My History With the Film:
Wishmaster came out right when I was probably at my horror peak as far as consumption of horror movies but for some reason I never saw it. It’s been on my “to watch” list for almost twenty years. Well, I’ve finally done it and consumed my first Wishmaster film. I caught it streaming on Amazon Prime and sat down for what I would hope would be a good time.
What The Film Is About (Non-Spoiler):
A woman mistakenly releases a djinn who is hell bent on wreaking havoc on Earth.
What I Liked About It:
-Wishmaster has that awesome low budget 90’s feel that I love so much. It reminds me of Tales from the Crypt or the Outer Limits, except with much better practical effects.
-I was blown away at some of the effects. I just wasn’t expecting them to be so damn good. The opening scene is full of blood and gore and it all feels so real. The movie only continues to get better and better and you can tell some talent folks (like Greg Nicotero) were behind it.
-The plot is basically a demented Aladdin tale, and that’s not a bad thing. It plays out well and I love how smooth and devilish Andrew Divoff portrays the character.
-Tammy Lauren plays a 90’s female protagonist so well. She’s vulnerable, but smart and carries a lot of emotional baggage with her that affects how she interprets events. There are a surprisingly quite a few layers to a character that could have just been a pretty face. Don’t get me wrong, the character is a cliché, but in a movie like Wishmaster it works well.
What I Didn’t Like About It:
-The film suffers from some typical mid-90’s pacing issues.
-Overall, I wasn’t a huge fan of the supporting cast, as they were all pretty forgettable.
Additional Notes:
-One of the statues featured in Raymond Beaumont’s room was a statue of Pazuzu from The Exorcist.
-Wishmaster was filmed and released in theaters in six months.
-The film features several horror icon cameos: Robert Englund (A Nightmare on Elm Street), Tony Todd (Candyman), Kane Hodder (Friday the 13th), Angus Scrimm (Phantasm), Reggie Bannister (Phantasm), and Ted Raimi (Evil Dead).
Rating:
You don’t go into a movie like Wishmaster looking for the highest quality of acting, Academy Award winning writing, and tons of depth. Instead, you look for great special effects, a cohesive story, middle of the road acting, and a lot of fun. Luckily, Wishmaster brings the fun. I rate Wishmaster a three out of five.
