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)
Reggie Bannister	...	Pharmacist (as Reggie Banister)
Joseph Pilato	...	Mickey Torelli
Brian Klugman	...	Medical Student
Ari Barak	...	Zoroaster
Jake McKinnon	...	Skeleton Man
Greg Funk	...	Snake Man
Richard Assad	...	Persian King
Dan Hicks	...	Customs Official
Tom Kendall	...	Etchison
Ashley Power	...	Sierra
Verne Troyer	...	Creature Stage #1
Walter Phelan	...	Creature Stage #2
Peter Liapis	...	Pharmacy Customer #1
Frank Nicotero	...	Pharmacy Customer #2
Jean St. James	...	Female Customer
Azita Azar	...	Student With Mask
Joe Svezia	...	Uniformed Cop
Dennis Hayden	...	Security Guard
Betty McGuire	...	Mrs. Merritt
Renee Faia	...	Insurance Assistant
Cyndi Pass	...	Glass Woman
Howard Berger	...	Party Guard #1
Robert Jacob	...	Party Guard #2
Brad J. Mead	...	Cop at Blackwood (as Brad Mead)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Wade Beckett	...	Museum Bartender (uncredited)
Robert Kurtzman	...	Piano Wire Guy (uncredited)
Mary Ann Schmidt	...	Party Guest (uncredited)
Annie Sorell	...	Screaming woman (uncredited)

Directed by
Robert Kurtzman

Writing credits (WGA)
Peter Atkins		(written by)

Produced by
Wes Craven	....	executive producer
Pierre David	....	producer
Russell D. Markowitz	....	line producer
Clark Peterson	....	producer
Erik Saltzgaber	....	associate producer
David Tripet	....	co-producer
Noël A. Zanitsch	....	producer

Original Music by
Harry Manfredini

Cinematography by
Jacques Haitkin

Film Editing by
David Handman

Casting by
Cathy Henderson
Dori Zuckerman

Production Design by
Deborah Raymond
Dorian Vernacchio

Set Decoration by
Barbara Cole

Costume Design by
Karyn Wagner

Makeup Department
Howard Berger	....	special makeup effects
Chris Hanson	....	special makeup effects artist
Brad Hardin	....	makeup effects artist
Paul Jones	....	makeup effects crew
Monica Kenyon	....	special makeup effects artist
Louis Kiss	....	special makeup effects artist
Martina Kohl	....	key makeup artist
Robert Kurtzman	....	special makeup effects
Robert Maverick	....	special makeup effects artist: KNB EFX Group
Gregory Nicotero	....	special makeup effects
Mike J. Regan	....	special makeup effects
Melanie Tooker	....	makeup artist
Gary J. Tunnicliffe	....	additional special makeup effects
Robert Hall	....	special makeup effects crew (uncredited)

Production Management
Shannon Gaulding	....	executive in charge of production
Vanessa Hayes	....	post-production supervisor
David Schladweiler	....	production supervisor
Yalda Tehranian	....	executive in charge of production

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Frank Kostenko Jr.	....	second assistant director
Allen Kupetsky	....	second second assistant director
Gregory Nicotero	....	second unit director
Dave Tanaka	....	assistant director
John E. Vohlers	....	first assistant director

Art Department
Jackson Bishop	....	set designer
Greg Boes	....	carpenter
Edward J. Borasch Jr.	....	property master
Carlos Chacon	....	carpenter
Agee Clayton	....	on-set carpenter (as Aggy Clayton)
Michael T. Daigle	....	paint supervisor (as Mike Daigle)
Darrin Denlinger	....	storyboard artist
Darin Gillespie	....	carpenter
Stacie B. London	....	on-set dresser
Neil O'Sullivan	....	leadman
Byron Perez	....	carpenter
Francisco Pérez	....	carpenter
Kristie Pfeffinger	....	set painter (as Kristie Daigle)
Graham Robertson	....	set dresser
Christopher H. Sipes	....	set dresser
Lynn Stone	....	set painter
Michael Vaccaro	....	construction coordinator

Sound Department
Kris Campbell	....	foley & adr supervisor
James H. Coburn IV	....	boom operator
Jed M. Dodge	....	dialogue supervisor
Ken Dufva	....	foley artist (as Kenneth Dufva)
Thom 'Coach' Ehle	....	stereo sound consultant: Dolby
Marilyn Graf	....	foley cue
Catherine Harper	....	foley artist
Jim Hilton	....	sound (as James Hilton)
Ossama Khuluki	....	foley artist
James Moriana	....	foley artist
Donald Murray	....	adr editor
Phillip Seretti	....	sound designer
Phillip Seretti	....	sound re-recording mixer
Randy Singer	....	foley mixer
Robert W. Vandling	....	sound effects supervisor
Janja Vujovich	....	post-production sound coordinator
Jeffrey Wilhoit	....	foley artist

Special Effects by
Evan Campbell	....	special effects makeup crew
Alan McFarland	....	special effects lighting electronics
Wayne Toth	....	special effects makeup
David Waine	....	special effects coordinator

