates these wonderful, demonic fairy tales full of infernal imagery. The subject matter also intrigues me. Like all geeks with a penchant for the fantastic, I enjoy magic and illusion, but even more I like movies and books that explore that thin line between illusion and magic and the possibility that perhaps there is real magic. Of course, it's not a far stretch from that sort of magic into occult territory, either. As a horror movie lover, I have a natural affinity for things dealing with dark magic, as well. The combination of all of these could have created something that I would have put up there as an instant classic, but sadly this movie is completely forgettable.

This is probably the least "Barker-ish" of any Barker adaptation I have seen. What I mean by that is that it is mostly devoid of any of that aesthetic that I was speaking of earlier. Movies like HELLRAISER, NIGHTBREED or CANDYMAN all feel like part of a large mythos, like all of them could have existed in the same world. There are very similar visual strands in those movies, even though one of them wasn't even directed by Barker. This movie is largely lacking any of that imagery. Except for the prologue and climax, we rarely get anything diabolical. It feels like it could have been the work of any old horror writer. While some may praise for deviating from his norm, this isn't what I come to the House of Barker for.

Even the actual magic in the movie is somewhat of a letdown. I really enjoyed the centerpiece scene where Swann is killed during his magic show. I wanted to see more of that sort of thing. They spend a lot of time talking about how these characters had crossed the line from illusion to real magic, but they seemed to know two tricks, levitation and fire. I'd at least expect enough effects to give me a true sense of power. Hell, even Harry Potter had better tricks than this.

Those were my expectations, though, so it's maybe not fair to judge this movie by how much it met those expectations. The real problem is that this movie just goes nowhere. It sets us up with a great opening scene, full of action and effects that seemed like this could turn into something memorable, but it dies quickly, mired down in a half-baked detective noir that is as predictable as it is uninteresting. Some part of that blame lies in Scott Bakula who's just not believable in this role, at all. He's supposed to be a hardened PI with one foot in the world of the occult, almost a John Constantine (comic books) type figure. Instead, Bakula just can't shake his wholesome image. Even when he swears it feels like elementary school kids trying out a word for the first time. Then, they inject a phony romance angle that just feels crammed in an insincere.

There are some great effects shots that still work very well and then there are some real doozys, like the CGI polygons that look so very dated 20 years later. What I saw is the Director's cut, which was probably more of a mistake because it was just too long and in need of editing.

If you've never seen anything by Barker before, do yourself a favor and go watch HELLRAISER. If you want a great movie about pushing magic to its' edge, watch Christopher Nolan's THE PRESTIGE.

Director's Edition is the best (Spoilers)

[domino1003 · 10/10 · 15 March 2004]

For those who haven't seen the original theatrical version of "Lord of Illusions", you might want to check out the extended version.

Harry D'Amour (Scott Bakula) is a private detective with a problem: He has a dark side. It seems that a lot of cases turn ugly (One involving an exorcism). Offered an opportunity to get away from the insanity, he's offered a job tailing someone involved in insurance fraud. However, things REALLY turn ugly when he stumbles upon a guy being used as a pincushion. What's the reason behind this?

Seems that years ago, a cult leader called Nix (Daniel Von Bargen) had very spooky powers and was just about nuts. After kidnapping a young girl, some of his followers including Mr. Pincushion and Swann (The very underrated Kevin J. O'Connor)put Nix out of his misery, binding him and burying him deep in the earth. Now most of those that killed him are winding up dead. Swann, who is now a popular illusionist, winds up dead in a horrific accident during one of his shows, with his wife Dorothea (Famke Janssen) in attendance. D'Amour is soon drawn into a mystery in which things are not what they appear and people may or may not be dead.

In the Director's Cut of the film,You have a better understanding of D'amour's dark side, plus you get to see a little more into the cultists, how their devotion to Nix is without question (You actually see them headed to Nix's resurrection after they killed members of their family!). The deleted scenes are o.k. and you could sort of understand why they were deleted. Barker's commentary is a plus (Actually, I like when director's put their 2 cents on the makings of a movie.)

The part when Nix returns STILL creeps me out. Not in the manner of his return, but the blind devotion that his followers show him.

