Of all the movie monsters that are out there, the Djinn (or evil genie) may be the most terrifying. Why? Well, he’s the one most likely to convince us to fall victim to his traps. It’s easy to avoid the creepy campsite, or not read from that evil looking book. What’s not easy is saying no to someone offering to fulfill your greatest desire. Sure, we’d know that there was a risk, but don’t you think you’d at least consider tempting fate?
That’s the premise of IFC Midnight‘s upcoming horror film The Djinn. This is a type of monster that, honestly, has been done dirty through the years. The most recognizable instance is the Djinn that appeared in the laughable (but still fun) Wishmaster series. There was a particularly good episode of Supernatural that nailed the character but it’s been mostly overlooked. It seems they are going to do right by the archetypal baddie, and to add tension to the situation it’s a young mute boy at the mercy of the creature. There’s not a ton of exposition in this trailer but what we do see establishes a creepy tone and disturbing story. IFC Midnight has been batting above .500 for some time now so they get the benefit of the doubt from me.
The Djinn is Opening in theaters and VOD May 14th, 2021
Directors: David Charbonier, Justin Powell
Starring: Ezra Dewey, Rob Brownstein, Tevy Poe
