Review of Lord of Illusions (1995) by Steve J — 22 Jan 2014

I guess a lot of people would find this movie written and directed by Clive Barker sort of hokey, but it's always creeped me out. I love Scott Bakula, and it's nice to see him in the unusual role of Harry D'Amour, Barker's perennial character, an ecumenical private eye with an affinity for the strange and preternatural.

On an assignment in LA, he stumbles onto a conspiracy to bring a deranged cult leader with malevolent powers (Daniel von Bargen) back from the dead. Cult murders, impalements, skinnings, and various other parlor games are placed alongside 40s noir tropes in a heady, sexy mixture that will appeal to fans of Barker, but may prove a bit too baroque for casual tastes.

With the exception of Bakula and Bargen, and Barry Del Shannon as an especially devout member of the death cult, the characters are either uninteresting or miscast (Kevin J O'Connor is not a sex symbol, which is what the part really needs).

Moreover, there is some wonky CGI on display. The finale really delivers though; Barker throws everything at you but the kitchen sink, and by god, he makes it work. It's pretty great stuff if you're into horror.

Check it out!