Anyway, rent this, or at least buy it. For Clive Barker fans, horror buffs, or just to have a good time on Saturday night.

weak special effects

[SnoopyStyle · 6/10 · 3 November 2014]

In the Mojave Desert, practitioner of the dark arts Nix (Daniel von Bargen) leads a cult and has kidnapped a girl named Dorothea. His apprentice Swann (Kevin J. O'Connor) leads former cult members to rescue the girl. Nix can't be killed but Swann binds him and buries him. Thirteen years later, Harry D'Amour (Scott Bakula) is a NY private eye specializing in the occult. He travels to L.A. on a case where he stumbles onto Swann, and his now wife Dorothea (Famke Janssen) as followers of Nix try to find the burial site and free Nix.

This is a fine Clive Barker story. It has a compelling plot. Scott Bakula is good as the lead. The major drawback is the weak special effects and some weak directing from Barker. The CGI is pretty bad and some get really cheesy. The Nix apparition looks horrible. The final battle has some good parts and some bad parts. The makeup is mostly good. I like the henchman character Butterfield but I wish that he be played by the same actor in both time frame. I don't understand why there are two actors playing that character.

Awful. Just awful.

[bostockleigh-75918 · 4/10 · 14 September 2019]

I was around when "Hellraiser" first hit the screens in 1987, starting Clive Barker Fever. That movie caught the imagination of the public, and even though the acting was weak, it had a story you could follow and there were some memorable characters. In total contrast, Lord of Illusions, despite the screenplay being written by Mr. Barker himself, had an unintelligible storyline, appalling acting, terrible special effects and bad direction even for 1995. Watching it in 2019 is a painful experience. One doesn't know whether to laugh or cry watching the actors pretend to understand what they're trying to convey. It's a movie that is best forgotten if you've had the misfortune of watching it and best avoided if you haven't. I've been lenient and given it four stars for the sword scene. It made me smile.

Barker is still one of the greats

[jack-102 · 9/10 · 19 December 1998]

Alright, so maybe this wasn't a great adaption of his short story, the Last Illusion, but it was one hell of a ride. The special effects aren't overdone, the acting was up to par, and the direction was marvelous. This movie is so gritty, its tone is perfect. Bakula may have been a bit too emotionless in a scene or two, but overall he was wonderful as the detective who gets caught up in the trickery, and the evil. There is also one or two funny moments, very very well placed. Of course, to fully appreciate the movie, you must watch the directors cut, with a couple extra scenes, that actually add a lot to the plotline, and the surreality of it all. Great stuff Clive!

Nearly as good as Hellraiser

[Leofwine_draca · 7/10 · 12 February 2018]

LORD OF ILLUSIONS is the third film directed by Clive Barker based on his own writing. I'm a fan of HELLRAISER so I was hoping for something of the same power and I got it: this is surprisingly similar to the writer's 1980s breakout and I'm saddened that it didn't do so well on release. It has all of the elements to make a good pulp horror story, from Scott Bakula's weary, private detective lead, to the sinister subject matter of black magic and real-world supernatural powers. Things kick off with an outstanding back story set-piece inside a crazy pastor's cult complex, before moving into mystery story territory. The likes of Bakula, Kevin J. O'Connor and Famke Janssen all deliver effective turns, but it's Barker who is the real star here. The film is filled with gruesome special effects work and ideas and there's a great deal of bodily horror, destruction, and dismemberment in the HELLRAISER style. CGI is used sparingly and, although dated, not too distracting. LORD OF ILLUSIONS is something of an underrated effort, icky and outrageous enough to work as a horror film, and with a chilly, chilling atmosphere from beginning to end.

don't waste your time or money

[liderc · 1/10 · 11 November 2001]

I don't know anything about clive barker, except that he has the reputation to be a good horror writer.

When I bought the movie, I expected it to be some kind of clever atmospheric movie making advantage of a lot of illusion, plot twists etc. I got quite the opposite. This

movie is boring, has a dull conventional plot, is badly directed and photographed and features a lot of strange, bad actors. The plot seems to function only as excuse to present the usual splatter fx mixed with some really bad digital fx like the "folded" fire figure in the chapel. A good director might have gotten out something of the plot, but Barker seems to be as bad in directing as in scriptwriting, so the movie is made like one of these tv-junk movies like "Buffy". Avoid it.

