Customer Reviews

Dark Forces

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Known in the rest of the world as HARLEQUIN, this modern mystical "Svengali" story with a twist has never had a decent home video release. Shot in expressive widescreen Panavision it doesn't translate well to indifferent pan & scan jobs, like the OOP VHS and U.K. cheapie DVD. Elite has issued a very nice looking 16X9 enhanced scope version with Director and Producer commentary, a nice and informative touch.

David Hemmings, a political hotshot, has a terminally ill son who seems to magically improve under the (seemingly) benign influence of a modern "court jester", (Robert Powell) who appears at his son's birthday party as a clown and ends up insinuating his way into a position of influence with his wife and child. If this sounds very Rasputin-like it is, but the story has a few surprises along the way.

If you've never seen this gem and like subtle and tense supernatural / suspense stories give it a try.

Released in 1980. Original Title: Harlequin.
Alex (Mark Spain) is a nine-year old who is ill with Leukemia. Robert Powell (Jesus of Nazereth [1977]) plays a clown at his birthday party and tries to cheer him up. Alex's father, Nick (David Hemmings) is a Senator who could become the next Deputy Governor. The clown, also known as a Harlequin, has a gift of performing magic for children and is able to produce thunder from the sky at will. The boy has become quite taken by the clown. After paying a surprise appearance to the sick boy with clown make-up, the family soon realizes this man, "Gregory", has special healing powers for the boy. However he has evil powers for others.

Dark Forces is an intriguing movie about a senator to become president and wife who he married for political reasons and their sick child dying of leukemia.The senator being control by high government dark forces who are setting him up for president through murder of another canidate. Then a magician/wizard comes along and feels sorry for the family and child and decides to cure the boy.This is then where the story takes off and bcomes more exciting every minute.A mystical-fantasy based on the story of Rasputin and his influence over the royal Czar's court and his death is told in a new way in this modern version of the Rasputin story of the 18th century. A good watch if you just love fantasy. Stars Robert Powell as the Magician, Divid Hemmings the husban, and Carmen Duncan as the wife and Mark Spain as the sick child. This Movie also carried the titles "Harlequin" and "The Minister's Magician"
I really enjoyed this movie which the first time I watched it was 1980 under the title "Harlequin".

Due to the small number of reviews, I've decided to help with mine. Well, I wouldn't know this story very well now. I just remember being surprised at the twists of this -curiously- somewhat unknown movie. I'd say it's a mix of fantasy, action and suspense with a touch of drama. And it is not bad at all. And exactly because of not having one specific genre, it might please you too.

Fascinating, dark study of a political family seduced by the powers of a traveling magician who befriends their ill son. The story works well on that level, and the acting is certainly passable enough to be entertaining.

Even more fascinating when one realizes that this is a retelling of the historical plot of the fall of the Czar of Russia! In history, Nicholas (Nicky in this film) and Alexandra (Sandy) had and extremely ill son, Alexander (Alex) and allowed the "Mad Monk" Gregory Rasputin (Gregory Wolfe) into the family with his promises of a cure for the the boy. Viewed on this level, this interesting enough B-movie become a fascinating study in parallels. Well worth a watch and some time to enjoy!