An Underrated Gem
With excellent practical effects, smart writing, and an abundance of creativity, Wishmaster is one of those 90s horror flicks that didn't get the notice it deserved. While several horror mainstays made appearances and the great Wes Craven directed, this film rarely gets talked about these days.
The djinn, the wish-granting antagonist, is handled without relying on many of the genie-clichés we so often see. The female lead was smart and strong in a year before that was the norm. The practical effects are a throwback to 80s horror classics like Hellraiser and The Thing.
Admittedly, this movie comes from the early days of CGI and has some off- putting moments because of it. It can be jarring when they transition between a lovingly crafted practical effect to a weak, computer generated one. Thankfully, these moments are few and far between.
Like many solid horror films of the era, this one spawned several awful sequels. Don't bother with them. Watch the original and enjoy it. It's a great throwback to the sort of scary flicks many of us horror fans have been missing for some time.
The djinn, the wish-granting antagonist, is handled without relying on many of the genie-clichés we so often see. The female lead was smart and strong in a year before that was the norm. The practical effects are a throwback to 80s horror classics like Hellraiser and The Thing.
Admittedly, this movie comes from the early days of CGI and has some off- putting moments because of it. It can be jarring when they transition between a lovingly crafted practical effect to a weak, computer generated one. Thankfully, these moments are few and far between.
Like many solid horror films of the era, this one spawned several awful sequels. Don't bother with them. Watch the original and enjoy it. It's a great throwback to the sort of scary flicks many of us horror fans have been missing for some time.
- rgs927
- Oct 31, 2017