A morbid, violent and frightening film, Barker makes a film in "Hellraiser" style...

[ary · 14 May 1999]

If you liked the first two films of the series "Hellraiser" and appraised "Nightbreed",you will have a thankful surprise with 1995's "The Lord of Illusions", the last film that Barker directed ( he is currently re-writing his story "The Thief Of Always" for the screen), and that carries his characteristics and basic ideas. The film is morbid, violent and very frightening as well as "Hellraise" was, back in the eighties.It explores delicate themes as mysticism, demons and sects. One of the great qualities of Barker's last project is to dare, telling a tense and complex story in an imaginative and bloody way. The homosexual context of the work is evident, Clive Barker once again tried to join the concepts of pain, fear, horror, pleasure and meat, but he didn't obtain an excellent result as he achieved in "Hellraiser" . However, "The Lord of Illusions" is a more sophisticated film, with a tuned cast, formed by Scott Bakula and Famke Jansem,just to mention a few,and with an above-the-average production. The atmosphere, and the scenery, in this English movie-maker's filmography, is quite significant element, if in "Hellraiser" the atmosphere was dark and sordid, "The Lord of Illusions" is punctuated by clear, stunning and luminous sceneries, exalting the whole magic and madness' aspects. The story is very intricate, and it involves a rich and famous magician who sold his soul for the devil and who is now sorry, his temptress and reluctant wife and an ambitious detective who will find himself a prisoner in a tissue of murders, strange creatures and homosexuality.So, if you like Clive Barker's ideas, watch this film today!! "The Lord of Illusions" is rated R for strong violence, gore, language and sexuality and it runs 108 minutes.

Hocus-Pocus horror!

[Coventry · 7/10 · 17 March 2004]

Clive Barker comes with an extremely morbid and sinister tale that almost entirely takes place in the mysterious world of magicians, illusionists and sorcerers. Indeed a very unique setting that just awaits an exquisite horror film! One thing you have to hand to Barker.like none other author, he has the talent to portray nightmarish worlds and macabre surroundings. The three major chapters in his career as a filmmaker all are tales of pure darkness. And - unlike Nightbreed - Lord of illusions can depend on a solid script and original story aspects. Clive combines the mysteries of magic with the dangers of a satanic cult in order to create one of the most frightening horror villains ever. Nix - a diabolical personification of evil who has complete control over elements like fire, gravity and even the human will and soul! Daniel Von Bargen (one of the most underrated actors alive) plays Nix amazingly and the hairs in the back of your neck will stand up as he says, `I was born.to murder the world' in his most vicious tone of voice. Scott Bakula is the private detective, hired by the ravishing Famke Janssen, to keep an eye on her husband who once buried Nix but now fears his resurrection from the grave. All in one, Lord of Illusion is a successful mixture of horror and detective, with gruesome make-up effects and more than enough tension to keep you focused. Barker controls the supernatural elements real well and he also injects multiple personal interests of his in his film. Like his disturbing obsession with masochism, for example, and the constant undertones of homosexuality and sexual perversion. The wholesome is served with a constant atmosphere of morbidity and very little humor. Therefore, Lord of Illusions is a very mature horror film that'll certainly frighten (or even shock) inexperienced viewers. Possible negative aspects about Lord of Illusions are the overall predictable twists the grotesque finale.

Great first 2 Acts, but then...

[mfwcurran · 7/10 · 28 July 2022]

Being a massive Barker fan, I went into this movie years ago hoping for the delights and magic of The Breed. I was disappointed and a little dissatisfied however.

Fast forward to now and on viewing it a second time I realise why I felt this way. The first 2 Acts of LoI are pretty damned good and shows that Barker has improved on his cinematic skills over his first two films. All this falls apart in the last act which becomes death by monologue where the attempt to surpass endless pontificating of threat and power becomes underwhelming. In just becomes a confused, chasing mess, like Hellraiser crossed with Benny Hill. Simply put, it tries to outdo the first 2 thirds of the movie and fails terribly because it isn't a grandstand moment, but a series of disconnected lurches through a bad set. Think the end of Raiders of the Lost Ark, LoI is the anthesis, and the film is much weaker for it.

A shame that Barker could not have made another film as I think he was close to being a very good director indeed, as much as he was a writer. One could only imagine what he might have achieved...

