Part 3 of 4 | Laura’s countdown post to Crypticon Minneapolis

While 1997’s Wishmaster isn’t necessarily an obscure horror movie, it’s not as well-known as the first two movies we’ve covered for this series; I hadn’t heard of it until I stumbled across it in college while browsing Fearnet, a now-defunct video on-demand cable service. That’s why I was surprised when Dad expressed familiarity and excitement after I mentioned the movie; apparently, he’d seen a few clips from Wishmaster 2 on Facebook Reels and was already a big fan of Andrew Divoff’s striking, diabolical performance as the evil djinn. Today’s post is about the original, though, and while Andrew is a major highlight of the film, there’s so much more to enjoy in it that I was excited for Dad to experience.

In Wishmaster, a tragic accident on a loading dock leads to an auction house appraiser, Alexandra (Tammy Lauren), unknowingly releasing an evil djinn (Andrew Divoff), a wish-granting magical being, from the jewel he had been imprisoned in. He immediately starts granting wishes in violent and cruel ways to gather strength, all the while pursuing Alexandra, as her three wishes are the ones that can completely free him to wreak havoc on the world. 

While, again, Andrew Divoff is a high point for the movie, with his sharp, gravelly voice and sinister performance, there’s a lot more in this movie to enjoy. Firstly, there are so many cameos from other horror icons. The most recognizable is arguably Freddy Krueger himself, Robert Englund, as Raymond Beaumont, a rich antiques collector, but there are so many other familiar faces (or voices, in the case of the narrator and Phantasm star Angus Scrimm): Angus’s Phantasm co-star Reggie Bannister; Candyman’s Tony Todd; brother and collaborator of The Evil Dead’s Sam Raimi, Ted Raimi; and the Friday the 13th franchise’s Kane Hodder (in a scene that my boyfriend and I quote every time this movie comes up in conversation). 

In addition to a variety of familiar horror actors, the special makeup effects in this movie are done by the remarkable Greg Nicotero, known for his work on The Walking Dead and a myriad of other well-known horror projects, his first being 1985’s Day of the Dead, and they’re so much fun. The djinn’s design is intricate, menacing, and a little slimy, but the highlights are in the opening scene and the party scene toward the end of the movie.

In a film era where cheesy CGI made a lot of movies quickly feel dated, it’s refreshing to see so many elaborate, expertly crafted special effects, especially when so many of them had my dad making sounds of disgust and delight throughout the movie.

Despite Wishmaster being a very obvious product of the 90’s (EVERYONE is constantly smoking cigarettes), it’s a fun, creative horror movie with fantastic practical effects and a memorable cast, and I can’t wait to meet the djinn himself in just a couple of months—and I’m only a little worried that Dad will try to imitate the character when we meet Andrew. 

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Crypti-Cocktail: Djinn and Tonic

Directions:

Pour gin, Chambord, and lime juice into lowball glass over ice. Top with tonic water, add a pinch of edible luster dust (optional, but it looks SO COOL and gives the drink that “cursed jewel” look), and stir. Add a wedge or slice of lime to garnish.

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