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Horror thriller

The Djinn (2021): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Plot

The Djinn (2021) movie poster

The Djinn is a 2021 horror thriller directed by David Charbonier and Justin Powell, starring Ezra Dewey as Dylan, Rob Brownstein and Tevy Poe. It runs 1 hour 22 minutes and earned $404,492 worldwide. Critics gave it 86% on Rotten Tomatoes and 59 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 4.8/10.

IMDb rating
4.8/10
Rotten Tomatoes
86%
worldwide gross
$404.5K
Echo Score
51
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The Djinn (2021) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 22m (82 min)
Genres
Thriller , Horror
Original language
English
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is The Djinn About?

The premise of The Djinn without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.

A young boy, withdrawn and isolated, unwittingly summons a terrifying entity that embodies his deepest wishes. As the malevolent Djinn manifests, he finds himself in a desperate fight for survival, forced to confront the horrifying repercussions of his hidden desires. He must find a way to stop the Djinn before it consumes him and everyone around him.

The Djinn Themes & Keywords

· 50 tags
  • djinn
  • wish
  • evil spirit
  • 1980s
  • boy in shower
  • boy's bedroom
  • bare chested boy
  • boy
  • evil djinn
  • demon
  • occult book
  • achilles tendon cut
+38 more
  • father son relationship
  • genie
  • pricked finger
  • static on tv
  • door knob turning by itself
  • gasping for air
  • cracked mirror
  • hiding under bed
  • hiding in closet
  • mute boy
  • ceiling fan
  • close up of boy's feet
  • camera shot of a boy's feet
  • camera shot of feet
  • camera shot of bare feet
  • close up of feet
  • close up of bare feet
  • barefoot boy
  • father reads a book out loud to his son
  • reference to pinocchio
  • candle
  • sinister
  • monster
  • headphone
  • tape recorder
  • apartment
  • moving in
  • unpacking
  • neighborhood kids
  • closet
  • book
  • pentagram on book cover
  • pentagram
  • wish of desire
  • wish of desire spell
  • spellbook
  • sign language
  • son misses his mother
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Cast & crew

The Djinn Cast & Characters

Ezra Dewey leads the cast as Dylan, with Rob Brownstein as Dad and Tevy Poe as The Djinn, Mom. Directed by David Charbonier and Justin Powell; 10 actors are credited in all.

Also Starring in The Djinn

· 6 more
From the directors

More from David Charbonier and Justin Powell

More films directed by David Charbonier and Justin Powell, best-rated first: Push and The Boy Behind the Door.

Ratings

The Djinn Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave The Djinn 86% on Rotten Tomatoes and 59 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 4.8/10. Our Echo Score gives it 51/100, strongest in character & emotion (63) and weakest in story & flow (42).

51 /100

The Djinn Echo Score Breakdown

The Djinn delivers a modestly effective horror experience that is hampered by uneven storytelling and constrained production values. Critics note a tense atmosphere and occasional visual flair, while many viewers point to predictable plot beats and sluggish pacing. Performances, particularly from the lead, receive consistent praise, offering the film its strongest anchor. However, the limited setting and low‑budget aesthetics frequently expose narrative thinness, resulting in a film that entertains sporadically but struggles to sustain momentum on repeated viewings.

Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.

  • Art & Craft 48

    In terms of direction and visual craft, The Djinn shows flashes of atmospheric cinematography but often falls into a constrained, low‑budget aesthetic. Critics remark on a soupy steadicam style and cheap production design, yet some appreciate the effective use of a single apartment to create claustrophobia. The editing feels measured at times, but filler shots and repetitive scenes dilute its impact. Overall, the artistic execution is mixed, leaning toward the modestly negative side.

  • Character & Emotion 63

    When evaluating character work, the lead performance stands out as a consistent highlight across reviews. Both critics and users commend the nuanced portrayal that adds emotional weight to an otherwise thin narrative. Supporting actors receive mixed feedback, with some reviewers noting subpar acting while others find the ensemble adequate. The chemistry between the protagonist and secondary figures is generally viewed as functional, providing the film's most engaging moments. Consequently, the character aspect scores modestly above average.