A nicely entertaining tale from a horror master.

[Hey_Sweden · 7/10 · 4 May 2012]

Acclaimed author Clive Barker adapts his own story "The Last Illusion" for this not especially imaginative but still well realized terror tale. It does do a neat job of combining detective fiction with a more paranormal / mystical bent. Scott Bakula plays private detective Harry D'Amour, who travels from NYC to LA on a routine case, ends up caught in something far more sinister. Story threads include the apparent death of a performing illusionist, Philip Swann (Kevin J. O'Connor) and the resurrection of a diabolical cult leader, Nix (Daniel von Bargen). Harry meets assorted dubious types on his way to figuring out just what the Hell is going on, falling in love with the illusionists' wife Dorothea (Famke Janssen) as well. Nothing that happens here is terribly surprising, but Barker does make up for that with a consistently gloomy tone, overwhelming atmosphere, and effective visuals, and also by getting convincing performances out of his well chosen cast. Bakula is a likable enough lead, Famke looks fetching as always, von Bargen is a genuinely intimidating villain (it's easy enough to believe that his character is no phony, but the real thing); other vivid contributions are made by character players Joseph Latimore, Sheila Tousey, Susan Traylor, Wayne Grace, Barry Del Sherman, Joel Swetow, Vincent Schiavelli, and Barry Shabaka Henley. The movie has impressive gore & makeup effects, and in general does show off the same kind of theatricality as a good stage show, being careful to make the distinction between "magic" and "illusions". As it begins, Barker is already layering on the tension and giving us a sense of doom and gloom to come. This is a good, meaty enough story that, even in its 122 minute long unrated director's cut, avoids any sort of filler and delivers enough twists and turns to keep it interesting. It's only too bad that Barker isn't inspired to direct his own stories more often, as the movies he turns out are a cut above most of what we see in the horror genre. "Lord of Illusions" is long but never boring. Seven out of 10.

Failure to Launch

[view_and_review · 4/10 · 1 September 2020]

Some guy called The Puritan was more than human, less than a deity, and all evil. HIs main disciple, Swann (Kevin J. O'Connor), deactivated him in 1982. In 1995, his second disciple, Butterfield (Barry Del Sherman), sought to resurrect him, which was bad news.

A bunch of bloody murders later, a staged death, and a dead guy doing his best imitation of the Emperor from "The Return of the Jedi," and we have a lame scary movie.

Barkers Best

[spacemonkey_fg · 10/10 · 17 November 2005]

Title: Lord of Illusions (1995)

Director: Clive Barker

Cast: Scot Bakula, Franke Jensen, Kevin J. Oconnor

Review:

Clive Barkers takes us in deep into the world of magic and horror with what in my opinion is his best film...Lord of Illusions.

The story is about this religious cult whos leader Nix promises his followers eternal life. Swann, an ex member of the cult, gets cold feet and decides he wants out of the cult of freaky people and decides to eliminate the cult and its leader Nix. He manages to stop Nix and bury him....but is he dead? Many years later after these events Swann has become a David Copperfield type of magician winning big money. But suddenly some people are after him and there's rumors that Nix...the cult leader he laid to sleep might be returning for revenge on those who restrained him. Swann included.

The good thing about this movie for me is that it takes us into this world of magic, demons and religion in a very credible way. Barker handles things properly in this film by taking us into fantastic territory but with a touch of realism. As if it all could in fact be true. Thats the feeling I got while watching this film. And ultimately thats what makes the film so effectively creepy.

Nix is a great villain and I never for once felt I was watching some actor playing a by the numbers villain just for the kicks of it. Daniel Von Bergen as Nix delivers a great and evil performance. He uses anyone and everyone, he is selfish in his quest for ultimate knowledge and power over the supernatural and will do anything to have it. The guy is pure evil...and when he is about to be re awakened you almost feel sorry for the poor dopes who are doing it.

Another one of the movies assets is that it is done in the fashion of an old detective flick, with Scott Bakulas character Harry D Amour as the grounded on reality Detective who is constantly being confronted with the fact that this world is filled with things that we know nothing about. We see the film through Harrys eyes as he plunges himself deeper into the world of magic and Illusion. This is a smart lead character and cool thing about it is that you don't feel like its a bunch of teenagers making mistake after mistake, this guy knows what he is doing, he is a detective taking a full plunge into the dark world of Nix's religious cult.

