The Djinn

Last updated

The Djinn
The Djinn poster.png
Theatrical release poster
Directed by
  • David Charbonier
  • Justin Powell
Written by
  • David Charbonier
  • Justin Powell
Produced by
  • Ryan Scaringe
  • Carter Armstrong
  • Meghan Weinstein
Starring
  • Ezra Dewey
  • Tevy Poe
  • Rob Brownstein
  • John Erickson
CinematographyJulian Estrada
Music byMatthew James
Production
companies
  • Mad Descent
  • Kinogo Pictures
Distributed by IFC Midnight
Release date
  • May 14, 2021 (2021-05-14)
Running time
81 min
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Box office$124,772 [1] [2]

The Djinn is a 2021 American supernatural horror film directed and written by David Charbonier and Justin Powell. The film stars Ezra Dewey, Rob Brownstein, Tevy Poe and John Erickson. [3] It was released in the United States in select theaters and through video on demand on May 14, 2021, by IFC Midnight. [3] The film received positive reviews from critics, with praise directed at Dewey's performance.

Contents

Plot

On an unspecified night in 1989, Dylan Jacobs, a mute and asthmatic young boy, finds his mother Michelle crying in front of the kitchen sink with a candle lit nearby. She turns around and the candle is blown out.

In the fall of the same year, Dylan and his father Michael move to a new house. In one of the rooms, Dylan finds a dusty mirror and an old book containing instructions for summoning a djinn and having it grant the summoner's wish. The book states that at one hour before midnight, the summoner must place three drops of blood in a lit candle's wax and make their desired wish in front of a mirror; the djinn will grant the wish at midnight if the summoner has the required strength of will, but the wish may cost the summoner their soul. Dylan does not tell Michael about the book.

On the same night, Michael leaves Dylan at home for his job as a host at a radio station. Dylan takes the opportunity to set up the ritual for summoning the djinn, and he uses sign language to wish that he had a voice. Later, the djinn manifests as a cloud of smoke, and after a series of strange events occur, Dylan finds out that the djinn has transformed into a humanoid figure and is searching for him. After knocking the djinn unconscious, Dylan finds that he is unable to escape the house or contact anyone for help.

While hiding from the djinn, Dylan reads through the book again and learns that the djinn is subject to the laws of physics while in the human world, manifests in the form of dead people, and can be banished by blowing out the candle after midnight; he tries and fails to do so due to the time being before midnight. Dylan hears Michelle's voice begging for help, and finds that the djinn has manifested as a demonic version of Michelle. Dylan evades the djinn's attempts to capture him. A flashback reveals that Michelle had shot herself in the opening scene of the film; Dylan was unable to call out to her due to his muteness, and has felt guilty about her death ever since.

At midnight, the djinn confronts Dylan. Dylan prepares to blow out the candle when the djinn begs Dylan not to make it go away in Michelle's voice. Dylan does not fall for it and blows out the candle, successfully banishing the djinn. Dylan later comes to terms with his guilt about Michelle's suicide in a dream.

On the next morning, the djinn manifests again and transfers Michael's ability to speak to Dylan, rendering Michael unable to speak, before returning to the book. Michael, his throat now slashed, begins to have trouble breathing as Dylan pleads for the djinn to come back and undo the effects of his wish.

Cast

Release

The Djinn was released in the United States on May 14, 2021, by IFC Midnight. [5]

Critical response

The film received positive reviews from critics. The review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes reports an approval rating of 87% based on 69 reviews, with an average rating of 6.7 out of 10. The site's critics' consensus reads: "Led by Ezra Dewey's standout performance, The Djinn serves up a scary, sleekly effective cautionary tale about being careful what you wish for." [6]

Kristy Puchko of Pajiba praised the film for its use of its 1980s setting, its use of imagery and its depiction of Dylan, but criticized the premise as being "thin, turning the final act into a bit of a ragged tumble". She concluded: "Charbonier and Powell know how to brew atmosphere and empathy, creating child characters who feel fleshed out and not like precocious poppets to be pitied or fawned over." [7] Writing for Crooked Marquee, Kimber Myers gave the film a "B+", saying that the film "isn’t just a lesson on the price of getting what you wish for; it’s also an 82-minute class on how to make an unnerving film on the cheap". [8]

Writing for RogerEbert.com, Simon Abrams gave the film 1 out of 4 stars, stating that "Dewey’s just not a strong enough performer to carry an entire movie with just his body language and facial expressions" and that the film "often lurches from one moment to the next, and rarely settles on noteworthy character details or special effects." [9] Sarah Michelle Fitters of MovieFreak gave the film 2 out of 4 stars, saying "there are no shocks and zero surprises to be found in the scenario that Charbonier and Powell have cooked up for audiences to enjoy", though she praised Dewey's performance, the film's production value and the design of the djinn. [10]

Related Research Articles

<i>Wishmaster</i> (film) 1997 American film

Wishmaster is a 1997 American fantasy horror film directed by Robert Kurtzman. The film was executive produced by Wes Craven, and is the only film of the Wishmaster series with his name attached. Its plot concerns a djinn, a wish-granting, evil genie who is released from a jewel and seeks to capture the soul of the woman who discovered him, thereby opening a portal and freeing his fellow djinn to inhabit and enslave the Earth.

