The saying "Be careful what you wish for, it may come true" provides the basis for this oddly comforting throwback to the early 1980s slasher glory days, directed by former special-effects genius Robert Kurtzman and executive-produced by Wes Craven. It follows the struggle of Los Angeles gem specialist Tammy Lauren to stop the evil 12th-century Persian Djinn (genie) wreaking havoc after he tries to trick her into making three wishes when she discovers him trapped in an enchanted opal. Andrew Divoff is good value as the genie, but the one-jolt premise gets stretched out to vanishing point. The casting of Robert Englund (best known as Freddie Krueger), Tony Todd (Candyman) and Kane Hodder (Jason Vorhees) will be a nostalgic tonic for splatter addicts.

The Djinn, having been released from his ancient prison, seeks to capture the soul of the woman who discovered him, thereby opening a portal and freeing his fellow Djinn to take over the earth.