Did not watch 'The Final Wish' with the intent to dislike it. The advertising was cool and creepy and the concept while nothing new did spark interest. Also consider Lin Shaye and Tony Todd not bad actors at all, consider both talented actually though the films they choose to feature in too often don't do them enough justice even when they are bright spots.
That is the case with 'The Final Wish'. Don't consider it that awful or bad enough to make one bail early on (have seen far worse films in the genre and in general), but do agree with the general consensus (seemingly) here that deemed it as underwhelming and not really a good film at all. Not irredeemable by all means, there are a few things that rise it above dreck level only just but there is more bad than good and the flaws sadly are really quite big.
Shaye is a redeeming merit, in full command of her material regardless of it being severely wanting and attacking it with great dilligence and gusto without going over the top. Todd doesn't have anywhere near enough to work with with too short screen time and again wanting material, but he also shows conscientuousness and chills by that voice alone.
For low budget, 'The Final Wish' could have looked a lot worse, even though still not great overall it's not amateur hour. The scenery has eeriness and there is some atmosphere in the lighting.
More focused and less rushed-looking photography would have made them shine more, and the erratic editing is a big detriment. Other than Shaye and Todd, the acting is awful with the epitome of ineptitude in all senses Melissa Bolona giving one of the worst ever performances in recent years. Michael Welch is on autopilot but he is nowhere near as bad as Bolona. The characters have nothing interesting or endearing about them, no development to them really and their decision making and the way they behave makes one frustrated with them. The script is as limp as soggy cucumber sandwiches and felt like a rough draft that had not been properly completed or proof read.
It's the pace and story that doom 'The Final Wish'. There is nothing scary or suspenseful whatsoever, in fact there didn't seem to be any atmosphere at all other than dreariness, and it takes forever to get going and never really kicks into gear when something significant finally does happen too long a way in. Everything feels bland and silly, there is far too much of a seen it all before vibe (not a new idea at all and nothing fresh is done with it) and parts are even confusing. The ending is not a completely predictable one, but it felt anaemic and dragged out like the rest of 'The Final Wish'.
Overall, didn't find it a complete waste of time but it was not a good way of spending it all the same. 3/10