  • Story & Flow 42

    Story and narrative flow emerge as the film's weakest component. Reviewers uniformly cite predictable twists, exposition‑laden dialogue, and pacing that drags, describing the plot as clichéd and occasionally plodding. While a few critics acknowledge moments of tension and a compact thriller structure, these are outweighed by criticisms of limited imagination and narrative inconsistency. The lack of originality and occasional illogical plot choices further diminish engagement, positioning the story aspect well below the midpoint.

  • Sensory Experience 56

    The sensory experience combines a synth‑heavy score that many find suitably spooky with sporadic visual moments of intrigue. Critics praise the soundtrack’s contribution to tension, whereas some users label the audio as underwhelming. The limited setting offers occasional atmospheric shots that enhance mood, but the overall sound design and visual polish fluctuate. This blend of positive and negative feedback yields a slightly above‑average sensory score, reflecting a respectable yet uneven execution.

  • Rewatch Factor 44

    Rewatch potential is limited by the film's predictability and pacing issues. While a handful of viewers describe the movie as a welcome throwback that can be enjoyable on a second viewing, the majority point to repetitive scenes and lack of scares as deterrents to repeat engagement. The modest atmospheric elements provide some replay value, yet the overall narrative shortcomings keep the rewatch factor below the midpoint.

Plot

The Djinn Plot Summary

What happens in The Djinn from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 13 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 2-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

A few months after the tragic suicide of his mother, Michelle, who took her own life in 1989, Dylan Jacobs, portrayed by Ezra Dewey, moves into a new apartment in Burbank with his father, Michael, played by Rob Brownstein. Left alone as his father works a night shift as a radio DJ, Dylan discovers a hidden grimoire left behind by the previous tenant. As he delves into its contents, he stumbles upon a passage titled “Wish of Desire,” which illustrates a spell meant to grant one’s deepest desire, but it comes with a cautionary warning about a deceptive djinn known to ensnare souls.

Full summary

The whole story of The Djinn, scene by scene

Read the full summary
Box office

The Djinn Box Office

The Djinn grossed $404,492 worldwide. $124,772 came from the US and Canada and $279,720 (69%) from the rest of the world.

2021 box office

Worldwide gross

$404.5K

US & Canada
$124.8K
International
$279.7K
US & Canada 31% Rest of the world 69%
Videos

The Djinn Trailers & Videos

The trailer of The Djinn.

The Djinn - Official Trailer | HD | IFC Midnight
Quiz

How Well Do You Know The Djinn?

10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.

Question 1 of 10

  1. Question 1: not answered
  2. Question 2: not answered
  3. Question 3: not answered
  4. Question 4: not answered
  5. Question 5: not answered
  6. Question 6: not answered
  7. Question 7: not answered
  8. Question 8: not answered
  9. Question 9: not answered
  10. Question 10: not answered

What tragic event haunts Dylan at the beginning of the film?

Details

The Djinn Also Known As

13 alternative titles, including “Ritual Maldito” and “Le Djinn”.

Also known as
  • Ritual Maldito
  • Le Djinn
  • 魔灵
  • A dzsinn
  • הג'יני
  • Djinn: Cuidado com o Que Deseja
  • 더 진
  • Заклинание Джинна
  • 魔靈
  • Джинът "Господарят на желанията"
  • Dżin
  • Džinas
+1 more
  • Quỷ Dữ

Seen The Djinn?

FAQ

The Djinn FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Runtime

Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings and post-credit scenes of The Djinn, each answered in a sentence.

How long is The Djinn?

The Djinn runs 1 hour 22 minutes (82 minutes).

When was The Djinn released?

The Djinn was released on May 14, 2021.

Who directed The Djinn?

The Djinn was directed by David Charbonier and Justin Powell.

More films by David Charbonier

Who is in the cast of The Djinn?

The Djinn stars Ezra Dewey as Dylan, Rob Brownstein as Dad and Tevy Poe as The Djinn, Mom, among 10 credited actors.

How much did The Djinn make at the box office?

The Djinn grossed $404,492 worldwide ($124,772 domestic, $279,720 international).

How is The Djinn rated?

The Djinn has 4.8/10 on IMDb, 86% on Rotten Tomatoes, 59 on Metacritic and 56% on TMDB.

Does The Djinn have a post-credit scene?

No. The Djinn has no extra scene during or after the credits.

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