The final post for Tony Scott month will be coming this weekend and will be a forgotten film just not on Friday. It's a weird one too so fair warning. So for Friday's actual post I want to quickly look at a fun forgotten horror film from 1997, Wishmaster. If I ask you to think of your favorite horror icons, who comes to mind? The classics maybe, like Dracula, Frankenstein's monster, the Wolf Man, the Mummy. Or maybe you think of the horror legends of the '80s, Jason Voorhees, Freddy Kruger, Chucky, Pinhead. I argue the Djinn should be regarded right up there with them. This guy is totally awesome and the actor, Andrew Divoff, is having a great time playing him.
Wishmaster is about the djinn, an evil genie basically who is freed from captivity hundreds of years after being imprisoned. Of course any wish someone makes is twisted to be fatal to them or someone else. His psychic connection to Alex, the woman who freed him and if granted three wishes will bring about the Djinn apocalypse, is the only hope to stop him.
Like The Relic last week this is not high concept cinema. This is a fun popcorn film with a completely entertaining villain and plenty of fun kills. The kills usually are a creative and brutal twist on whatever the person wishes for. For example someone wishes to be beautiful forever. The djinn turns her into a mannequin. I won't spoil any of the other ones. It's very Twilight Zone esque but the tone of the film actually suggests Tales from the Crypt more than Twilight Zone.
Full credit has to be given to Andrew Divoff, who plays the Djinn in both versions, as his actual creature self and in disguise as a human. He brings the right amount of sinister charm and almost plays it like a Bond villain. He clearly knows what kind of movie he is and is making the most out of it. Its a quick breezy view and for you horror fans it'll be a good time. It's not the best film ever made but thats fine. Not everything has to be an Oscar caliber level film. Though in a perfect world, maybe Andrew Divoff would be considered for an award at the very least.
Wishmaster is about the djinn, an evil genie basically who is freed from captivity hundreds of years after being imprisoned. Of course any wish someone makes is twisted to be fatal to them or someone else. His psychic connection to Alex, the woman who freed him and if granted three wishes will bring about the Djinn apocalypse, is the only hope to stop him.
Like The Relic last week this is not high concept cinema. This is a fun popcorn film with a completely entertaining villain and plenty of fun kills. The kills usually are a creative and brutal twist on whatever the person wishes for. For example someone wishes to be beautiful forever. The djinn turns her into a mannequin. I won't spoil any of the other ones. It's very Twilight Zone esque but the tone of the film actually suggests Tales from the Crypt more than Twilight Zone.
Full credit has to be given to Andrew Divoff, who plays the Djinn in both versions, as his actual creature self and in disguise as a human. He brings the right amount of sinister charm and almost plays it like a Bond villain. He clearly knows what kind of movie he is and is making the most out of it. Its a quick breezy view and for you horror fans it'll be a good time. It's not the best film ever made but thats fine. Not everything has to be an Oscar caliber level film. Though in a perfect world, maybe Andrew Divoff would be considered for an award at the very least.
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