4K UHD Review – Lord of Illusions

It’s somewhat amazing that author Clive Barker, one of the most popular horror writers of his era, only directed three films. He gifted the world “Hellraiser,” able to turn a tiny budget into an iconic genre endeavor that developed a genuine Movie Maniac while launching a brand name that, amazingly, continues to this day. The 1987 offering was eventually followed by 1990’s “Nightbreed,” which has grown into a fascinating study of fantasy and horror, but also editing decisions, as various cuts of the effort help to strengthen the power of Barker’s vision. And there’s 1995’s “Lord of Illusions,” which attempted to deliver the helmer’s love of intensity to a mass audience. The feature was largely ignored when it was released, and it’s easy to understand why. Barker is ambitious with this tale of violent magic and noir-ish adventuring, but he’s not skilled in the art of storytelling this time, preferring to transform the bizarreness of the material (an adaptation of 1985 short story) into a leaden viewing experience. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com