Harlequin

Powell stars in this eerie Ozploitation thriller as a mysterious faith healer and magician (akin to a modern day Rasputin) whose cure for a senator's ailing son leads to betrayal and revenge. Hemmings co-stars as the emasculated senator whose wife (Duncan) the charismatic jester is now involved imperilling their lives. Broderick Crawford also appears as a shady political figure in one of his final film appearances, whilst Australian veteran actors Gus Mercurio and Alan Cassell have prominent supporting roles (although given the movie purports to be set in the US, both use accents, Cassell's being dubbed)

The atmospherics are spot-on, and despite the supernatural aspects, there's nothing fantastical about the underlying sinister attitude (although his outfit is sometimes distracting), and quiet menace of which Hemmings grows suspicious. It's genuinely scary at times and although there's a few missed opportunities for suspense, and some contrivances to tolerate, Powell creates a cultivated and engaging character at times as sympathetic as he can become cruel. That's not to say the performance is uneven though, it's just good acting.

Wincer shows his talent for storytelling, seamlessly blending dark occult themes with occasional dry humour (a great scene where Powell enthralls and then enrages his dinner party hosts with a crafty carrot trick), and then the more violent climax is tense and unnerving. Not a masterpiece, and the decision to set the story in another country was an unwise distraction (it would've worked just as well in a local setting) from what is still an engaging Ozploitation thriller.

A faith healer who appears from nowhere suddenly cures the sick son of a profound government senator, whom the politicians wife falls under the mysterious healer's charm and the young boy grows attached to his company. The senator can't shake the idea that there's something strange about all of this, could it all be a hypnotic trick or is there something really supernatural going on here. Then you got the chief political adviser who's trying to rid the healer of power he holds over the senator and his family, because he wants to be the one who's in control of the senator.

Was it all an illusion? Who was playing whom? Did this go beyond reality, by making way for supernatural influences? Like you see there are so many question brought up here that are totally left unexplained, but this enigmatic factor of who, what and why makes for one curious, but oddly enchanting spectacle. The multi-layered story plays out like political fantasy where it throws around many different ideas and allegories into the blend, where nothing seems quite like what it is because of a real mystical edge that's given out by Powell's charismatic character Wolfe. As an exhilarating tale, it failed for me, but for a curiosity piece, it really did work. The plot's outline shares its similarities with the Rasputin account, but this film has gone with a contemporary take on the story. The story does become incredibly strange with certain circumstances and situations, in which you have to suspend your disbelief and plays around with psychological tension. The thick air of mystery that's planted in the film, you could say is like that of a jigsaw puzzle that's missing some important pieces to give it that truly satisfying feel. The complex script is heavy on its parallel theories and it very much comes across like a poetic riddle (that's most of Powell's lines anyway) with it parables and psychic jargon. It's a very talkative piece with little significant details and hints running throughout it very mischievous layout on who's really the manipulator and just what are everyone's true intentions.

The film, which was made in Australia, looks reasonably good, even though it had a modest budget to work with. By today's standards the appearance and even the context is somewhat dated. The special effects are reasonably modest, with the odd hokey effect, but I guess you just got to take it with a grain of salt. The mostly well devised FXs were well orchestrated in to the story, but it does go over-the-top in the third act were the uneven pacing makes way for some flamboyant magic tricks for the fight of control over the senator. At least they were spot on with it, but they do and as well as the costumes give it an underlining campy b-grade charm. The location setting was simply ravishing and the exterior of the senator's house (were it all mostly plays out) is given a grand feel. The glitzy cinematography was remarkably well handled with some showy moments and Brian May's tenderly spooky score had a stinging, but emotional rush too it. Director Simon Wincer manages to come up with some inspired, solid visuals and tiny pockets of heighten and exciting suspense. But some moments are half-baked and it has an climax that doesn't feel like it has paid off. You just feel like it's working up for something big. However it does fit in with its subtle moodiness.

