Wish Upon
Directed by John R. Leonetti
- horror
- thriller
The story
A teenage girl discovers a box with magical powers, but those powers comes with a deadly price.
What it’s like
Cold, saturated teen-horror look: glossy digital images, sharp contrast, and warm practical-lamp interiors that give way to murky blue night, with the family home rendered as a cramped, lived-in space of clutter and yellow kitchen light. Camera work is busy and mobile, with quick push-ins on objects, reflective surfaces and shadowy corners, and the score leans on pulsing synth and sudden stings that punctuate a mostly tinny, pop-leaning soundtrack. The vibe is glossy, uneasy and mischievous, the kind of thing that suits a late-night watch with the lights off or a sleepover pick. Pacing is brisk, with each wish setting up a small escalating payoff, and the register swings between playful and anxious as a lonely, image-conscious teenager grows increasingly desperate to get what she wants. Violence is frequent and often graphic, with bloody deaths, gore and a few jump scares; sexual content is minimal, and the dread is mostly anchored in gruesome consequence rather than psychological slow burn. It suits viewers who want supernatural horror with a teen lead, a splash of glossy wish-fulfilment fantasy, and visible gore, and it is a poor fit for anyone seeking something gentle or non-violent.
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