Visual Effects by
Jeff Barnes	....	executive producer: ComputerCafe
Mike Bozulich	....	3D animator: ComputerCafe
David Carlson	....	visual effects animator
Gregory Creaser	....	digital timer: Digital Magic
Gina Di Bari	....	digital artist
David Ebner	....	3D animator: ComputerCafe
Leif Einarsson	....	computer graphics lead animator: Digital Magic
Manuel Rey Gonzalez	....	digital compositor
Justin Hammond	....	compositor
Brian Hanable	....	digital effects compositor
Jonathan Honn	....	digital artist: ComputerCafe
Ron Honn	....	digital artist: ComputerCafe
Lu Kondor	....	data manager: Digital Magic
Ralph Maiers	....	in house visual effects supervisor: Digital Magic
Kama Moiha	....	3D animator: ComputerCafe
Janet Quen	....	digital effects artist
Thomas C. Rainone	....	visual effects supervisor
Bryant Reif	....	3D animator: ComputerCafe
Dan Santoni	....	digital effects artist
Bob Wiatr	....	digital effects supervisor
Tom Williamson	....	digital effects supervisor: ComputerCafe

Stunts
John Alden	....	stunts
Ted Barba	....	stunts
Rick Barker	....	stunts
Perry Barndt	....	stunts
Paul Beahm	....	stunts
Robin Lynn Bonaccorsi	....	stunt driver (as Robin Bonaccorsi)
Kurt Bryant	....	stunt coordinator
Bobby Burns	....	stunts
Jeff Cadiente	....	stunts
Jennifer Caputo	....	stunts
Alisa Christensen	....	stunts
Eugene Collier	....	stunts
Bret Davidson	....	stunts
Thomas Dewier	....	stunts
Al Goto	....	stunts
Randy Hall	....	stunts
Brett A. Jones	....	stunts (as Brett Jones)
Dennis Madalone	....	stunts
Johnny Martin	....	stunts
Cole S. McKay	....	stunts (as Cole McKay)
Billy Morts	....	stunt rigger
Billy Morts	....	stunts
Brad Orrison	....	stunts
Gary Paul	....	stunts
Eddie Perez	....	stunts
Sheeri Rappaport	....	stunts
B.L. Richmond	....	stunts (as B. Richmond)
Mario Roberts	....	stunts
Patrick J. Statham	....	stunts (as Patrick Statham)
William Washington	....	stunts
Keith Woulard	....	stunts

Camera and Electrical Department
Edgar Arellano	....	electrician
Ron Baldwin	....	pro-Steadicam operator
Monty Bass	....	grip
Jürgen Baum	....	director of photography: second unit
Barry Berona	....	additional first assistant camera: "b" camera
Christos Bitsakos	....	additional second assistant camera (as Christos C. Bitsakos)
Eric S. Boland	....	assistant lighting technician
David S. Bouza	....	chief lighting technician (as David Bouza)
Don Chong	....	electrician
Susan A. Cohen	....	electrician (as Sean P. Cohen)
Marcelo Colacilli	....	rigging gaffer
Nicole Commons	....	additional first assistant camera
Paola Cresti	....	camera loader
Robert Danesky	....	grip
Jon Delaney	....	grip
Rudy M. Fenenga Jr.	....	additional first assistant camera: "b" camera (as Rudy Fenenga Jr.)
Al Fernandez	....	electrician
Stefan Fernandez	....	electrician
Donna Fewell	....	additional second assistant camera (as Donna Fewel)
Christopher Franey	....	electrician (as Christopher E. Franey)
Brian Fujii	....	electrician
Richard D. Galbraith	....	electrician (as Richard Galbraith)
Cory Geryak	....	camera gaffer: "b" camera
Lisa Gilhousen	....	electrician
Harry Gradzhyan	....	electrician
Guy J. Graves	....	generator operator
Phil Hardt	....	assistant lighting technician (as Philip J. Hardt)
Edward Hernandez	....	camera rigger: "b" camera (as Edward Vallejo Hernandez)
Christian Hibbard	....	electrician
Mark W. Hindle	....	video playback operator
Klaus Hoch	....	additional camera operator
Paul Janossy	....	first assistant camera: "b" camera
Paul Kafader	....	grip
David Kiser	....	additional first assistant camera
Richard Lamphiear	....	electrician (as Richard 'Tito' Lamphiear)
Jacob I. Lapin	....	camera rigger: "b" camera
Joseph LaStrape III	....	electrician (as Joey Lastrape)
Terence Latimer	....	rigging grip
Wes Llewellyn	....	gaffer
Bruce Lockerman	....	camera grip (as Bruce 'Raven' Lockerman)
Marc Lyons	....	assistant camera
Patrick J. Malloy	....	electrician
Brent Marks	....	electrician (as Brent W. Marks)
Stephen B. Martinez	....	key grip
John McCormack	....	electrician (as John P. McCormack)
Jack McHaney	....	electrician
Igor Meglic	....	director of photography: second unit
Alex 'Shark' Michel	....	dolly grip
Matthew Moriarty	....	additional second assistant camera (as Matt Moriarty)
Nicholas K. Nicholsky III	....	rigging grip (as Nick Nicholsky)
Kerri O'Kane	....	additional camera loader
John Palato	....	best boy rigging grip
Michael Pescasio	....	assistant lighting technician
Dale Robinette	....	still photographer
Andrew Robison	....	grip
James P. Rowan	....	electrician: "b" camera
Shane Salyards	....	electrician
Chris Shaw	....	electrician
Josh J. Sheridan	....	camera production assistant: "b" camera
Bob Snyder	....	electrician
Robert Snyder	....	electrician (as Robert Allen Snyder)
Calvin Starnes	....	grip (as Calvin R. Starnes)
Tony Torolano	....	electrician
Tony Tortolano	....	electrician
Frank C. Towers Jr.	....	electrician
Bela Trutz	....	second assistant camera: "b" camera
Gary Webster	....	additional second assistant camera
Brence Williams	....	electrician