<i>Lost & Found</i> (1999 film) 1999 film by Jeff Pollack

Lost & Found is a 1999 American romantic comedy film directed by Jeff Pollack, written by J. B. Cook, Marc Meeks, and David Spade, and starring Spade, Sophie Marceau, Patrick Bruel, Artie Lange, Mitchell Whitfield, and Martin Sheen.

<i>12 and Holding</i> 2005 film by Michael Cuesta

12 and Holding is a 2005 American coming-of-age drama film directed by Michael Cuesta and starring Conor Donovan, Jesse Camacho, Zoe Weizenbaum, and Jeremy Renner. The film is distributed by IFC Films and was released on May 19, 2006 in limited theaters.

<i>Wishmaster 3: Beyond the Gates of Hell</i> 2001 film

Wishmaster 3: Beyond the Gates of Hell, known as Wishmaster 3: Devil Stone in the United Kingdom, is 2001 American fantasy horror film directed by Chris Angel and starring Jason Connery and A. J. Cook. It is the third installment of the Wishmaster series although John Novak replaces Andrew Divoff as the Djinn in the movie. It was the second direct-to-video sequel in the franchise and was filmed in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.

Portlandia is an American sketch comedy television series starring Fred Armisen and Carrie Brownstein, set in and around Portland, Oregon, and spoofing the city's reputation as a haven for eccentric hipsters. The show was produced by Broadway Video Television and IFC Original Productions. It was created by Armisen and Brownstein, along with Jonathan Krisel, who directs it. It debuted on IFC on January 21, 2011.

<i>Djinn</i> (2013 film) 2013 Emirati film

Djinn is a 2013 Emirati supernatural horror film directed by Tobe Hooper and written by David Tully. It is set in the United Arab Emirates and features the djinn. The film, produced by Image Nation, is in both Arabic and English languages. The film's theatrical release has been delayed since 2011. Djinn premiered at the Abu Dhabi Film Festival on 25 October 2013.

<i>Murder of a Cat</i> 2014 film by Gillian Greene

Murder of a Cat is a 2014 American comedy thriller film directed by Gillian Greene and starring Fran Kranz, Nikki Reed, J. K. Simmons, Leonardo Nam, Blythe Danner, and Greg Kinnear. The film premiered at the 2014 Tribeca Film Festival, and was given a limited theatrical release in the United States on December 5, 2014, by Gravitas Ventures.

<i>24 Exposures</i> 2013 American film

24 Exposures is a 2013 erotic thriller film written and directed by Joe Swanberg. It stars Adam Wingard as a fetish photographer who becomes involved in a murder mystery and Simon Barrett as the detective who investigates the crime. IFC Midnight distributed it on January 24, 2014, in a limited release and through video on demand.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Antonio Campos (director)</span> American film producer, screenwriter and film director

Antonio Campos is an American filmmaker known for the films Afterschool (2008), Simon Killer (2012), Christine (2016), The Devil All the Time (2020) and The Staircase (2022).

<i>Small Crimes</i> 2017 American film

Small Crimes is a 2017 American crime comedy directed by E. L. Katz from a screenplay by Katz and Macon Blair, based on the novel of the same name by Dave Zeltserman. The film stars Nikolaj Coster-Waldau as Joe Denton, a former cop recently released from prison for attempted murder. The film also stars Gary Cole, Molly Parker, Macon Blair, Pat Healy, Jacki Weaver, and Robert Forster. Small Crimes premiered at South by Southwest on March 11, 2017, and was released by Netflix on April 28, 2017.

<i>Satanic Panic</i> (film) 2019 comedy horror film

Satanic Panic is a 2019 American comedy horror film directed by Chelsea Stardust, based on a screenplay written by novelist Grady Hendrix and adapted from a story created by Hendrix and Ted Geoghegan. It is a Fangoria production.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">New Year, New You</span> 4th episode of the 1st season of Into the Dark

"New Year, New You" is an episode of American horror anthology web television series Into the Dark that aired as the fourth episode of the show's first season. It originally premiered in the United States on December 28, 2018, on Hulu. The episode was directed by Sophia Takal from a script she co-wrote with Adam Gaines and it stars Suki Waterhouse, Carly Chaikin, Kirby Howell-Baptiste, and Melissa Bergland.

