Rish Outfield's reviews
I like Scott Bakula. I watched Quantum Leap a lot and it constantly moved me. I like Famke Janssen, and think she's damned attractive (in fact, with this, Deep Rising, and The Faculty, she's a Scream Dutchess right now). I don't much care for Clive Barker (though I've read a book or two and watched almost all his movies), but ah well. This had some good things going for it, but I found it to be a very empty viewing experience. It wasn't nearly as sick as most of Barker's movies, but it had its moments. I can't tell you whether I liked or disliked this movie. I think it's somewhere in between. Does that make sense?

The tyranist's thoughts
I went into this expecting a sick cross between Wishmaster and Hellraiser. What I got was actually much better. Clive Barker really restrained some of his sicker impulses in this arcane thriller. The movie that actually comes closest to it in my mind is Angel Heart. A rough-and-tumble-film-noir style detective takes on the arcane mystery of a lifetime at the behest of the beautiful Famke Janssen. But lets face it, I would have done the same for her. There is some typical Clive Barker strangeness, but it is much more subdued than is normal.
The script is intelligently written and it is well-directed. The actors do a fine job. Watch for a brief cameo by Vince Schiavelli. Some of the effects are almost enough to make you puke, but for the most part Lord of Illusions is stomachable and even entertaining.