But by far the coolest thing about this movie is its story. Barker carved up a fine spooky tale. Something to really scare you. The story is complex, and keeps you interested all through out, like a good mystery should. Not only that, but he directed the film with some real style. The movie just looks beautiful in everyway. A really good example of this is Swanns Illussion show in which he performs his "Last Illusion". Great sets and music in those sequences. Speaking of the music, as is the case in most of Barkers films, the music elevates everything to another level of grandiosity. You get this feeling that you are watching something epic and forbidden.

All in all, I would say that no doubt this is Barkers finest film to date. Its got a great involving story, good performances a great and memorable villain and a feeling of realism even though we are dealing with magic and Illusions. Barker is a master at weaving fantastic and dark fantasies, this my friends is his best one, go check it out! Rating: 5 out of 5

Magic?

[chelano · 6/10 · 9 October 2011]

This was a pretty decent film. The story line was good but went way over the top by the end and it almost ruined the whole thing. The cast is class A. Scott Bakula is great and funny in the film. Kevin J. O'Connor is good and comes off kind of creepy. Famke Janssen is a good female lead. Daniel Von Bargen is really crazy in this film and was a good evil lead. There are many good side characters as well, but my favorite is played by Barry Del as Sherman. Talk about one messed up creepy character. The film has some decent special effects for its time and it may not make you jump out of your seat, but you will still mentally feel scared. It really does have that creepy feeling. Clive Barker really did a decent job on this film.

Ay Yai Yai, What Did I Watch?

[statuskuo · 3/10 · 26 September 2020]

What starts as a very interesting premise devolves into your typical Clive Barker low simmering homosexual sensibility (the Ryan Murphy BEFORE Ryan Murphy) qualities to all his movies. In this case, the inner being within the inner being and the freaks that come out to attempt to scare you but end up just being a cavalcade of poor monster makeup effects. You know, I am impressed how much it did predicted arrogant d-bags like Chris Angel or David Blaine. There isn't much of a story there. And a total waste of Famke Janssen. As you don't get to see what REALLY made her famous (remember what I said about latent gay-ness) Also...why Scott Bakula? Consider that we are use to seeing him on television as a wholesome character. Then try to convince us we should think he is a foul mouth tough guy detective. It doesn't gel in 1995. Maybe 2020, but not back then.

This movie is a total drag (after 27 minutes to the end, I thought it would NEVER end). Somber as most Barker films are. Though not grim, it feels more like a straight to video project. Just seems to not start out with a lot of gas and just get worse.

If William Blake and Nietzsche Wrote a Horror-story Together

[myboigie · 10/10 · 16 April 2006]

Man is a rope, tied between beast and overman - a rope over an abyss... What is great in man is that he is a bridge and not an end: what can be loved in man is that he is an overture and a going under... I say unto you: one must still have chaos in oneself to be able to give birth to a dancing star. I say unto you: you still have chaos in yourselves. Alas, the time is coming when man will no longer give birth to a star. Alas, the time of the most despicable man is coming, he that is no longer able to despise himself. Behold, I show you the last man.

--Friedrich Nietzsche, "Also Sprach Zarathustra"

5 Jesus said, "Know what is in front of your face, and what is hidden from you will be disclosed to you. For there is nothing hidden that will not be revealed. And there is nothing buried that will not be raised."

29 Jesus said, "If the flesh came into being because of spirit, that is a marvel, but if spirit came into being because of the body, that is a marvel of marvels. Yet I marvel at how this great wealth has come to dwell in this poverty."

--From the Gnostic Gospel of Thomas

"Flesh is a trap...and death is an illusion."

You know when you're watching a film by Clive Barker, that you're in good-hands. I saw this in 1995, and was floored by an oddly-believable tale of magic, both ancient and modern. It's interesting to note that Mr. Barker is well-versed in occult-lore, and that when you view his films he's trying to mess with your head on several-levels at-once. Magic is real, we do it every day, but it's seldom-acknowledged. When we think-of-something--an action, or a wish--and we externalize-it into-reality, we have done something that is magical. Animals are also capable of this, but none-so-well as human-beings. Technology is also an externalization of the human-mind (and body), and stems from a scientific-tradition that began with alchemy. In the mystery-traditions, an initiate would be immersed in a symbolic-environment, just as advertising does today for darker-aims! We live illusion every-single-day. If-only it wasn't dead in pustulent-Hollywood.

