August 28, 1995 -- ``Lord of Illusion'' is the latest horror movie to hit Laramie, but it is just more of the same gory stuff from writer-director Clive Barker.

Barker, who directed ``Hellraiser,'' ``Candyman'' and ``Sleepwalkers'' depends too much on gruesome special effects in place of a good, solid story, but if this movie makes money, we'll see more of the same.

The story has to do with the killing and burial of a nasty devil-worshiper called ``Nix,'' played by Daniel Von Bargen. Fade to black. We arrive about 13 years later to one low-budget private New York dick, Harry D'Amour, played by Scott Bakula of ``Quantum Leap'' and ``Necessary Roughness.''

Bakula takes an insurance fraud case in California that draws him into contact with the same cult that Nix led. He also stumbles into a related case involving a magician. Gallons of blood, pounds rotting flesh and a few mucous monsters grace the screen in this in this goofy gorefest.

Although the special effects are good, as Shaggy Bob would say on the Internet, it hits 90 on the vomit-meter. There is also some sexual content, hence the ``R'' rating.

So what's the point of this exercise? Cheap thrills? I'll have to admit, it is a little scary in some places. There are some interesting scenes involving magic, a subject I've always been drawn to. Bakula's performance is also a highlight. He rises above the material to bring some added depth to his role as a man torn between good and evil.

Kevin J. O'Connor, as magician Philip Swan, also is effective in the movie. My problem with the film is the high level of gore and some big plot holes, however, if you really liked Barker's movies ``Hellraiser'' and ``Nightbreed,'' you might just like this movie, despite its flaws.

For me, it was just too dark, depressing, incoherent and generally unpleasant to recommend. Of recent horror films, I thought ``Demon Knight'' and "In the Mouth of Madness" are the only ones I've seen that are above average. "Lord of Illusion" is below average. It rates a C-.

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