_**This ain’t the Barbara Eden kind of genie**_ Through a priceless gemstone, a malevolent djinn (Andrew Divoff) is released in Los Angeles where he harasses people by answering their wishes. Tammy Lauren plays the protagonist, Wendy Benson-Landes her sister and Robert Englund a collector of idolatrous artifacts. “Wishmaster” (1997) is inventive comic book horror with a thought-out script that features a villain/monster that is actually interesting for a change. The Djinn is superbly done and diabolically charismatic. Meanwhile Tammy Lauren is reminiscent of a younger Linda Hamilton. She’s likable and spirited, but doesn’t do much for me personally; and the role of Wendy Benson-Landes is too small to note. The flick isn’t helped by its gaudy low-rent vibe and bland cast, but it entertains well enough with amusingly horrific effects, fun cameos and a unique concept. As of 2002 it birthed three sequels. The film runs 1 hour, 30 minutes, and was shot in Los Angeles. GRADE: B-