/iQpM9uZDW4R1d96xuTOO0DQUMVy.jpg
ActionThriller

F/X

- Murder by illusion.

A movies special effects man is hired by a government agency to help stage the assassination of a well known gangster. When the agency double cross him, he uses his special effects to trap the gangster and the corrupt agents.

Release Date : 1986-02-07

Language :English

Adult : false

Status : Released

Production Company : Orion Pictures

Production Country : United States of America

Alternative Titles : FXF/X - Murder by IllusionMurder by IllusionFX Murder by Illusion

Cast

Bryan Brown

Character Name : Roland 'Rollie' Tyler

Original Name : Bryan Brown

Gender : Male

Brian Dennehy

Character Name : Lt. Leo McCarthy

Original Name : Brian Dennehy

Gender : Male

Diane Venora

Character Name : Ellen

Original Name : Diane Venora

Gender : Female

Cliff DeYoung

Character Name : Lipton

Original Name : Cliff DeYoung

Gender : Male

Mason Adams

Character Name : Col. Mason

Original Name : Mason Adams

Gender : Male

Jerry Orbach

Character Name : Nicholas DeFranco

Original Name : Jerry Orbach

Gender : Male

Joe Grifasi

Character Name : Mickey

Original Name : Joe Grifasi

Gender : Male

Martha Gehman

Character Name : Andy

Original Name : Martha Gehman

Gender : Female

Trey Wilson

Character Name : Lt. Murdoch

Original Name : Trey Wilson

Gender : Male

Roscoe Orman

Character Name : Captain Wallenger

Original Name : Roscoe Orman

Gender : Male

Tom Noonan

Character Name : Varrick

Original Name : Tom Noonan

Gender : Male

Paul D'Amato

Character Name : Gallagher

Original Name : Paul D'Amato

Gender : Male

Jossie DeGuzman

Character Name : Marisa Velez

Original Name : Jossie DeGuzman

Gender : Male

Jean De Baer

Character Name : Whitemore

Original Name : Jean De Baer

Gender : Female

M'el Dowd

Character Name : Joyce Lehman

Original Name : M'el Dowd

Gender : Male

John Doumanian

Character Name : The director

Original Name : John Doumanian

Gender : Male

Ray Iannicelli

Character Name : Charlie

Original Name : Ray Iannicelli

Gender : Male

Tim Gallin

Character Name : Adams

Original Name : Tim Gallin

Gender : Male

Angela Bassett

Character Name : TV reporter

Original Name : Angela Bassett

Gender : Female

Jim Lovelett

Character Name : McCoy

Original Name : Jim Lovelett

Gender : Male

Reviews

J

JPV852

@JPV852

2022-01-30

Seen this one a few times over the years, not great and Bryan Brown is a bit limited with the dramatic stuff but still an all around entertaining suspense-thriller. **3.5/5**

C

CinemaSerf

@Geronimo1967

2024-12-07

Have you ever seen the classic that is "I Dismember Momma"? It's a belter - all down to the amazing creative skills of visual effects man "Rollie" (Bryan Brown). At least, the US Government think so and so they engage him to help out faking some evidence of murder for a man they are subsequently going to put into witness protection. Meantime, New York's finest "McCarthy" (Brian Dennehy) is investigating that very crime, but he can't quite get to grips with why his federal colleagues are being less than helpful. As the story develops, it becomes quite clear that none of this is on the level and there is blackmail, extortion and real-life murder on the cards and pretty swiftly our faker is having to use all his skills and wits to keep himself alive as he hasn't a clue whom to trust. The audience knows a little more about who is pulling the strings than he does, but that doesn't really matter as the whole thing sort of splutters from the far-fetched to the downright silly, especially towards the end when his handler "Col. Mason" (Mason Adams) shows his true colours. Brown fitted the bill in "Breaker Morant" (1980) but otherwise I never quite knew why, aside from his looks, Brown made it on the big screen at all. He has a glint in his eye, but his acting is about as papier-mâché as many of his props and he delivers the pedestrian dialogue just as statically. It's a fantasy adventure in all but name - just add a few bullets, a fake moustache or two and lots of rain. Maybe next time don't opt for witness protection, just go sit in the Colosseum - it'd be safer, and certainly more fun to watch.