Wish Upon Synopsis & Review: Plot Summary

🎯 Quick Overview

😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained

A teenage girl finds a magical box from a dumpster, makes increasingly selfish wishes, and then everyone around her dies in elaborate accidents—it’s like ‘Final Destination’ meets a really irresponsible birthday.

🍿 Wish Upon: Detailed Plot Synopsis

A Traumatic Past and a Mysterious Box

Clare Shannon, haunted by her mother’s suicide, navigates the trials of high school while dealing with an embarrassing dumpster-diving father. Her life takes a turn when her father finds a mysterious Chinese music box that promises to grant seven wishes. Initially skeptical, Clare begins to experiment with the box, unaware of the deadly consequences.

The Wishes and Their Bloody Price

As Clare makes wishes – for her bully to ‘rot,’ for her crush to fall in love with her, and for financial security – she finds that each wish comes at a terrible price: the death of someone close to her. Despite the mounting evidence, Clare becomes increasingly selfish and blinded by the fulfillment of her desires, ignoring the pleas of her friends and the warnings of her classmate Ryan, who helps her translate the box’s inscription. Each wish fulfillment is followed by a Final Destination-esque death.

Unraveling the Box’s History and the Cost of Selfishness

Clare and Ryan research the box and uncover its dark history, learning that it is tied to a vengeful spirit and that each previous owner suffered tragic consequences. Clare is warned that she will lose everything if she does not destroy the box. However, by the time Clare truly understands the danger, she has already made too many wishes, setting in motion a chain of events that puts everyone she loves in mortal danger.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained

🎬 Cast & Characters

• Clare Shannon (Joey King): A bullied teenager who finds a mysterious music box that grants wishes with deadly consequences.
• Jonathan Shannon (Ryan Phillippe): Clare’s dumpster-diving father who brings home the cursed music box.
• Ryan Hui (Ki Hong Lee): Clare’s classmate who helps her research the music box and its origins.
• Meredith McNeil (Sydney Park): One of Clare’s best friends who is skeptical about the music box and its powers.
• June Acosta (Shannon Purser): Clare’s other best friend who encourages her to get rid of the dangerous music box.
• Darcie Chapman (Josephine Langford): The mean, popular girl at school who becomes Clare’s initial target for the music box’s power.

💬 Memorable Quotes

• Clare: “I wish she would just go rot.” – Clare utters this wish in frustration towards her bully, Darcie, setting off the deadly consequences.
• Ryan: “When the music ends, the blood price is paid.” – Ryan reveals the sinister meaning of the phrase on the box, warning Clare of the consequences.

💰Box Office

• Budget: $12,000,000
• Domestic Gross: $14,301,505
• Worldwide Gross: $23,468,586

💥 Wish Upon Reviews

Personal Review

Okay, so ‘Wish Upon’ isn’t going to win any awards, but I actually had a fun time watching it! I love a good cheesy horror movie, and this one delivered. I was on the edge of my seat during the death scenes, even though they were totally over-the-top. It’s a perfect movie for a night in with friends, some popcorn, and a lot of laughter. The music box is creepy, but the story is a bit lacking, but the ending gets you.

• Who would enjoy:
  • “Teen horror fans”
  • “Viewers who enjoy supernatural thrillers with a cautionary message”
  • “Fans of Joey King”
• Content warnings ⚠:
  • “Suicide”
  • “Bullying”
  • “Graphic depictions of death”
  • “Teenage angst”
  • “Disturbing images”

Professional Reviews

• IndieWire: “Wish Upon’s plot is a derivative patchwork of familiar horror tropes, elevated only by Joey King’s committed performance. The scares are predictable, but King’s portrayal of a troubled teen makes the film watchable despite its shortcomings.
• Variety: “While ‘Wish Upon’ offers a few genuinely creepy moments, it ultimately fails to deliver on its premise. The film’s reliance on jump scares and predictable plot twists makes it a forgettable entry in the teen horror genre.
• The Hollywood Reporter: “‘Wish Upon’ is a missed opportunity, squandering its intriguing premise with a weak script and uninspired direction. The film struggles to balance its horror elements with teen drama, resulting in a disjointed and unsatisfying experience.

Audience Reactions

The death scenes were surprisingly creative and kept me guessing.: Most viewers enjoyed the ‘Final Destination’-esque death sequences and Joey King’s performance.

It had all the elements of what makes a horror movie scary.: Some moviegoers felt the ending was unsatisfying because it was so abrupt.

Overall Consensus: Despite mixed reviews, ‘Wish Upon’ is considered a passable teen horror flick with creative death scenes, but a weak plot.

Awards

🛠️ Behind the Scenes

• “The film is loosely based on W.W. Jacobs’ short story ‘The Monkey’s Paw,’ which explores the dangers of tampering with fate.”
• “The screenplay appeared on the 2015 Black List, a compilation of the best unproduced screenplays.”
• “Director John R. Leonetti also directed ‘Annabelle’; this connection was used in marketing the film to horror fans.”
• “The director’s Unrated Version is one minute longer than the Theatrical Cut, it has more gore and it is only available on the American Blu-ray.”

🖥️ How to Watch Wish Upon?

Currently, “Wish Upon” is available for rent or purchase on various platforms, including Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, and Vudu. Check local listings for potential cable or streaming options. As streaming availability can vary by region, it is recommended to check your preferred service for the most up-to-date information.

🎥 Similar Movies

If you enjoyed Wish Upon, you might like these similar films:

• The Monkey’s Paw (1948): Direct inspiration for the ‘be careful what you wish for’ theme with dire consequences.
• Final Destination (2000): Shares the theme of elaborate deaths and the consequences of defying fate.
• Wishmaster (1997): Explores the dark side of wishes granted by a demonic entity.
• The Possession (2012): Horror movie about the dark side of the wishing box that possessed its user.

🛒 Wish Upon Related Products

• Wish Upon [Blu-ray]: Own the physical copy of ‘Wish Upon’ and relive the horror with extended scenes and behind-the-scenes content. This Blu-ray edition brings the suspense to life with enhanced visuals and sound.
• Wish Upon – Movie Poster: Decorate your space with the official ‘Wish Upon’ movie poster. Show off your love for the film with this eye-catching piece of art.
• Wish Upon: The Game: An interactive horror experience where you make the wishes and face the consequences. Each choice leads to a different ending, challenging your morality and survival instincts.
• Chinese Music Box – Inspired by Wish Upon: An intricately designed music box inspired by the movie prop. This collectible piece features detailed carvings and plays a haunting melody, bringing the eerie atmosphere of ‘Wish Upon’ into your home.

🎧 Soundtrack

Wish Upon features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:

• “Don’t Take My Summer Away” – performed by Truli

You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.

🤨 FAQ

🔥 Bonus Content

WISH UPON (2017) Ending Explained

Confused about the ending of Wish Upon? This video breaks it down in a way that totally makes sense. Honestly, after watching this, I understood the ending way better!

7 Wishes Are Coming True, But There’s A Dark Cost Associated With Each Wish

Need a quick rundown of the movie’s plot before diving in? This recap is perfect! Seriously, it hits all the important plot points without spoiling too much.

✨ Rate