Movie Type: Supernatural Horror, Post-Noir (Modern Noir)
Themes: Witches, Private Eyes, Religious Zealotry
Main Cast: Scott Bakula, Kevin J. O'Connor, Famke Janssen, Vincent Schiavelli, Barry Del Sherman
Release Year: 1995
Country: US
Run Time: 108 minutes
MPAA Rating: R
Plot
A private investigator hired to protect a popular stage magician finds himself drawn into a dark, occult underworld in this supernatural horror film from writer-director Clive Barker. With several nods to film noir tradition, the danger begins for detective Harry D'Amour (Scott Bakula) when he is approached by a beautiful woman, Dorothea Swann (Famke Janssen). Dorothea is married to Philip Swann (Kevin J. O'Connor), a wealthy illusionist who has found fame by disguising real magic as stage trickery, and believes that her husband may be in danger. Harry reluctantly agrees to investigate, and he discovers that Swann has made enemies of a bizarre religious cult who wish to resurrect their leader, an evil sorcerer killed by Swann. ~ Judd Blaise, All Movie Guide
Sheila Tousey - Jennifer Desiderio; Wayne Grace - Loomis; Joel Sweto - Valentin; Susan Traylor - Marueen Pimm; Daniel Von Bargen - Nix; J. Trevor Edmond - Young Butterfield; Joseph Latimore - Caspar Quaid; Billy McComb
Credit
Marc Fisichella - Art Director, Bruce Hill - Art Director, Anna C. Miller - Associate Producer, Sharon Howard-Field - Casting, Luke Reichle - Costume Designer, Benita Allen - First Assistant Director, Clive Barker - Director, Allan E. Baumgarten - Editor, Simon Boswell - Composer (Music Score), Simon Boswell - Songwriter, Thomas C. Rainone - Makeup, Steve Hardie - Production Designer, Ronn Schmidt - Cinematographer, Clive Barker - Producer, Steve Golin - Producer, Joanne Sellar - Producer, Sigurjon Sighvatsson - Producer, David Koneff - Set Designer, Lou Carlucci - Special Effects, Stephen Halbert - Sound/Sound Designer, Thomas C. Rainone - Supervisor/Manager, Clive Barker - Screenwriter
Lord of Illusions is a horror film, written and directed by English author, filmmaker and artist, Clive Barker. Based on his earlier short story, "The Last Illusion" (from Books of Blood Vol. 6), this film presents Barker's signature Harry D'Amour character onscreen for the first time. Barker asserts that the director's cut of this film is his definitive version, as the theatrical release does not represent his true vision.
The plot revolves around the blurred line between magic and illusion. One of the main characters, Swann, uses the teachings of cult leader Nix to make a name for himself as an illusionist. The key difference between him and other magicians is that he uses actual magic to perform his feats.
When an illusion performed by Swann goes horribly wrong (presumambly killing him in the process), Harry D'Amour, already in Los Angeles to pursue an insurance fraud case, is contacted by Swann's widow Dorothea to investigate the strange occurrences surrounding it.
D'Amour, after finding Swann still alive, learns that Nix's followers are attempting to bring him back from the dead. After finding Nix's body stolen from his burial site, Swann and D'Armour return to the farmhouse where Nix's cult was based. Nix resurrects in front of his followers, and then slays them all, declaring only Swann is worthy to destroy humanity with him. D'Amour and Swann manage to kill Nix, with Swann dying in the process.
Style
With this film, Barker attempted to resurrect the film noir style, while merging it with contemporary horror so as to make a film with a fresh feel to it.
Cult leader Nix is explicitly compared to cult leader Charles Manson in the film. Like Manson and his "family," Nix and his followers believe he has the power to return from the dead. Both have followers who live in a ratty place out in the desert and cut off their hair at their leader's request.
The opening sequence of the Swann's performance (in which he is depicted dying when an illusion goes bad) was filmed at the Pantages Theatre in Hollywood, California.
The Swann funeral sequence was filmed at Angelus Rosedale Cemetery located on Washington Blvd. in Los Angeles, California.
