WISHMASTER 2 (1999)

Directed by Jack Sholder

Starring Andrew Divoff and Holly Fields

The original "Wishmaster" had the benefit of being directed by veteran special effects artist Robert Kurtzman, who was able to use his horror film experience to rope in a number of interesting cameos, including those of Robert Englund and Tony Todd.

The inevitable sequel to that entertaining schlock epic went straight to video. While the first film had a low budget, but somehow managed to hide it, the second film had second-rate make-up effects and an embarrassingly bad set that was supposed to depict hell, but looked like something out of a student play.

Despite these flaws, the film holds up. Basically it features more of the same from Part 1, delivered with less style. The evil genie is back, now housed in a prison after taking blame for the accidental shooting of a security guard at a museum. Every time he gets one of the prisoners to make a wish he's able to steal his soul. He needs 1001 souls to bring about the apocalypse. All the wishes end in disaster for ones making them, a la "The Monkey's Paw."

The real killer, a teeny-bopper played by Fields, is falling in love with a priest, who realizes the evil genie needs her to make the apocalypse happen. She eventually embraces God and gains enough confidence to go up against the genie in a battle of wits.

Not as good as Part 1, but worth catching.