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Wishmaster (1997) More at IMDbPro »

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138 comments in total

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16 out of 19 people found the following comment useful :-
"Fear the Djinn.", 3 March 2003
Author: Backlash007 from Kentucky

Wishmaster marks a huge return for theatrical gore. What a splatterfest! That opening scene, are you kidding me? The KNB crew have blown me away again. From chest exploding skeletons to lizard men, it's well done and I applaud them. It's not just the prologue, it's the whole movie. There's one bit in particular where a guy gets his jaw ripped off. It's jaw-dropping (no pun intended). There is someone from nearly every important horror franchise, and some that aren't so important, in this flick. Cast and cameos include Robert Englund, Kane Hodder, Tony Todd, Angus Scrimm and Reggie Bannister, Ted Raimi and Dan Hicks, Tom Savini, Ricco Ross, Peter Liapis, Joseph Pilato, and Buck Flower. Not to mention KNB effects group, Harry Manfredini did the score, Peter Atkins wrote the screenplay, Robert (K of KNB) Kurtzman directed, and Wes Craven is producing. This is an unreal cast and crew, a who's who of horror. Let's not forget who's leading this cast: Andrew Divoff. He has the one of the scariest, harshest voices of all time. He is the Djinn and he's cool as hell. I just can't understand why this wasn't as well received by the horror community as it should have been. As for the sequels, what sequels? Stick to the original and you can't go wrong.

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19 out of 25 people found the following comment useful :-
Uh-oh..., 12 August 1998
Author: Gislef from Iowa City, IA

Geez, after reading all the thumbs-down reviews, I feel almost embarrassed. I _liked_ Wishmaster. No, the idea of wishes-gone-awry isn't particularly original, but there are still some interesting elements done with it: a guard says he'd like to see the Djinn go through him and...it does (heh). Tammy Lauren is adequate as the spunky heroine, and Andrew Divoff (mostly consigned to minor B-villain roles - check him out in the Highlander TV series) makes a chilling threat. Jenny O'Hara makes the most of her role as resident supernatural expert. Yes, the gore is excessive, but I'm not sure if that's a concession to the 90's audience, or a directorial conceit - I'm willing to assume its the former. For a supernatural thriller/horror (as opposed to a Scream-type slasher/thriller), Wishmaster strikes me as one of the better efforts to come along since the last Nightmare and the first Candyman.

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12 out of 14 people found the following comment useful :-
This should deliver the goods for some horror fans., 13 March 2006

Author: Scott LeBrun from Winnipeg, Canada

The Djinn (Andrew Divoff), or genie if you want to call him that, escapes from his imprisonment inside a gem, and stalks L.A. looking for Alex (Tammy Lauren), the one who inadvertently set him free. Since he wants a quota of souls, he grants wishes to all those in his path, but puts a horrible spin on each of them so that each person is punished rather than rewarded. Once he has granted three wishes to Alex, his kind will be free to take over our world.

The mythology and admittedly slim plot are really just set-ups for an hour and a half long assortment of gruesome set pieces. "Wishmaster" is a lively affair, and as befitting a directorial effort by a makeup effects veteran (Robert Kurtzman), it's just bursting with gore. A lot of it, however, is actually kind of cartoonish and outlandish, more "fantasy" type gore than "realistic" type gore. I loved that skeleton that ripped free of its owners' body!

The way I see it, this is a film basically *for* horror fans, made *by* horror fans. The cast reads like a virtual Who's Who of horror, with Candyman (Tony Todd), Jason (Kane Hodder), Freddy (Robert Englund), The Tall Man (Angus Scrimm, a.k.a. the opening narrator), as prime examples. Writer Peter Atkins, also a genre veteran, even names some of the characters after noted science fiction authors.

Divoff is positively great as The Djinn, and in addition to his scenes in the costume and makeup, plays several scenes as Nathanial Demerest, a human disguise for the creature, doing so with a subtly sinister charm. Lauren is okay as the heroine, a little tougher than some horror movie bimbos (she plays tennis and coaches girls' basketball) but also a tortured kind of lead (there was a traumatic incident in her childhood). Be on the lookout for the late Buck Flower, once again playing a bum like no-one else can, and reeling off some great improvised insults.

Overall, a wild, entertaining film that of course created a new franchise monster that went on to appear in three direct-to-video sequels (two of them without Divoff, unfortunately).

Director Kurtzman is the guy killed by the piano.

7/10

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9 out of 13 people found the following comment useful :-
Should have been longer, 14 June 2000

Author: Shawn Watson (gator_macready@yahoo.com) from The Underverse

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.

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3 out of 3 people found the following comment useful :-
Original take on a horror project, 25 April 2005

Author: medic249a2 from Langley, Canada

*** This comment may contain spoilers ***

'Wishmaster' puts a new spin on most people's perception of genies. Most people think of a genie that fulfills your greatest wishes. But asking the Djinn to do so could have horrible consequences, as he twists your wishes in order to steal your soul.

