🎯 Quick Overview
Trailer
- Director: David Charbonier, Justin Powell
- Genre: Horror, Thriller
- Release year: 2021
- Runtime (length): 1h 22min
- IMDb rating: 4.8/10 (5.2K votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes: 60%
😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained
A mute kid finds a magic book, wishes for a voice, and ends up playing the scariest game of hide-and-seek ever with a shape-shifting monster in his tiny apartment for an hour.
🍿 The Djinn: Detailed Plot Synopsis
A Fresh Start and a Dark Discovery
After witnessing a family tragedy, young Dylan, who is mute, moves into a new apartment with his father in 1989. Left alone one night while his dad works, Dylan discovers an old, hidden book in a closet. The book contains strange rituals and warnings. Drawn by a chapter on granting desires, Dylan decides to perform a spell, hoping it will fulfill his deepest wish.

Inviting the Supernatural
Following the ritual, strange occurrences begin in the apartment. Dylan soon realizes he has summoned a malevolent entity – a Djinn – which manifests in terrifying forms. Trapped within the apartment by supernatural forces, Dylan must confront the creature he has unleashed. The Djinn pursues him relentlessly, taking the appearance of people from photos found in the apartment.

Learning the Rules of Survival
Consulting the mysterious book further, Dylan learns the Djinn’s rules. He discovers he must survive the entity’s presence until midnight to receive his wish. The book also reveals a way to potentially banish the creature. Armed with this knowledge, Dylan uses his resourcefulness to evade the Djinn’s attacks and survive the night.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained
🎬 Cast & Characters
- Dylan (Ezra Dewey): A mute young boy who performs a ritual to gain a voice and accidentally summons a dangerous Djinn.
- The Djinn (Tevy Poe): A sinister supernatural entity that grants wishes with a cruel twist and relentlessly hunts Dylan within the apartment.
- Dad (Rob Brownstein): Dylan’s father who works the night shift, leaving Dylan home alone and unaware of the danger until he returns.
💬 Memorable Quotes
- Michelle (The Djinn mimicking): “No.” – Said by the Djinn while appearing as Dylan’s mother in a dream, responding to his question about whether he could have prevented her suicide.
- Dylan Jacobs: “I Didn’t Want This I Whana Take It Back” – Spoken aloud for the first time in the final moments of the film, reflecting the tragic outcome of his wish.
💰Box Office
- Budget:
- Domestic Gross: $124,772
- Worldwide Gross: $404,492
💥 The Djinn Reviews
Personal Review
Okay, so I just watched ‘The Djinn’, and wow, talk about feeling trapped! Being stuck in that small apartment with the kid while this thing is just stalking around really got to me. Ezra Dewey, the actor playing Dylan, was seriously impressive. He doesn’t say a word, obviously, but you totally feel his fear and desperation through his expressions and actions. There was this one scene where he’s hiding, and the tension was just unbearable; I was practically holding my breath. It’s definitely a slow burn, more suspense than non-stop scares, but I appreciated how it focused on the kid’s resourcefulness. If you’re looking for big monster action or tons of gore, this isn’t it, but if you like contained horror that builds tension and relies on atmosphere and performance, you might dig this one. The ending was… well, let’s just say it sticks with you.
- Who would enjoy:
- “Fans of low-budget or independent horror films”
- “Viewers who enjoy contained or single-location thrillers”
- “Those interested in ‘be careful what you wish for’ or ‘monkey’s paw’ style stories”
- “Audiences who appreciate strong child performances”
- Content warnings ⚠:
- “Implied/depicted suicide (seen by child)”
- “Sequences of intense threat and chase”
- “Supernatural horror violence”
- “Depiction of a mute character facing peril”
Professional Reviews
- Synthesized: “This low-budget horror leverages its confined apartment setting effectively, building palpable tension. Ezra Dewey carries the film admirably, delivering a strong, non-verbal performance that anchors the suspense. While simple in premise, the film feels like an old-school campfire story brought to life. The 80s synth score enhances the atmosphere, making for a brisk and engaging, albeit sometimes divisive, experience.
- Synthesized: “An ambitious blend of horror and psychological drama, ‘The Djinn’ is not for everyone, particularly those expecting jump scares and gore. Its strength lies in its thematic exploration of grief and trauma, subtly tied into the ‘be careful what you wish for’ lore. Director duo Charbonier and Powell demonstrate technical skill, utilizing camera work and sound design to compensate for the limited budget and single location. A decent indie effort worth appreciating for its unique approach.
Audience Reactions
Ezra Dewey’s performance as the mute protagonist was widely praised.: Many viewers found the contained setting and the tension effectively created, especially for a low-budget film. Some appreciated the psychological and thematic elements.
The film’s slow pace and repetitive ‘hide-and-seek’ structure were common complaints.: Conversely, a significant portion of the audience felt the movie was boring, lacked sufficient scares, and found the Djinn’s actions and abilities inconsistent or laughable.
Overall Consensus: Audience opinion is sharply divided; some praise the lead performance, tension, and thematic depth for a low-budget indie, while others criticize the slow pace, limited setting, and perceived lack of scares, calling it boring.
Awards
🛠️ Behind the Scenes
- “The film was shot entirely within a single apartment location in Burbank, California, contributing to its contained and claustrophobic atmosphere.”
- “The directors, David Charbonier and Justin Powell, previously collaborated on the similar contained thriller ‘The Boy Behind the Door’ (2020).”
- “The 1980s setting is emphasized through period-specific props like a boom box, landline phone, and analogue television, alongside a synth-heavy score.”
- “The movie features a goof where Dylan uses an albuterol inhaler (Ventolin HFA) that was not commercially available until 2001, despite the film being set in 1989.”
🖥️ How to Watch The Djinn?
Released in May 2021, ‘The Djinn’ may be available for streaming rental or purchase on major digital platforms. Check services like Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, Vudu, Google Play, and YouTube Movies for availability. As an independent horror film, it might also appear on specialized horror streaming services like Shudder, though availability varies by region and time.