Casting Department
Robyn Owen	....	casting associate
Julie Thomas	....	casting associate
Debe Waisman	....	extras casting
Randy Callahan	....	casting assistant (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Matthew Bates	....	first assistant editor (as Matt O. Bates)
Joseph Boren	....	second assistant editor
Nathan Easterling	....	assistant editor
Bryan Ellenburg	....	executive in charge of post-production
Keith Henderson	....	assistant editor
Mike Mertens	....	color timer
Fulvio Valsangiacomo	....	assistant editor

Music Department
Johnny Caruso	....	music editor
Sean Fernald	....	music clearance
Jerry Lambert	....	music engineer
Motörhead	....	music performers: "Listen to the Heart"
Bobby Muzingo	....	orchestrator

Transportation Department
Robert H. Day	....	driver: bus
Haryl L. Deason	....	driver
Wayne Flowers Jr.	....	driver: honeywagon (as Wayne D. Flowers Jr.)
Derew Frutos	....	driver
Jim Herbert II	....	driver
Bill Isaacson	....	driver: camera car
Larry Levine	....	driver
Mike Painter	....	transportation coordinator
Todd Painter	....	driver
Michael Perrotti	....	driver
Patsy Rust	....	driver
Kevin Scott Sadowski	....	driver (as Kevin Sadowski)
Robert Stitt	....	driver: insert car
James Wakeman	....	transportation captain
Dan E. Walker	....	driver
Randall White	....	driver

Other crew
Josephine Batorski	....	studio teacher (as Josephine H. Batorski)
Brent M. Becker	....	production accountant
Brian Berkenfeld	....	unit publicist
Keith Englund	....	production assistant
Jeffrey Fenner	....	production consultant
Julius M. Fletcher	....	production assistant (as Julius Fletcher)
Marina Hamaoui	....	set production assistant
Kristen Held	....	stitcher
Krista Helgeson	....	key set production assistant
Rodney 'Bear' Jackson	....	production assistant (as Rodney M. Jackson)
Lonnie Johnson	....	medic
Anne Kurtzman	....	assistant: Mr. Kurtzman
Patrick Jack Lee	....	production financing
Mike James Masumoto	....	assistant locations
Mark McRiley	....	medic
Denise Murray	....	assistant: Mr. Zanitsch
Melanie Neat	....	production assistant
Stevie Nelson	....	location manager
Andrew Osburn	....	production assistant
Mike Piccirillo	....	set production assistant
Nicole Rodionoff	....	production assistant
Alan M. Rowe	....	board operator
Ken Sanders	....	executive in charge of development
Sabrina Sipantzi	....	production coordinator
Shari Sontag	....	assistant accountant
Nicole Stavro	....	script supervisor: second unit
Lynn Struiksma	....	production assistant
Craig Wexler	....	medic
Licia Wolf	....	script supervisor
Wendy Yarbrough	....	assistant: Mr. David

Thanks
John Esposito	....	special thanks

Production Companies

• Pierre David

Distributors

• Atalanta Filmes (Portugal)
• CTV International (France)
• Evolution Entertainment (2003) (Switzerland) (DVD)
• Imperial Entertainment
• Live Entertainment
• Live Film & Mediaworks Inc.
• Roadshow Entertainment Video
• Roadshow Entertainment (Australia)
• Telegroup S.L. (Spain)
• marketing-film

Special Effects

• 2G Effects (digital visual effects)
• Area 51 (digital visual effects)
• Computer Cafe, The (digital visual effects)
• Digital Magic Company (digital visual effects)
• Imagine Animation International (additional special make-up effects)
• K.N.B. Effects Group (special makeup effects)

Other Companies

• Austro Catering Services  catering (as Austro Catering)
• Axium Entertainment Group  production payroll (as Axium Entertainment)
• Post Sound Corporation  post-production sound services
• RD Negative Cutting  negative cutting
• Title House  titles and opticals (as Title House)
• Top Notch Security  security

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:

Many crew members, including director Robert Kurtzman (man killed by piano) had small roles in the film, some times appearing in different scenes as different characters.

Goofs:

Continuity: During the party scene, a woman wearing a green dress can be seen lying dead on the floor, a few scenes later we can see her alive and running out of the house with the crowd.

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.