“Everything you have seen here has been an illusion.”
Eisenheim-The Illusionist
I was perplexed when I realized I had never seen Lord of Illusions. I’m an avid horror fan, particularly of 90s horror. I also grew up loving Quantum Leap. That’s pertinent because the star of Lord of Illusions is Scott Bakula, aka Sam Beckett.
Lord of Illusions follows occult detective Harry D’Amour (Scott Bakula) as he becomes embroiled in a dangerous world of dark magic. While investigating a routine case, D’Amour uncovers a sinister cult led by the powerful magician Nix (Daniel von Bargen), once imprisoned by his former disciple, illusionist Philip Swann (Kevin J. O’Connor). As Nix’s followers seek to resurrect him, D’Amour is drawn into a deadly conflict between the forces of magic, illusion, and reality. With Nix’s return threatening to unleash chaos, D’Amour must confront the terrifying powers at play to prevent a catastrophe.
One of the biggest highlights of the film for me was Bakula’s performance. While all the performances were excellent, his was my favorite. Bakula’s portrayal of D’Amour is a refreshing departure from his usual roles. He brings a gritty, world-weary charm to the occult detective that anchors the film, balancing skepticism and vulnerability. Perhaps the most wasted performance was from Famke Janssen, who plays Dorothea. Despite her character Dorothea being pivotal to the plot, Janssen is often sidelined, and her role feels more like a plot device than a fully fleshed-out character. It’s a missed opportunity for more emotional depth.
The film is directed by Clive Barker, who is mostly known for his Hellraiser films and another cult classic, Nightbreed. Barker’s fascination with erotic body horror is largely absent here, making Lord of Illusions feel tamer than his previous films like Hellraiser. The pacing drags at times, and the camerawork feels uninspired, leaving the film’s visuals lacking the punch we expect from Barker. The practical effects are good, but the CGI is terrible. It’s hard to fault the movie for its bad CGI because, at the time, it was par for the course.
The character of Nix has ill-defined powers, which is the main issue I have with the film. We know nothing about the limitation of his powers, nor do we know where his power originates. He spends the entire runtime of the film either buried underground or in an isolated, abandoned town. I wanted to love this movie, but there were too many missed opportunities. While the film had the potential to be something special—combining noir and horror—the ill-defined villain, subpar effects, and missed narrative opportunities make it fall short. With a more focused direction, this is one movie that could truly benefit from a remake.
Rating: 6.5/10