🎥 Similar Movies
If you enjoyed The Djinn, you might like these similar films:
- Wishmaster (1997): Explores the classic horror trope of a malevolent Djinn who grants wishes with horrific and twisted consequences.
- The Monkey’s Paw (various adaptations): Based on the classic short story, this theme of a seemingly beneficial wish leading to unforeseen and tragic outcomes is central to both narratives.
- Home Alone (1990): Features a young boy left alone in a house who must use his wits to defend himself against invaders, albeit in a vastly different genre.
- The Boy Behind the Door (2020): Directed by the same filmmakers, sharing a similar style of a young protagonist trapped in a confined space facing a terrifying threat.
- Poltergeist (1982): An iconic 1980s horror film involving a family and especially their children being terrorized by supernatural entities tied to their home.
- Don’t Breathe (2016): A contained thriller where protagonists are trapped inside a house with a dangerous, often unseen, adversary, relying on stealth and confined space tactics.
🛒 The Djinn Related Products
- Djinn Lore and Mythos Book: Explore the rich history and terrifying tales of the Djinn from various cultures and folklore. This comprehensive guide delves into the origins, powers, and legends surrounding these enigmatic entities.
- Retro 80s Synthwave Music Collection: Immerse yourself in the atmospheric electronic sounds reminiscent of 1980s horror films. This collection features synthwave artists perfect for setting a spooky, nostalgic mood.
- Contained Horror Film Collection (Digital): A bundle of acclaimed horror movies that expertly use limited locations to build suspense. Features films set primarily in houses, apartments, or single buildings.
- Horror Movie Poster – Classic Style: High-quality print of a classic or indie horror film poster. Perfect for decorating your space and showcasing your love for the genre.
🎧 Soundtrack
The Djinn features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:
You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.
🤨 FAQ
The Djinn is a horror film released in 2021 about a mute young boy who finds a mysterious book and performs a ritual to wish for a voice, inadvertently summoning a malevolent Djinn that traps him in his apartment.
‘The Djinn’ was released in theaters and on demand in May 2021. You can typically rent or buy it on digital platforms such as Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, Vudu, and Google Play.
The main character, Dylan, is played by young actor Ezra Dewey. He carries the film as a mute protagonist for the majority of the runtime.
At the end of The Djinn, Dylan believes he has banished the creature and earned his wish. However, the Djinn returns and attacks his father, making the father mute and transferring the ability to speak to Dylan, revealing the Djinn’s deceptive nature.
No, the 2021 film ‘The Djinn’ is not related to the ‘Wishmaster’ horror movie franchise. It is a standalone story utilizing the concept of a Djinn granting wishes with sinister consequences.
‘The Djinn’ aims for tension and suspense within a confined space. Reviews are mixed, with some finding it tense and atmospheric, while others felt it lacked scares and relied on jump scares. Its rating is R, suggesting mature themes and intensity.
🔥 Bonus Content
What’s Dune REALLY about? #Dune #scifi #booktube #book #dunereview
Ever wondered if there’s more to Dune than just sandworms and spice? This short video dives into what the story is *truly* exploring beyond the surface-level hero’s journey, and I think it brings up some really interesting points about leadership and prophecy that make you see the movie differently.
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