Make Your Wish: Robert Kurtzman’s ‘Wishmaster’ Is Just as Fun Fearless and Frightening 26 Years Later

Wishmaster not only boasts impressive visuals but also exudes a cheeky sense of humor that hardcore horror enthusiasts will adore. Scenes like Jason Voorhees’ Kane Hodder being transformed into glass and shattering scream late ’90s nostalgia. Its effects endow Wishmaster with a timeless charm, reminiscent of fatalities from Mortal Kombat games of the PlayStation/N64 era. Famous horror icons meet their end in innovative ways; Tony Todd faces a Houdini-esque demise, while Robert Englund’s character encounters a creature more suited to horror anime. Other horror stars like Ted Raimi also meet memorable fates, providing scenes that even Freddy Krueger and Jason Voorhees would flinch at.

Though Wishmaster’s initial thirty minutes might seem a tad unhurried, the pace picks up once the Djinn enters the scene. Andrew Divoff, portraying the Djinn/Nathaniel Demerest, delivers a performance that rivals iconic horror characters like Freddy Krueger and Jason Voorhees. His commitment to the role is palpable, especially when pushing individuals to make rash wishes, leading to their unforeseen demises.

Notably, the victims aren’t always deserving of their fates. A quirky example is of an individual wishing for wealth, leading to an elaborate sequence where his grandmother perishes in a plane crash, facilitating his inheritance. Instead of the traditional narrative of punishing the greedy, Wishmaster spins a tale of a Djinn exploiting his powers to wreak havoc, irrespective of a person’s innocence. This intriguing premise creates a villain that’s both terrifying and captivating, making the audience feel as if he’s invincible. Yet, Wishmaster brilliantly balances this, ensuring the Djinn’s reign of terror doesn’t overshadow his eventual downfall.

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Wishmaster doesn’t just offer stunning visuals; it also boasts a wicked sense of humor that’s sure to thrill hardcore horror enthusiasts. The film features an unforgettable moment where Jason Voorhees himself, played by Kane Hodder, is trapped in glass and shatters—a spectacle that captures the essence of the late ’90s. These effects, while dated, add to Wishmaster’s charm, akin to a PlayStation or N64-era Mortal Kombat fatality. Tony “Candyman” Todd’s demise involves an almost-impossible underwater escape act reminiscent of Houdini. Meanwhile, Robert Englund’s Mr. Beaumont faces a Thing-like creature straight out of a horror anime. Other B-movie horror icons, such as Ted Raimi, also meet memorable ends at the hands of the Djinn. These gruesome deaths would make Freddy Krueger, Candyman, and Jason Voorhees cringe.

Wishmaster’s first half-hour may feel a bit sluggish, apart from its tour de force introduction, but once the Djinn is unleashed, the film never loses momentum. Andrew Divoff’s portrayal of the Djinn/Nathaniel Demerest is exceptional; he revels in the role and often elevates Wishmaster, even in its weaker moments. Divoff’s performance stands shoulder to shoulder with horror icons like Freddy Krueger and Jason Voorhees, and he takes the character to even crazier heights in the film’s excellent sequel.

A significant portion of the movie revolves around Divoff’s Djinn tempting people to make irrational wishes, leading to their magical and karmic demise. Many of these individuals are innocent, unaware of the consequences. One particularly outrageous example involves a character wishing for wealth, prompting a lengthy cutaway sequence where the person’s grandmother signs her will, only to meet a fiery end in an airplane crash, granting her grandson the inheritance he desired in the most convoluted way possible. Wishmaster doesn’t focus on the Djinn punishing the greedy; instead, it portrays a chaotic tale of a Djinn exploiting the unique circumstances of his powers to destroy as many people as possible, regardless of their guilt or innocence. This creates a villain who is both terrifying and entertaining, seemingly unbeatable. Balancing this tightrope in horror films is challenging, but Wishmaster strikes the right equilibrium, allowing the Djinn to unleash unbridled chaos until an unexpected twist brings his reign to an end.

Make Your Wish: Robert Kurtzman’s ‘Wishmaster’ Is Just as Fun Fearless and Frightening 26 Years Later

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