<i>The Nowhere Inn</i> 2020 American film

The Nowhere Inn is a 2020 American mockumentary psychological thriller-comedy film directed by Bill Benz from a screenplay by Annie Clark and Carrie Brownstein. It stars Clark, Brownstein and Dakota Johnson.

<i>The Vigil</i> (2019 film) 2019 American supernatural horror film

The Vigil is a 2019 American supernatural horror film written and directed by Keith Thomas in his feature directorial debut. It stars Dave Davis, Menashe Lustig, Malky Goldman, Fred Melamed and Lynn Cohen, and follows a young man who is tasked with keeping vigil over a deceased member of his former Orthodox Jewish community, only to be targeted by a malevolent spirit known as a Mazzik. Jason Blum serves as an executive producer through his Blumhouse Productions banner.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Barry Allen (DC Extended Universe)</span> DC Extended Universe character

Bartholomew Henry "Barry" Allen, also known as The Flash, is a fictional character in the DC Extended Universe. Based on the DC Comics superhero of the same name, he is portrayed by American actor Ezra Miller. Originally appearing in a minor role in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice and Suicide Squad, Barry had a prominent role in the film Justice League, its director's cut, and in his titular film. Miller also reprised the role in cameo capacity in other DC Comics media such as the Arrowverse event series Crisis on Infinite Earths and in the HBO Max series Peacemaker. The DC Extended Universe marks the first time The Flash has been portrayed in live-action film.

<i>Arlo the Alligator Boy</i> 2021 American animated film by Ryan Crego

Arlo the Alligator Boy is a 2021 American 2D animated adventure musical film directed by Ryan Crego in his directorial debut. The film is led by Michael J. Woodard and Mary Lambert in their debut acting roles as Arlo and Bertie respectively.

<i>Sound of Violence</i> 2021 film by Alex Noyer

Sound of Violence is a 2021 Finnish-American slasher film written and directed by Alex Noyer in his directorial debut, inspired by his short film Conductor. The film stars Jasmin Savoy Brown as a formerly deaf girl who goes on a killing spree after witnessing the murder of her family. The film was released on May 21, 2021 by Gravitas Ventures after its world premiere on March 19, 2021 at the SXSW Film Festival.

<i>Chip n Dale: Park Life</i> French-American animated television series

Chip 'n' Dale: Park Life is an animated television series based on the cartoon characters Chip 'n' Dale. The series is co-produced by The Walt Disney Company France and Xilam Animation. It premiered on Disney+ on July 28, 2021. Unlike other iterations of the characters, the series is non-verbal, similar to other shows produced by Xilam.

<i>Clapboard Jungle</i> 2020 Canadian film

Clapboard Jungle: Surviving the Independent Film Business is a 2020 documentary film about working in the film business directed by Justin McConnell.

<i>The Boy Behind the Door</i> 2020 horror-thriller film

The Boy Behind the Door is a 2020 American horror-thriller film written and directed by David Charbonier and Justin Powell. The film stars Lonnie Chavis, Ezra Dewey, Kristin Bauer van Straten, Scott Michael Foster, and Micah Hauptman, and focuses on two boys attempting to escape their kidnapper's house. It premiered at Fantastic Fest on September 27, 2020, and was released on the streaming service Shudder on July 29, 2021.

References

  1. ↑ "The Djinn (2021) - Financial Information". The Numbers . Nash Information Services, LLC. Retrieved June 11, 2021.
  2. ↑ "The Djinn (2021)". Box Office Mojo . IMDb . Retrieved June 11, 2021.
  3. 1 2 D'Alessandro, Anthony (February 10, 2021). "IFC Midnight Picks Up Supernatural Horror Pic 'The Djinn'". Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved February 10, 2021.
  4. ↑ "Film and TV Projects Going Into Production - The Djinn". Variety Insight . Archived from the original on March 19, 2021. Retrieved March 19, 2021.
  5. ↑ Squires, John (February 10, 2021). "A Child Wishes a Sinister Monster into Existence in IFC Midnight's 'The Djinn' This Coming May". Bloody Disgusting . Retrieved February 26, 2021.
  6. ↑ "The Djinn (2021)". Rotten Tomatoes . Fandango . Retrieved May 13, 2021.
  7. ↑ Puchko, Kristy (May 14, 2021). "Review: 'The Djinn' Delivers Shrewd Latchkey Kid Horror". Pajiba. Retrieved May 15, 2021.
  8. ↑ Myers, Kimber (May 13, 2021). "Review: The Djinn". Crooked Marquee. Retrieved May 15, 2021.
  9. ↑ Abrams, Simon (May 14, 2021). "The Djinn movie review & film summary (2021)". RogerEbert.com . Retrieved May 15, 2021.
  10. ↑ Fetters, Sarah Michelle (May 13, 2021). "The Djinn (2021)". MovieFreak.com. Retrieved May 21, 2021.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.