Michael_Elliott Wishmaster (1997) ** (out of 4) Alexandra Amberson (Tammy Lauren) has a stolen jewel brought to her shop and before long she realizes the evil that it possesses. Inside of it is a Djinn (Andrew Divoff) who will do whatever he can to make her say three wishes so that he evil ways can fully come out.WISHMASTER is a film I saw when it was first released to theaters and I honestly hated it. Revisiting it twenty-years later I can't say I loved the film but at the same time it's not nearly as bad as I remembered it. Today the film is probably best remembered for featuring three horror icons. You've got Robert Englund who of course played Freddy, Kane Hodder who appeared as Jason and then Tony Todd from the Candyman series. Both Hodder and Todd are basically here in cameos but you've also got brief appearances by Ted Raimi (INTRUDER), Joseph Pilato (DAY OF THE DEAD) as well as Angus Scrimm and Reggie Bannister from the PHANTASM series.Obviously, that's a lot of star power but the highlight of the picture are the special effects by KNB. Those guys are pretty much legends now and this film here is a grand work of theirs. Not only do we get a variety of masks that are used throughout the picture we're also treated to a pretty good looking monster. The Djinn here isn't something that I'd call scary but I thought the look of it was terrific. I'd also add that the gore effects are wonderful and especially the opening sequence at a party where several people are ripped apart. The skeleton coming out of the flesh is without question a terrific sequence and it's really amazing how much the MPAA let go through.As far as the rest of the film, it's not as good. The main character really isn't all that interesting and there's certainly no suspense or terror anywhere. I must say that I also didn't care for the voice of the Djinn and there are also some fairly poor computer effects as well. The biggest problem with the film is the fact that it's really not anything original and there's nothing fresh here. As far as the gore goes, it's great. It's great seeing the various horror legends in one film. It's just outside of that WISHMASTER is a fairly standard horror picture.

prostheticmisery This isn't the kind of movie that leaves you at the edge of your seat, it's not scary in the sense that it'll keep you up at night. But it's a horror movie from 1997, which in my opinion, makes it good just based off the fact that it was something that hadn't been done before. The plot is interesting enough that there are no dull moments, you sympathize with the main character, and there's plenty of gore if that's what you're into. My standpoint on the movie is that it's just like Child's Play (the 3rd one if we're getting specific) it's not scary, it won't give you nightmares, but it's a timeless classic. If you can appreciate horror in all of its forms, and know what to expect from a 90s horror film, I highly recommend this one.

jaredalbin This movie was definitely a gore fest, but it is surprisingly good considering I watched it for the first time 18 years after it came out. The times have definitely changed because you hardly ever see gore like that in the movies today. If you're into gory movies from the 90's, then this is definitely a movie to watch. It starts from the opening scene all the way to the end. It has a nice plot that is easy to follow, and the pace isn't slow. The part in the movie where she is going to Beaumont's (spelling?) party to get her sister is interesting. Why? Because the door guard is the same actor that played the namesake of the movie Candyman. Seeing that makes me want to watch Candyman. I think I will watch Wishmaster 2 and follow it up with Candyman 1 and 2 tomorrow night.

Scott LeBrun According to this movie, genies (otherwise known as Djinn) are neither cute nor funny as 'I Dream of Jeannie' and "Aladdin" would have us believe. They're an ancient evil species that exist "between worlds", and only grant wishes because that's their obligation. One such Djinn (a delicious Andrew Divoff) is freed from his captivity inside a precious gem, and wreaks havoc on assorted Los Angelenos. His primary goal is to find the jewel appraiser, Alexandra Amberson (Tammy Lauren) who inadvertently freed him. If he grants *her* wishes, his kind will then have the ability to take over our world.The mythology is most amusing in this smorgasbord of special effects that marked an early directorial effort for makeup effects expert Robert Kurtzman. He and screenwriter Peter Atkins are obviously having fun; it's nice to see a movie for horror fans made *by* horror fans. (Atkins names a few of his characters after celebrated sci-fi and horror authors.) A steady supply of cameos from familiar performers in the genre is just one drawing card. Robert "Freddy Krueger" Englund, Tony "Candyman" Todd, and Kane "Jason Voorhees" Hodder are just a few of them.There's a certain sadistic fun in watching people wish for things only for their wishes to backfire on them. And the movie is fun overall - nothing special, just solid, lively, well paced entertainment. And those plentiful effects are most certainly *not* gratuitous. The practical gore supplied by KNB is supplemented by a lot of great digital gags.Lauren is okay in the heroine role. Hers is a reasonably strong female character - she plays tennis, coaches girls' basketball - but she's also haunted by a tragedy in her long ago past. Englund is a hoot as a pretentious collector, and Chris Lemmon, Wendy Benson, and Tony Crane are fine in supporting parts, but it's Divoff who really commands most of the attention. He's wonderfully hammy, laying on the charm as well as the malevolence. Director Kurtzman cameos as the dude killed by the piano.Followed by three sequels, one with Divoff reprising his role and two without him.Eight out of 10.