Wishmaster 2: Evil Never Dies

MOVIE #2,226 • SCORE 8/10 • 12.18.24
SERIES: JACK SHOLDER DIRECTOR FOCUS (FILL-IN)

I didn't plan it, but THANK GOD I watched the first Wishmaster movie earlier this year. Wouldn't have wanted to go into this cold.

I'm kidding, naturally. I assume all four Wishmaster films can be viewed independently of one another and you wouldn't miss a beat (I'm 50% of the way to knowing whether or not that's true — the lesson? Dream bid, kids!).

This one apparently played on TV before being packaged on DVD with the first film. I assumed it was a theatrical venture while I was watching which I suppose is as good a compliment one can give to Sholder, who gets the full "Written & Directed by" credited here. There are dips in the action but when he brings the goods, he's operating at damn near Nightmare 2 levels...


The killer casino climax is amazing, featuring some legit practical FX gore as well as both REAL frogs and CGI locusts...


Hilarious interpretation of what a web browser from 1999 might look like. WEBZAP SERVICES INC.? I mean, early Internet was in full swing by then — surely someone in the crew had at least scene what Netscape looked like? (I'm looking at you production designer, Alfred Sole!)...


In the end, Holly Fields defeats the devil djin with some of the worst (best) special FX you've ever seen and Wishmaster 2: Evil Never Dies is as good as any document (late style taboot) certifying Sholder as a 'vulgar auteur' if you're into such vague phrases...

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Wishmaster 2: Evil Never Dies is a 1999 direct-to-video dark fantasy horror film and a sequel to the 1997 film Wishmaster. The film premiered on television and was released on DVD bundled with the first film. It was released on March 12, 1999.