MovieChat Forums > Lord of Illusions (1995) Discussion > So underrated, even by me !

So underrated, even by me !


I'm saying this because back in 1995-96, i rent this and I didn't watch it entirely, i thought it suck, and I think again a couple of years later, finally, this is true terryfing story and I trly like it the 2nd time, but many people won't like it at the 1st viewing, it's not an easy ''horror flick brain at off'', no it's brillant and it's easily the best of Barker with Hellraiser !

Last Movies:- Unborn - 3,5/5
- Benjamin Button - 5/5
- Yes Man - 4/5

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I agree, it's the type of film that grows on you.

I first caught this movie on Chiller last spring and really wasn't paying attention and kept getting up. It just didn't seem to interest me. Finally it replayed a few nights later and I watched it from start to finish and was blown away. Very unrated, in fact this and Nightbreed really are brilliant films that are overshadowed by Hellraiser. I thought the acting/effects/and storyline were amazing. A true horror classic by Barker.

"These pretzels are making me thirsty!"






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I plan on purchasing the unrated version sometime in the near future. I haven't seen this in it's entirety since the theaters. I didn't like it back then, but for some reason I think about it a lot and would like to see it again. I agree with the above user that Nightbreed is underrated, and I can see where thjis film would be too!

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If electricity comes from electrons, does morality come from morons?

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I'm saying this because back in 1995-96, i rent this and I didn't watch it entirely, i thought it suck, and I think again a couple of years later, finally, this is true terryfing story and I trly like it the 2nd time, but many people won't like it at the 1st viewing

I feel the same way.
The first time it came on TV I watched the first 10 minutes and couldn't stand anymore. A few years later it came on and I sat down and watched it all the way through and liked it. It's an atypical horror movie. I usually don't like slasher/horror films so that may be why I actually like this horror movie.

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[deleted]

I watched it on one of the cable channels at a friends house a few weeks ago and found myself really liking it a lot. As I said back in February, I had a feeling I would like it better when I saw it again. Funny thing, I don't think my friend cared too much about it. Anyhow, I really do need to purchase this film.

Does anyone think that it was a bit before it's time, hence one of the reasons it was rejected back when it originally came out?

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Whose idea was it for the word "Lisp" to have an "S" in it?

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I agree, it's very ahead of it's time. I'm almost sure if it was released now it might of been a bit more successful. I still have my fingers crossed for a made for TV sequel for SyFy.

"These pretzels are making me thirsty!"






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I still have my fingers crossed for a made for TV sequel for SyFy >>> I must be honest here...a made for SyFy film is the LAST thing I want. I'd rather do without than to see a garbage version made by them.

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Whose idea was it for the word "Lisp" to have an "S" in it?

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What I meant was if they did it right (there's no way they could ever release it theaters since the first one wasn't that sucuessful)but if they either did a straight to DVD sequel or a made for TV movie for late night SyFy I think if they had Barker at least write the screenplay it could of been interesting. Barker has been doing a lot of stuff for TV lately anyways. I think they should try to get Scott Bakula back and maybe a cameo from Janssen and O'Connor. My dream sequel would have D'Amour now 15 years later back in New York still investigating cases of the supernatural in New York. The opening could have him maybe solving a case and then showing that he has a teenage boy or girl living with him who he's been raising as his own (like an uncle) this child was Dorothea Swann's (she died during childbirth) nearly fifteen years ago and D'Amour has been raising the child since then. (Dorothea was maybe a month or so pregnant with Philip's child when the first film took place. Dorothea didn't find out about the pregnancy until after the first film events happened) It could explain a little more about her troubled marriage with him and how she kept the baby simply out of guilt or love she had for Philip after his death (the pregnancy should of been a shock since her and Philip had drifted apart so much towards the end of their marriage) so now D'Amour is raising the teenager but strange things are happening. It appears that the child is starting to show signs of having the same talents/gifts as it's father did. Soon people in the city begin to die and everything is being linked to this teenager. Could Nix be returning? Or Philip? I would have it a mystery in which D'Amour is trying to solve while also being torn between knowing if this teenager is good or evil. He should be haunted by nightmares of Dorothea.