The battle-between the flesh and this world is eternal, and Clive Barker throws us into the midst of this battle. The film begins in-flashback to a cult-compound that looks a disturbingly-similar mix between the Branch Davidian one in Waco, and Spahn Ranch in Death Valley (once-populated by the Manson Family). This is the story of the birth of a religion, and where-else do they usually begin? The desert, of-course. But Barker takes-it-further, and we get what could be taken as an inversion of the Christian-myth of Jesus. Nix is the messianic-figure, who tells his disciples, "Fire spoke to me and said--NIX, you are the chosen-one, the Puritan." Unlike Christ's meeting with Satan in the desert, Nix succumbs-to-temptation, and his hatred for the material-world. Has he met-with darkness, or fire-itself, an elemental-force? Barker let's US decide throughout what we are seeing-and-hearing--yes, he's playing-with us. Maybe this ISN'T an inversion of Christianity, after-all...

But, Nix is betrayed in the opening-prologue by his chosen-one, Swann. 13-years pass, and Swann is an incredibly-successful stage-magician, using the skills taught him by Nix. He has a consort in Dorothea, and in a direct-reference to Gnosticism, a wizard's assistant in Valentin. Being our cinematic eyes-and-ears, we are introduced to the Detective Harry D'Amour, a gumshoe with a penchant for the unknown in the occult-underworld. We get-treated to some great film-noir moments thanks to Barker's genius-take on the P.I. character, and it blends with horror effectively. A lot of credit has to go to Scott Bakula for his performance as D'Amour, it's a tightrope-role that requires a subtle-approach, with a little humor and cynicism. He's our surrogate, and his disbelief is crucial to our accepting the realities of this story, a tall-order! I believe Barker and his collaborators succeeded in-spades.

Interestingly, Clive makes a wonderful-homage to Orson Welles (himself an illusionist of high-caliber) in the early murder-scene of the fortune-teller. It's shot in the very-same Venice locations as Welles' "Touch of Evil" (1958), a noir-classic. In some-respects, this film also resembles Welles' "Mr. Arkadian", with a detective searching a man's past as the central-narrative--this was also copied by Alan Parker and his writers on "Angel Heart" (1986), another classic of horror. Barker also references Mario Bava's "Black Sunday" (1960) with the tale of a resurrected-witch/wizard, and the mask that punctures Nix's face into a ghastly-visage.

By the end of the film, it's clear that Nix has come to destroy the world (like Jesus), and we are shown realities we'd rather forget. In-a-sense, there are many criticisms of ALL world religions here, even esoteric-ones. Barker condemns the notion that it is the world that corrupts, and that material-reality is the only source-of-evil and destruction. Mankind can be that essential-ingredient ("Fire spoke to me and said...") of chaos and destruction--we hold our fates in our own-hands, we are that hand-of-fate in occultism.

We stare into-the-abyss, like Nix and Swann, and realize there is nothing, only ourselves. WE are the meaning in the universe, because we create that meaning. Nix, his followers, and Swann succumb to this, and decide non-existence is better. Harry D'Amour, and his allies in the story, do not. The battle, then, is between creation and destruction, not good-versus-evil. D'Amour and Dorothea are an erotic and productive-dyad, whereas Swann and Nix are not. The Apocalypse is always in human-hands when individuals succumb to the forces of the universe that are destructive. They have given-up.

Strange Clive Barker movie involving a rarity, a cult leader that actually has powers.

[Aaron1375 · 6/10 · 14 February 2012]

This films starts out with a group of people infiltrating a cult leaders place and placing a mask on said cult leader. Very painful process and you may wonder why they felt the need to do this, it is because this man has powers and they are very deadly. Flash years later and the man who was pretty much in charge of stopping the cult leader and was once under his tutelage is now an illusionist. Well one of his tricks goes array and his wife knows that something is not quite right so she hires an investigator to find out what is going on. Enter Harry D'mour, an investigator played by Scott Bakula who I always have to wonder how did this guy not get more roles in more mainstream fare as he is a rather good actor. Well the cult leaders former cult is trying to revive him and this is something that must be stopped, because this guy is like evil. You will get to find out how evil during a scene where he gives the gift of rain to his followers that is really quite freaky. Had some good qualities in this one, but so much more could of been done. The kills though are good, the story is pretty good too, I just find the ending a bit underdone, I was expecting more. However, all in all a rather good offering from writer Clive Barker.

