The horror genre thrives upon cautionary tales where arrogant individuals believe that they can outsmart some supernatural force for their own gain. It’s for this reason that the greed-quenching Djinn and parables where people learn to be careful what they wish for, usually in the most morbid ways possible, are popular horror tropes. Djinn are a fascinating concept, but they’ve struggled to truly make their mark in cinema between largely-forgettable films like Jinn, The Djinn, Wish Upon, and even George Miller’s Three Thousand Years of Longing. But Djinn stories can still be fun and effective in the right context. And Robert Kurtzman’s Wishmaster is still the premier djinn horror film over 25 years later.
Wishmaster is a movie that understands the unabashed joys of a big, dumb plot where there’s a giant magical gemstone that’s the key to the Djinn’s powers because why the hell not?...
Wishmaster is a movie that understands the unabashed joys of a big, dumb plot where there’s a giant magical gemstone that’s the key to the Djinn’s powers because why the hell not?...
- 9/19/2023
- by Daniel Kurland
- bloody-disgusting.com
Robert Kurtzman might be one hell of a special effects wizard, but his abilities as a motion picture director are, shall we say, head-scratchingly abysmal. It’s hard to believe that a guy who has as much experience in the field as Kurtzman would deliver a steady stream of unwatchable cinematic bilge on a consistent basis. And while I do own a copy of his magnificently trashy 1995 debut “The Demolitionist” on VHS, it’s not the sort of film I would readily recommend to those in search of quality and coherence. Does it make me an unreasonable hypocrite that I watch the movie at least once a year? Probably. Don’t you dare judge me. For his latest effort, Kurtzman has boldly ventured into the direct-to-video action genre, a market that’s already saturated with an endless supply of stale, lifeless endeavors populated with a wide variety of has-beens and never-weres.
- 4/26/2010
- by Todd
- Beyond Hollywood
Horror fanatics are still buzzing like chainsaws over the Academy Awards’ genre montage. Anywhere there could be a conversation about it online, there was one. Many were upset over the Twilight ‘tweens’ participation, as if their mere presence sent a message about the state of scary in Hollyweird, USA.
A few seemed happy, though, to just get a glimpse of their beloved Evil Dead and Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2 if only for a few seconds. But many called the selections generic and thoughtless, demanding the likes of Demons and TerrorVision instead (well, maybe not TerrorVision; that was just me).
How about Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer? Re-Animator? It’s Alive? Tombs of the Blind Dead? Coffin Joe? No list is perfect, but with a bit more care and a phone call to any one of us, the Oscars could have elevated that section into a real scream. Or maybe they...
A few seemed happy, though, to just get a glimpse of their beloved Evil Dead and Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2 if only for a few seconds. But many called the selections generic and thoughtless, demanding the likes of Demons and TerrorVision instead (well, maybe not TerrorVision; that was just me).
How about Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer? Re-Animator? It’s Alive? Tombs of the Blind Dead? Coffin Joe? No list is perfect, but with a bit more care and a phone call to any one of us, the Oscars could have elevated that section into a real scream. Or maybe they...
- 3/9/2010
- by Heather Buckley
- DreadCentral.com
It’s that time of year again, kids. Dread Central’s 2010 Horror at the Oscars coverage. Horror was indeed present this year and in black-tie. While Roger Corman and Lauren Bacall were honored a few months back at the Governor’s Award Ceremony, it was an unexpected delight to see Corman, recipient of the lifetime achievement Oscar, enjoy a standing ovation on national television.
I was, however, very disappointed that neither of them were allowed to speak. Roger Corman’s contributions to modern cinema are too vast for him to just stand up and wave. James Cameron was one of many Corman acolytes present, and his nomination speaks to Corman’s tremendous legacy. On the Terminator DVD Cameron mentions, "I trained at the Roger Corman Film School.” Jonathan Demme, Martin Scorsese, and Francis Ford Coppola, among many others, were also former students.
The terror continued with a spoof of Paranormal Activity...
I was, however, very disappointed that neither of them were allowed to speak. Roger Corman’s contributions to modern cinema are too vast for him to just stand up and wave. James Cameron was one of many Corman acolytes present, and his nomination speaks to Corman’s tremendous legacy. On the Terminator DVD Cameron mentions, "I trained at the Roger Corman Film School.” Jonathan Demme, Martin Scorsese, and Francis Ford Coppola, among many others, were also former students.
The terror continued with a spoof of Paranormal Activity...
- 3/8/2010
- by Heather Buckley
- DreadCentral.com
Writer, Director, and Special FX legend Robert Kurtzman will be attending the inaugural Fangoria Trinity Of Terrors, to be held October 30 through November 1 at The Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas! Kurtzman will be onhand to discuss his work on the Jennifer Lynch-directed Hisss, his latest directorial effort Deadly Impact (formerly To Live And Die) starring Sean Patrick Flanery and Joe Pantoliano, and the latest FX projects from his Precinct 13 Creature Corps.
Tickets for our massive Halloween Weekend are now available online through http://www.trinityofterrors.com and through Vegas.com. You may also order tickets from Vegas.com by phone - 1-888-las-vegas (527-8342) 24 hours a day.
For more than two decades Robert Kurtzman has been an icon in the world of special make-up,creature effects, and genre filmmaking.
His award winning, photorealistic effects work can be seen inhundreds of movies including Hollywood’s biggest blockbusters, franchises and television series.
Tickets for our massive Halloween Weekend are now available online through http://www.trinityofterrors.com and through Vegas.com. You may also order tickets from Vegas.com by phone - 1-888-las-vegas (527-8342) 24 hours a day.
For more than two decades Robert Kurtzman has been an icon in the world of special make-up,creature effects, and genre filmmaking.
His award winning, photorealistic effects work can be seen inhundreds of movies including Hollywood’s biggest blockbusters, franchises and television series.
- 10/7/2009
- by no-reply@fangoria.com (Staff)
- Fangoria
Getting his start in the 1995 Robert Kurtzman film The Demolitionist, Derek Mears has steadily built a solid career as an in-demand stunt performer, and big screen baddie. Earlier this year, Mears stepped into one of the most iconic roles in horror cinema as the latest man behind the famous Hockey mask of Crystal Lake's most deadly resident.
As the new Jason Voorhees, Mears slashed his way through multiplexes this spring, and will soon enter your home as Friday The 13th arrives on DVD and Blu-ray next Tuesday. Fangoria caught up with the actor this week to talk the past, present, and future, for a man that went from Horror Fan to Horror Icon.
Note: An extended 11-minute audio version of this interview is available as a Free download from the Fangoria Entertainment Podcast on iTunes! Click here to open iTunes, or simply search for Fangoria from the iTunes store.
As the new Jason Voorhees, Mears slashed his way through multiplexes this spring, and will soon enter your home as Friday The 13th arrives on DVD and Blu-ray next Tuesday. Fangoria caught up with the actor this week to talk the past, present, and future, for a man that went from Horror Fan to Horror Icon.
Note: An extended 11-minute audio version of this interview is available as a Free download from the Fangoria Entertainment Podcast on iTunes! Click here to open iTunes, or simply search for Fangoria from the iTunes store.
- 6/10/2009
- by no-reply@fangoria.com (Matt Molgaard)
- Fangoria
IMDb.com, Inc. takes no responsibility for the content or accuracy of the above news articles, Tweets, or blog posts. This content is published for the entertainment of our users only. The news articles, Tweets, and blog posts do not represent IMDb's opinions nor can we guarantee that the reporting therein is completely factual. Please visit the source responsible for the item in question to report any concerns you may have regarding content or accuracy.