Wish Upon

Wish Upon

Year: 2017

Runtime: 90 min

Language: English

Director: John R. Leonetti

Echo Score: 50

Budget: $12M

ThrillerFantasyHorror

Seventeen-year-old Clare Shannon finds high school a constant struggle, until she discovers an antique music box promising to grant wishes. Initially thrilled by the seemingly miraculous fulfillment of her desires, Clare soon realizes there's a terrible price to pay. As her wishes come true, those around her begin to suffer tragic and violent fates. Forced to confront the dark consequences of her actions and the box’s sinister power, Clare must find a way to end the curse before it destroys everything she holds dear.

Warning: spoilers below!

Haven’t seen Wish Upon yet? This summary contains major spoilers. Bookmark the page, watch the movie, and come back for the full breakdown. If you're ready, scroll on and relive the story!

Timeline & Setting – Wish Upon (2017)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Wish Upon (2017). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

The movie is set in contemporary times, reflecting modern teenage life with its social media influences, peer pressures, and familial challenges. This time frame highlights the connection between Clare's personal struggles and contemporary themes such as mental health and the impacts of grief.

Location

Clare's Home, School

Clare's home serves as the site of both tragic loss and the discovery of the cursed music box that alters her life. The school is a focal point for social struggles and peer dynamics, where Clare faces humiliation and develops her fleeting crushes.

🏡 Home 🏫 School

Last Updated: October 22, 2024 at 20:38

Main Characters – Wish Upon (2017)

Meet the key characters of Wish Upon (2017), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Clare

Clare is a complex teenage girl navigating the turbulent waters of adolescence while grappling with the tragic loss of her mother. With a desire for acceptance and love, she stumbles upon the music box, believing it holds the power to transform her life. Her journey evolves into a harrowing tale of self-discovery and the consequences of unchecked desires.

🧑‍🎤 Protagonist 💔 Grief 🎭 Complexity

Johanna Shannon

Johanna is Clare's mother, whose tragic fate sets the course for the story. Her loss profoundly impacts Clare, driving her to seek control over her life through the music box. Her character embodies the maternal bond and serves as a catalyst for Clare's choices and later regrets.

👩‍👧 Family 💔 Loss 🔄 Fate

Ryan Hui

Ryan serves as Clare's supportive friend, guiding her through the horrors unleashed by the music box. His character represents loyalty and the importance of friendship during times of crisis. He becomes instrumental in uncovering the dark secrets behind the box and helping Clare navigate her moral dilemmas.

👦 Friend 🔍 Investigator 💪 Supportive

Last Updated: October 22, 2024 at 20:38

Major Themes – Wish Upon (2017)

Explore the central themes of Wish Upon (2017), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

⚠️ Consequences

The theme of consequences permeates the narrative as Clare grapples with the fallout from her wishes. Each desire she makes reflects a deeper moral crisis, showing that even the simplest of wishes can lead to irreversible outcomes. This theme underscores the idea that actions, especially those born out of selfishness, have serious repercussions.

💔 Grief

Grief is a significant theme that shapes Clare's journey after the death of her mother and beloved dog. This emotional turmoil drives her desire for control through the music box, illustrating how loss can push individuals toward desperate choices. Clare's progression illustrates the struggle between coping with grief and the temptation to reclaim what has been lost.

🔮 Fate

The theme of fate plays a crucial role as Clare contends with the music box's power to alter her destiny. Her desperate wishes to change her circumstances lead to catastrophic repercussions, emphasizing the struggle between free will and the inescapable nature of destiny. Ultimately, her journey reveals the dangers of tampering with fate.

Last Updated: October 22, 2024 at 20:38

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Movies about deadly wishes like Wish Upon

Stories where a supernatural deal turns into an inescapable curse.If you liked the dark consequences of the music box in Wish Upon, explore these movies about supernatural bargains and cursed objects. This list features similar stories where characters make a fatal wish, leading to a spiral of tragedy, guilt, and a desperate race against an unforgiving curse.

sinisteranxiousparanoidgrippinggrimfatalisticdesperatetragic

Narrative Summary

The narrative pattern follows a clear cause-and-effect structure: a desire is fulfilled, but each fulfillment is directly linked to a escalating, tragic consequence for those around the protagonist. The journey is one of spiraling dread and powerlessness, as the character's attempts to break the curse often only tighten its grip, frequently culminating in a bleak or hopeless conclusion.

Why These Movies?

These films are grouped by their shared exploration of the 'be careful what you wish for' trope, executed with a dark, fatalistic tone. They feature high intensity, fast-paced consequences, and a heavy emotional weight centered on grief, loss, and the moral price of selfish desires.

Teen horror thrillers with a dark tone like Wish Upon

Coming-of-age stories shattered by supernatural horror and mounting dread.Fans of the desperate teen angst and supernatural horror in Wish Upon will find similar movies here. This collection features young adult horror where protagonists face a sinister force, leading to a fast-paced, tense, and grim story with heavy consequences and a focus on moral dilemmas.

anxiousparanoidgrippingdesperatetensegrimteen horrorsupernatural

Narrative Summary

The emotional journey blends classic teenaged angst with supernatural terror. The protagonist's desire for a better life is the catalyst for a horror plot that dismantles their world. The narrative is straightforward and fast-paced, focusing on the immediate, violent consequences of their actions and their desperate, often futile, attempts to regain control, resulting in a deeply personal tragedy.

Why These Movies?

These movies share a specific vibe: a dark, high-intensity fusion of teen drama and supernatural horror. They are united by a fast pace, heavy emotional weight stemming from personal loss, and a tone that is consistently anxious and grim, exploring the destruction of a young life from within.

Unlock the Full Story of Wish Upon

Don't stop at just watching — explore Wish Upon in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what Wish Upon is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

Wish Upon Summary

Read a complete plot summary of Wish Upon, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

Wish Upon Summary

Wish Upon Timeline

Track the full timeline of Wish Upon with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.

Wish Upon Timeline

Wish Upon Spoiler-Free Summary

Get a quick, spoiler-free overview of Wish Upon that covers the main plot points and key details without revealing any major twists or spoilers. Perfect for those who want to know what to expect before diving in.

Wish Upon Spoiler-Free Summary

More About Wish Upon

Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about Wish Upon: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.

More About Wish Upon

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Discover movies like Wish Upon that share similar genres, themes, and storytelling elements. Whether you’re drawn to the atmosphere, character arcs, or plot structure, these curated recommendations will help you explore more films you’ll love.