"Flesh Is a Trap and Magic Sets Us Free"

[romanorum1 · 5/10 · 5 October 2017]

Opening Caption:

"There are two worlds of magic. One is the glittering domain of the illusionist. The other is a secret place where Magic is a terrifying reality. Here men have the power of demons. And death itself is an illusion."

So, powerful men may cheat death.

In the Mohave Desert in 1982, a diabolical religious cult leader who levitates and juggles flame balls rules a seedy compound of slovenly fanatics in a deteriorated building. This practitioner of black magic, Nix (Daniel von Bargen), has kidnapped young Dorothea (Ashley Lyn Cafagna) in order to entice a former disciple, Philip Swann (Kevin J. O'Conner) to come back after Swann had turned against Nix and left the compound. When Swann does return with several adherents, though, it is to dispatch Nix and rescue Dorothea. Swann is successful.

The movie then cuts briefly to the present day in New York City of 1995, where intense and ultra-masculine detective Harry D'Amour (Scott Bakula), who has just dealt with an exorcism case, is given an assignment to follow Talpert (Johnny Venocur), who was involved in insurance fraud. While on this routine case in LA, the grown up and very attractive Dorothea (Famke Janssen), now the wife of the platonic Swann, approaches him. She is concerned about the safety of her husband. Cult members – ruthless, demonic, fiendish brutes – are murdering anyone who had been involved in the death of Nix. Now the investigator is drawn into the realm of professional theater magicians and the dark forces they operate in. On the night of the grand illusionist show, everything goes wrong for Swann, who is impaled and killed by a series of suspended and revolving swords as he is tied down on a revolving wheel. Harry decides to stick around.

His trail leads to the Magic Castle, where behind a securely locked door lies a repository of every magic secret known to mankind. Harry gets involved in a round table, a magic circle discussion with conjurers. It is obvious that they, including Vinovich (Vincent Schiavelli), did not take kindly to Swann. They think he was tainted. But one of them, Billy Who (Lorin Stewart), gives Harry a tip. Later when Dorothea calls Harry, he asks her if she ever heard of Nix. "No, I don't know the name," she lies. After, Valentin (Joel Swetow), Swann's assistant, offers Harry $30,000 to return home to NY, but Harry refuses.

At St. Ignatius sanitarium, Harry meets the fearful patient Jennifer Desiderio (Sheila Tousey), who was with Swann's group when Nix was eradicated. She says Swann was a liar, because he promised that no harm would happen to the hit men. When Jennifer spots a ditch being dug, she gets panicky and says Nix is coming for her. She throws herself in front of a moving car and gets killed. As Harry wants to break into the Magic Castle repository, he enlists the aid of Billy. Avoiding booby traps and strange images, he locates magicians' files, from which he gathers information about Swann.

When Harry later confronts Dorothea, he tells her straightforwardly that Swann was doing magic, not performing illusions. Dorothea finally tells Harry about the events of 13 years' earlier when Nix abducted her to get to Swann. Can Nix still be alive? Swann still is, as he has somehow faked his own death. This action was probably done to get the Nix goons off his trail. Black artist Butterfield (Barry Del Sherman), a disciple of Nix, kidnaps and tortures Valentin to make him locate Nix's burial site. Harry follows with Swann and finds Valentin mortally wounded. Butterfield has taken Dorothea and Nix's body to a cult compound and eventually resurrects the vengeful and egocentric Nix. The denouement will not be disclosed. Suffice it to say that most of the characters will not be alive at movie's end.

This occult horror film sometimes loses its focus, and scenes sometimes have no resolution, as when Harry beaks into the repository without any apparent consequences. There are flashes of gore. Then again, the creepy atmosphere factor is high enough. The visual effects impress, along with the cinematography. So it's a mixed bag that fans of director/writer Clive Barker may like.