I know it's kinda lame but something along those lines I think would be interesting if they had Barker write the screenplay and have some of the original stars come back.

"These pretzels are making me thirsty!"






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Well, I actually don't think your idea is lame at all, but I do think that SyFy would be the absolute wrong way to go. They make nothing but garbage. They have no budget except for the cheapest of effects, and they hire schlock directors. Now, I don't think that TV is a bad direction to go, but I would definitely shoot for HBO or Showtime and avoid the SyFy trap altogether.

Now, I would love for Barker to direct, but I don't know if he'd want to at this point. He has a very visual style to his films and adds lots of small touches throughout. If Barker weren't heavily involved, I'd be less interested. If anything else, he needs to set the stage for the work that others could do. Yes, he made the first movie, but his hand is still needed.

While I think your story is interesting, I always imagined that a sequel would not have anything to do with Nix. He was one chapter in a series of encounters that Harry has, seeing that he is drawn to the darkness for an unknown reason. I think that a series made from the Lord of Illusions premise would be fantastic. You could tell all sorts of stories from Harry's world, but also build up to why he has this connection with the dark nature of things and/or why Harry walks the line between heaven and hell. That could be the overriding mystery, and I would definitely keep the world of magic and illusion involved as I think there are lots of mysteries behind closed doors yet to be revealed. In the context of the series, I could see stories where Nix could return or even Swann. I just don't like the idea of treading old material if it is going to be a movie, even a made for television movie.

I must say, I think the concept is rich and I am surprised that no one has thought of turning Lord of Illusions or Harry D'Amour into a series. Scott Bakula still does television, so it would be perfect.

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Whose idea was it for the word "Lisp" to have an "S" in it?

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Yeah I agree, SyFy (along with Chiller) have really gone down hill (budget and effect wise) HBO/Showtime would be a made for TV sequel's best bet (simply because the budget is bigger and there really are no limits when it comes to content) Having Barker direct along with write a screenplay would be amazing. I really like your idea simply because it's true, the D'Amour character was meant to continue in his battle between good and evil. I think HBO/Showtime should just do a deal with Barker so he can do a sequel for this and Nightbreed. It would be amazing to see right before Halloween if they hyped it just right (do lots of TV spots/articles/conventions/ect)

Lord Of Illusions was screaming for a sequel, so wasn't Nightbreed. Shame Hellraiser of all films kept getting sequels (which ruined the series) while these two hidden gems didn't really get the chance to shine. Maybe a SE DVD for both films could help as well.

"These pretzels are making me thirsty!"






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Harry D'Amour was designed to be a series, as the very nature of his character was a person that is drawn to one dark, supernatural occurrence after another. Showtime or HBO would be a great place to develop the idea, since they treat their shows with nice budgets and quality writing. I am sure that even Barker would be interested in developing such an idea, but first one of these networks need to get interested.

The Hellraiser series got silly, in my opinion. While I thought the first film by Barker was weird and bizarre, the sequels got corny. Nightbreed, on the other hand, was set up for sequels and never got them. of course, you have the studio to thank for that, seeing how they completely dumped the premise, advertised it as a slasher flick, and effectively ruined it's chances. I think Nightbreed would play out well as a series too, though I don't know if the cast would return or not. Still, I have a quote from Barker in a Nightbreed movie book I own where he says that the sequel was never intended to take place the next day or week, but to pick up years later. On that count, I think bringing back the original cast would be excellent and work beautifully in the larger story Barker had hoped to tell. Still, we would need the director's cut of the film, as it better sets the stage for events to come (such as Lori becoming a breed, inspector Joyce not being killed, the hiding of Baphomet, etc). It would be neat if a D'Amour story could be used as a jumping off point to bring us back into the world of the Nightbreed, creating a spinoff of sorts. So many possibilities.

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Whose idea was it for the word "Lisp" to have an "S" in it?

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Heh -- just had to add my two cents.

Yeah, I originally saw this movie in the theater back in '95, and didn't think all that much of it back then. Thought it was ok, but nothing special.

Over the years, I've caught the movie on HBO or cable a few times and have thought that maybe it wasn't so bad, after all. I just watched it again earlier this evening on HBO... and now I'm thinking that it was a pretty damn good movie, after all.

Funny, that.

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