For fans of the horror movie genre, Wes Craven is commonly recognized as one of the undisputed masters. Known largely for having created the timeless classic “Nightmare On Elm Street,” Craven has over the years compiled an extensive and impressive filmography of horror films and slashers (many of which are available on Netflix). And one of the filmmaking factors that has helped to keep Craven on top is his ability to invent creative and terrifying monsters – such as the Djinn in “Wishmaster.”
The Djinn is a terrifying villain grounded in ancient legend, and is essentially an evil genie. The Djinn grants wishes in exchange for the souls of his “victims,” and in turn twists the wishes into fatal or disastrous events whenever possible – basically, he uses promise and temptation to destroy people’s lives.
The Djinn was an intriguing enough villain to spawn a series out of the original “Wishmaster,” despite the fact that Craven was not directly involved in sequels. “Wishmaster 2” is actually a very strong horror film, and follows the Djinn on a quest to capture 1001 souls en route to kicking off the Apocalypse. The entire film is essentially a mad struggle between the Djinn and the general public as he attempts to fulfill this goal, and interestingly enough things culminate in a casino scene.
When most think of horror settings, they think first about dark forests, creepy mansions, and various haunted venues – but the thrill of casinos is actually a perfect environment for a horror showdown. The fact is, casinos thrill people in real life. At real world locations like the Bellagio and MGM Grand, millions of people enjoy gambling and entertainment each year. These days, people even seek the same casino thrills online at BetFair Casino and other online casino environments. In short, a casino is a setting that everyone can relate to, and which already gets our blood pumping, so to speak. For this reason, the combination of an all time great villain in the Djinn, and a very effective setting makes for a great finale in “Wishmaster 2.”
This is just one of many examples of the enduring legacy that a genre master like Wes Craven can cultivate. Craven did what he does best, spawning a brilliant horror monster in “Wishmaster,” and the resulting series went on to thrill, combining Craven’s original idea with classic horror elements to great effect. And fortunately for us, Craven appears to be far from finished directing, having led the way in 2011’s “Scream 4” most recently. Here’s to the next great project!
