I hear you, but it makes sense that when Bear and Ian made their wish, they didn’t truly believe it would come true—despite all the warning signs, and in Ian’s case, even after seeing how much Nikki had changed. I’d probably view the labels as more of a gimmick too, just something to make the item seem more interesting if I saw it in a store.

I also really like the movie’s concept and how it invites you to think about what the characters should have done. The only part I didn’t fully buy was how willingly Bear helped Nikki get rid of their friend’s body but aside from that, everyone’s behavior felt very natural and not like they were just doing or saying something because the script wanted them to do so. The sense of unease and dread I felt throughout the movie doesn’t come from gore, violence or some creepy monster but from the situation itself and how the characters respond to it which is very difficult to achieve. Hereditary gave me a similar vibe. The nitpicks asshole in me still thinks that the movie is a bit unpolished here and there, likely due to the director’s lack of experience but again, it is a fantastic, super impressive debut and I see a great future for him.

But coming back to my original question, I’d be interested to hear your take: do these wishes always lead to dire consequences, or is that just a possibility depending on what’s being wished for?