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Wishmaster

1997, Movie, R, 90 mins

Wishmaster: Review

What fools these mortals be! A grinning djinn, monstrous countenance barely hidden behind the mask of a human face, offers them tainted wishes, and what do they do? That said, special-effects artist Robert Kurtzman's directing debut is a perfectly pleasant diversion, assuming that your taste runs to fiendishly animated entrails and HELLRAISER-like visions of lost souls tormented by the sadistic Wishmaster. Appraiser Alexandra Amberson (Tammy Lauren) is asked to examine a red gemstone that turns out to hold an evil djinn (Andrew Divoff) -- genie to you but, as crusty folklore prof Wendy Derlith (Jenny O'Hara) warns, forget about Barbara Eden and Robin Williams -- and accidentally lets it loose on the unsuspecting world. Gooshy special effects, much screaming and the requisite in-jokes ensue: A statue of the demon Pazuzu (who stirred up so much trouble in THE EXORCIST) makes a token appearance; Professor Derlith is named after a famous horror writer; the cast includes Freddy, Candyman, Jason and the Tall Man in the persons of horror stalwarts Robert Englund, Tony Todd, Kane Hodder and Angus Scrimm (if only in voice). leave a comment --Maitland McDonagh