The performances are very first-rate with an international cast on show. Robert Powell plays the healer, Wolfe and his piercing capabilities create such subtly mysterious imprint (good or evil?) that you can't help but be intrigued by. David Hemmings' underplayed performance as senator Nick Rast shows a real solidarity. Broderick Crawford superbly plays Doc Wheelan a greedy political leader who overlooks Senator Rast and when he's on screen his presence truly governs the film. Carmen Duncan as Sandra Rast simply shines in her feisty role and Mark Spain utterly fits the role of eerie young lad Alex Rast. I thought the chemistry of the relationships was well thought up and naturally suitable.

What is served up here is exceedingly ambiguous and different, but this creative project has more going for it then what actually meets the eye. It's far from flawless and it wasn't what I expecting that's for sure, but it does make for an interesting viewing.

harlequin is a fun film and very entertaining. It's problem is that it seems to get a bit confused as to what it's all about. Robert powell, one of the most underused talents of modern times, shies as Wolfe, and there are some excellent moments exploiting his strengths, such as those intense blue eyes and angelic yet sinister demeanour. A scene at the start with Powell as a clown is particularly intriguing. The Rasputin illusions are noticeable, but here is where the film's weakness lies. Unlike Rasputin, who was gaining control of the affairs of no less than the Tsar of russia, Gregory wolfe hewre seems to be fascinated by a minor Australian politician, and when we can see what he is capable of himself one can't help thinking that Nick must seem a rather trivial target for his talents. It would be interesting to speculate that unlike us, Wolfe can see that nick will become important in the future and therefore warrants the attention he is being given but there is no attempt made in the film to explain this. Wolfe's relationship with Sandra is equally baffling, veering at random from rejection to seduction. The locations are generally rather dull and the film looks cumbersome, there being little elegance in the composition, all muddy colour and blocks of contrasting images, like a 70s American commercial. But on the plus side, the story keeps one intrigued, Powell is fascinating, his appearance in the window, distorted, is superb, and the final scene with Hemmings at his mercy in the house is pretty chilling. Certainly a good discussion can ensue after viewing for those in the mood!

A senator and his wife in SoCal (David Hemmings and Carmen Duncan) are puzzled by the sudden appearance of a peculiar man (Robert Powell) who seems to have the power to heal their son suffering from leukemia. Broderick Crawford is on hand as a looming political kingpin.

Shot in 1979, "Harlequin" debuted in Australia in 1980, but didn't make it to America until 1983-84. It was inspired by Grigori Rasputin, the mystic and faith healer who influenced the imperial family in Saint Petersburg in prerevolutionary Russia from 1906 till his assassination in late 1916. This was meshed with the harlequin from Italian theater. What makes the flick interesting is that the eponymous character is played by the actor who played Jesus Christ in the television epic "Jesus of Nazareth" a few years earlier. Interestingly, David Bowie was originally intended for the challenging role.

While shot in Perth, producers disguised this fact to boost international sales, making the setting of the story America with references to American states and the political system thereof. This was helped by the inclusion of British and American actors, as well as Alan Cassell's voice being dubbed into an American accent. Doing this was controversial because the film was made with money from Australian taxpayers. Nevertheless, viewers KNOW it's not America once Sandra Rast gets into her car and drives from the right side (lol).

While some parts of the score are dated and questionable, there are enough intriguing elements for those interested. Alyson Best appears in a few scenes and is a highlight on the beauty front. Meanwhile the senator played by Hemmings comes off as Trump in his 50s.

It runs 1 hour, 35 minutes, and is also known as "Dark Forces" and "The Minister's Magician."

GRADE: B-

As a long-time fan of Robert Powell, I have to say he was fantastic in this little known film, which I saw under the title "Dark Forces." The actor's ability is far under rated -why, I'll never know. This tale of a mysterious being entering the lives of a family was curiously spiritual as well as supernatural. I even found Powell quoting a line from his masterpiece "Jesus of Nazareth." There were some unanswered questions in the film, but I wasn't bothered by this. After all, the supernatural leaves a lot of gaps for us to dwell on and come up with our own conclusions.