Wishmaster
In the beginning of the times, God created life into universe: light gave birth to angels, earth to men and fire to djin, creatures condemned to dwell in the void between the worlds. One who wakes a djin shall be given three wishes. Upon granting the third, an unholy legion of djins are freed through a doorway between the worlds upon the Earth. In 1127 A.D., in Persia, a sorcerer lures and traps a powerful Djinn in the stone of secret fire. In the present days, a drunken crane operator drops the valuable statue of Ahura Mazda over the assistant of Raymond Beaumont on the harbor, and one worker finds the huge and priceless opal red stone where Djin is seized. Alexandra Amberson, who works in an auction house, receives the stone for evaluation and accidentally awakes Djin. The evil creature is released later, charges the stone with people souls and feeds with their fears, while chasing Alexandra to force to make three wishes and unleash the demoniac fiends upon Earth.
Despite its modest budget of $5.0M, Wishmaster became a solid performer, earning $15.7M worldwide—a 215% return. The film's fresh perspective engaged audiences, showing that strong storytelling can transcend budget limitations.
Plot Structure
Story beats plotted across runtime
Narrative Arc
Emotional journey through the story's key moments
Story Circle
Blueprint 15-beat structure
Arcplot Score Breakdown
Weighted: Precision (70%) + Arc (15%) + Theme (15%)
Wishmaster (1997) reveals meticulously timed dramatic framework, characteristic of Robert Kurtzman's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 30 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.2, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Ancient Persia prologue: A sorcerer summons the Djinn who grants twisted wishes causing horrific chaos. The Djinn is trapped in a fire opal by a wizard, establishing the ancient evil that will be unleashed.. Notably, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 11 minutes when Alexandra examines the mysterious fire opal and accidentally awakens the Djinn when she analyzes it with a laser. The gem explodes, the Djinn begins to regenerate, and Alex experiences a terrifying psychic vision of the creature.. At 12% through the film, this Disruption aligns precisely with traditional story structure. This beat shifts the emotional landscape, launching the protagonist into the central conflict.
The First Threshold at 23 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 25% of the runtime. This demonstrates the protagonist's commitment to Alex discovers she is psychically linked to the Djinn and realizes she awakened him. She actively chooses to investigate and stop the creature rather than ignore the visions, committing herself to confronting the supernatural threat., moving from reaction to action.
At 45 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Notably, this crucial beat The Djinn confronts Alex directly at the auction house party, revealing his human disguise. He demonstrates his power by granting horrific wishes to party guests, raising the stakes as Alex realizes the full extent of his abilities and her connection to him., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 68 minutes (75% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, The Djinn captures Shannon, using Alex's sister as leverage. He forces Alex into an impossible position - make her three wishes or watch her sister die in agony. Alex seems utterly defeated with no way to save Shannon without dooming the world., demonstrates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 72 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 80% of the runtime. Alex realizes the key: the Djinn must grant wishes exactly as spoken. She can use his own power against him by making a wish that undoes everything. She chooses to face him with a clever plan rather than submit in despair., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Wishmaster's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 15 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs systematic plot point analysis that identifies crucial turning points. By mapping Wishmaster against these established plot points, we can identify how Robert Kurtzman utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Wishmaster within the fantasy genre.
Comparative Analysis
Additional fantasy films include Thinner, Ella Enchanted and Conan the Barbarian.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Ancient Persia prologue: A sorcerer summons the Djinn who grants twisted wishes causing horrific chaos. The Djinn is trapped in a fire opal by a wizard, establishing the ancient evil that will be unleashed.
Theme
The Persian sorcerer warns that the Djinn grants wishes but corrupts them - "Be careful what you wish for" is stated as the Djinn twists every desire into horrific consequences.
Worldbuilding
We meet Alexandra Amberson, a skilled gemologist working at Regal Auctioneers. Her boss Raymond Beaumont acquires a statue containing the fire opal. During unloading, a crane accident kills a dockworker and cracks the statue, releasing the opal.
Disruption
Alexandra examines the mysterious fire opal and accidentally awakens the Djinn when she analyzes it with a laser. The gem explodes, the Djinn begins to regenerate, and Alex experiences a terrifying psychic vision of the creature.
Resistance
Alex is haunted by visions and seeks answers. She consults folklore expert Wendy Derleth who explains Djinn mythology. Meanwhile, the Djinn regenerates by collecting souls through twisted wish-granting, killing a pharmacist and homeless man.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Alex discovers she is psychically linked to the Djinn and realizes she awakened him. She actively chooses to investigate and stop the creature rather than ignore the visions, committing herself to confronting the supernatural threat.
Mirror World
Alex's relationship with her sister Shannon becomes central to the story. Shannon represents innocence and normal life - everything Alex must protect. Their bond embodies the theme of selfless love versus selfish desire.
Premise
The Djinn, now in human form as Nathaniel Demerest, hunts for Alex while granting gruesome wishes. He kills a security guard, torments people at a party, and leaves a trail of twisted deaths. Alex researches Djinn lore and realizes he needs her three wishes to open the gate for his kind.
Midpoint
The Djinn confronts Alex directly at the auction house party, revealing his human disguise. He demonstrates his power by granting horrific wishes to party guests, raising the stakes as Alex realizes the full extent of his abilities and her connection to him.
Opposition
The Djinn relentlessly pursues Alex, killing anyone who gets in his way. He murders Wendy, torments Raymond Beaumont with a wish that backfires horribly, and systematically eliminates Alex's support network. Alex struggles to find a way to defeat an immortal being.
Collapse
The Djinn captures Shannon, using Alex's sister as leverage. He forces Alex into an impossible position - make her three wishes or watch her sister die in agony. Alex seems utterly defeated with no way to save Shannon without dooming the world.
Crisis
Alex faces her darkest moment, trapped between sacrificing her sister and unleashing the Djinn army. She recalls everything she learned about wish-granting and the Djinn's rules, desperately searching for a loophole in his ancient power.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Alex realizes the key: the Djinn must grant wishes exactly as spoken. She can use his own power against him by making a wish that undoes everything. She chooses to face him with a clever plan rather than submit in despair.
Synthesis
Alex confronts the Djinn and carefully words her wish: she wishes the dockworker had never died in the crane accident. This paradox erases the chain of events that freed the Djinn. Reality rewrites itself, the Djinn is trapped back in the opal, and all his victims are restored.
Transformation
Alex and Shannon are reunited, alive and safe. The fire opal is sealed away, containing the imprisoned Djinn. Alex has transformed from someone who accidentally unleashed evil into a hero who outsmarted an ancient demon through selfless sacrifice and clever thinking.