It begins in the 12th century when a Persian king is locked into a pact with the Djinn, who unleashes unholy suffering on the King's people. A man is frozen into a wall; a woman turns into a tree; another man's skeleton bursts through his skin and walks around; and another man turns into a crocodile. It is only through a magician's work that this suffering ends, as the Djinn is imprisoned in a fire opal that is then buried inside a statue.

Fast-forward to the present day, when the statue is being unloaded at a Los Angeles dock for a collector, Robert Beaumont (Englund). An accident, however, kills Beaumont's assistant and breaks the statue open, revealing the opal. One of the dock workers steals it and turns it over to a gemologist, Alexandra Amberson (Lauren) for appraisal. During her examination, she unwittingly wakes the Djinn inside, and soon he is on the loose. First, he starts collecting souls by granting a single wish to certain people. One of the first is a homeless man, who sees a nasty pharmacist (Reggie Bannister of 'Phantasm') die a violent death from cancer after wishing for it. The Djinn then takes on a human appearance, sneaking into an anatomy lab and peeling the face of a cadaver off then plastering it onto his own face. Now he is Nathaniel Demarest (Divoff, who also plays the Djinn), a classy man-about-town. As Demarest, he continues his mission of misery by collecting souls - including that of a young sales girl by turning her into a mannequin.

Eventually, he tracks down Alexandra to her place of work, and after taunting & killing the guard ('Friday the 13th's Kane Hodder) after the guard challenges Demarest to "go through" him, he confronts Alex's boss. He eventually obtains Alex's home address after granting her boss's wishes, and shows up menacingly in her apartment. Alex, meanwhile, has found out through a friend of Beaumont's that the Djinn are truly evil creatures who are devious & not to be trusted. When Demarest reveals his true identity, Alex is horrified when the Djinn starts asking her to make her wishes. When she wishes him to destroy himself, the Djinn fires a pistol into his head - which instantly regenerates! He taunts Alexandra by warning, 'That which is eternal cannot die. But if it's any consolation at all, sweet Alex - THAT HURT LIKE HELL!!' Alex is then taken by the Djinn into his hideous red world, where she learns about his origins. When she returns to her apartment, she heads immediately for Beaumont's party where her sister is.

Demarest arrives just behind Alex, where he is confronted by Johnny Valentine (Tony Todd, star of 'Candyman' & 'Night of the Living Dead' [1990]). Valentine warns Demarest to leave, but Demarest tricks him - 'would you like to "escape"?'. When Valentine says yes, he finds himself chained in a steel-and-glass box filled with water! 'Houdini did it in 2.5 minutes,' Demarest says as he walks in.

The party soon becomes a horror show, starting when one woman turns into a glass statue and then explodes. Demarest reveals his real identity to Beaumont, who backs up against a wall then flees. As Alex makes her way through the halls of the museum she is attacked by statues of historical warriors, including a Roman Centurion & Genghis Khan. The Djinn then tries to extort Alex's third wish from her - after which he will be able to rule the world. To give Alex some incentive, he shows her sister trapped in a fire, the flames licking at her back. Through some creative thinking, Alex words her wish to suck the Djinn back into the fire opal - the same way he had 8 centuries earlier.

While the Djinn had some particularly bizarre ways of dispatching his victims, he also showed a demented sense of humor in doing so. Wishmaster also brought together several prominent horror film actors (Angus Scrimm & Reggie Bannister of 'Phantasm', Robert Englund of 'Nightmare on Elm Street', Tony Todd of 'Candyman' and 'Night of the Living Dead', and Kane Hodder of 'Friday the 13th') together.

This is an original take on horror since most of us don't consider genies to be evil. It offers more than the standard slasher fare the dominated 1980's horror.

8/10

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7 out of 11 people found the following comment useful :-
Make a Wish, but Think First, 18 May 2007

Author: Claudio Carvalho from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

In the beginning of the times, God created life into universe: light gave birth to angels, earth to men and fire to djin, creatures condemned to dwell in the void between the worlds. One who wakes a djin shall be given three wishes. Upon granting the third, an unholy legion of djins are freed through a doorway between the worlds upon the Earth. In 1127 A.D., in Persia, a sorcerer lures and traps a powerful Djinn (Andrew Divoff) in the stone of secret fire. In the present days, a drunken crane operator drops the valuable statue of Ahura Mazda over the assistant of Raymond Beaumont (Robert Englund) on the harbor, and one worker finds the huge and priceless opal red stone where Djin is seized. Alexandra Amberson (Tammy Lauren), who works in an auction house, receives the stone for evaluation and accidentally awakes Djin. The evil creature is released later, charges the stone with people souls and feeds with their fears, while chasing Alexandra to force to make three wishes and unleash the demoniac fiends upon Earth.

