Wishmaster (1997)

User Rating:

5.2/10   

Director:

Robert Kurtzman

Writer (WGA):

Peter Atkins (written by)

Release Date:

19 September 1997 (USA)

Genre:

Fantasy | Horror

Tagline:

Be careful what you wish for.

Plot:

A demonic djinn attempts to grant its owner three wishes, which will allow him to summon his brethren to earth.

Plot Keywords:

Djinn | Fire | Wish | First Of Series | Lifting Person In Air

Awards:

2 nominations

Cast

Tammy Lauren	...	Alexandra Amberson
Andrew Divoff	...	The Djinn / Nathaniel Demerest
Robert Englund	...	Raymond Beaumont
Chris Lemmon	...	Nick Merritt
Wendy Benson-Landes	...	Shannon Amberson (as Wendy Benson)
Tony Crane	...	Josh Aickman
Jenny O'Hara	...	Wendy Derleth
Kane Hodder	...	Merritt's Guard
Tony Todd	...	Johnny Valentine
Ricco Ross	...	Lt. Nathanson
John Byner	...	Doug Clegg
George 'Buck' Flower	...	Homeless Man
Gretchen Palmer	...	Ariella
Ted Raimi	...	Ed Finney
Angus Scrimm	...	Narrator (voice)

Also Known As:

Wes Craven's Wishmaster

MPAA:

Rated R for horror violence and gore, and for language.

Runtime:

90 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Singapore:R21 | Iceland:16 | South Korea:18 | Italy:T | Argentina:16 | Australia:MA | Finland:K-16 (video premiere) | France:-12 | Germany:18 | Hong Kong:III | Ireland:18 | Portugal:M/16 | Spain:18 | UK:18 | USA:R | Brazil:16 | Germany:BPjM Restricted

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Pierre David

Trivia:

Characters named Finney, Beaumont, Derleth and Demerest are all references to science fiction or horror writers of the 1950s.

Goofs:

Continuity: When the tramp presses himself up against the drug store window, the positions of him arms change from up or down between shots.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Narrator: Once, in a time before time, God breathed life into the universe. And the light gave birth to Angels. And the earth gave birth to Man. And the fire gave birth to the Djinn, creatures condemned to dwell in the void between the worlds. One who wakes a Djinn will be given three wishes. Upon the granting of the third, the unholy legions of the Djinn will be freed to rule the earth. Fear one thing in all there is... FEAR THE DJINN.

Movie Connections:

References The Exorcist (1973)

Soundtrack:

Listen to the Heart

Should have been longer

I think the basic premise of this movie is quite entertaining and the movie as a whole is way better than most of the teen-based horror flicks of late. The effects may be a bit hokey and the direction lackluster but this is a way cool movie that received far less than it deserved.

The plot focuses on the Djinn, that's Wishmaster to you, and his efforts to take over the world. As you can see...it's pure hokum but it's the gory bits in between and the Djinn's wisecracking that make this movie worth the money.

The acting is bad all round, all except Andrew Divoff who ravages the role of The Djinn/Demerest with 200% enthusiasm. I hope they release a second and more higher profile sequel soon as this is a franchise I wouldn't want to see be killed off before it's reached it's peek. I give this movie 7/10.