The gore and funny "Wishmaster" is good horror movie, with original deaths, great special effects (1997) and a refreshing story. Andrew Divoff, presently working in "Lost", is great in the role of the evil, witty and cynical Djin; the blonde Tammy Lauren performs a smart and clever character, following the Djin's advice ("- Make a wish, but think first") and luring and tricking the demon with her intelligence; and there is homage to horrors movie, with the participation of Robert "Freddy Krueger" Englund and Tony "Candyman" Todd. I have watched this film at least four times along ten years and it is still one of my favorites in the genre. My vote is seven.

Title (Brazil): "O Mestre dos Desejos" ("The Master of the Wishes")

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7 out of 11 people found the following comment useful :-
I can think of many wishes..to defeat the evil., 12 June 2006

Author: Liakot Ali from London

Wishmaster is a clever horror film, with a different storyline from the others. The movie is about a evil Djinn that grants Wishes and leaves an evil impact. Who ever makes a wish, the Djinn takes their soul. The movie has cameos from many Famous Horror legends. Some include Robert Englund of Freddy Krueger, Kane Hodder of Jason series, Tony Todd of Candyman etc. Andrew Divoff gives a Great performance as the Wishmaster. If you have seen all 4 Wishmasters, you will know in part 3 and 4, There is a different actor playing the Djinn. Andrew proves he is quite talented. Part One is the Best of the Lot. Part Two was pretty good. The others were a complete nonsense. One weakness with the film is the final wish, I'm sure they could think of a better and clever ending then that. The lead actress should of just wished for him to go to Planet Neptune and never return to Earth. She could of tried saying, I wish for you not to grant me this wish. I wish for more wishes. Anyway enough with that, i can go on for ages. The movie was entertaining and worth the watch.

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2 out of 2 people found the following comment useful :-
Fun, gory slasher thrill-ride, 16 March 2006

Author: Vampenguin from Canada

Right from the opening lines by Angus Scrimm, I knew that I was going to love this movie. It doesn't bother to waste any time, gets right to the good stuff within the first few minutes of the film. The gore, which is quite plentiful, reminded me of a mix of Hellraiser and In the Mouth of Madness, which is certainly a good thing. I had a lot of fun playing "spot the horror star" throughout the film; in case you didn't already know, this is loaded with cameos! It also has it's share of references to The Exorcist...the homeless man's line about being an old alter boy, the Pazuzu statues, etc. I thought that was a nice touch, to be honest. Divoff created a classic horror villain, his voice and mannerisms were spot-on. Creepy and beyond cool, he fits right in among Freddy, Jason, Myers or Pinhead. My one problem with the film was the psychic girl. Why oh why did they need to cheapen this film by making her "psychic"? Oh well, it didn't detract too much, I guess. Overall, this is a great film if you like a nice, gory, somewhat original slasher flick.

8.5/10

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3 out of 4 people found the following comment useful :-
great premise, missed payoff, 17 April 2005

Author: knifeintheeye from Canada

*** This comment may contain spoilers ***

Wishmaster is a movie that promises the world and only delivers a continent. It's not a bad movie, in fact, it's a very good horror movie. It's just that the premise was great, but the payoff wasn't.

Andrew Divoff played the title role of the djinn very well, and hammed it up as the human host, Nathaniel Demerest. Good IL' Freddy K, also known as Robert Englund, had a small role, but played it well. I actually don't recall much else of the cast (sorry people, it's been a couple of months since I saw the movie). The make up on the djinn was neato-keen and the special effects are better then average.

If ever a movie was made for the villain to win, it was this movie. I suppose the ending was fine, but oh how I wanted the evil djinn to win. I know I'm human and I should root for the human but I was hoping to see the djinns take over the world.

Why won't film makers, if the main character is a villain/monster let the guy win?

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1 out of 1 people found the following comment useful :-
Make your wishezzzzz, 28 January 2009

Author: Sandcooler from Belgium

The cool thing about "Wishmaster" is that it doesn't look like anything else. You can recognise a shot from "Wishmaster" quite easily, because Robert Kurtzman, who usually spends his time as a special effects/make-up guy, has a highly developed visual style in his direction. Just take for instance the memorable opening scene. Things look awesome. The idea is good too because the plot is very unpredictable, and on top of that it provides some very decent gore. I could just watch that party scene over and over again. All the other things aside, Andrew Divoff just steals this movie as the Djinn in his human form. There's no make-up involved, he just has that natural evil smirk we know and love. It just seems carved right into his face, it's even more prominent in the sequel but it gets tiresome there. The main actress was a disappointment, that's the only bad thing I can say about this movie. Just doesn't carry the movie, completely colorless. Apart from that this is among the best horror had to offer in the 90's.

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