Watch Merlin's Shop of Mystical Wonders

Merlin's Shop of Mystical Wonders is a surprisingly dark and twisted horror movie from 1996. The film is directed by Kenneth J. Berton and stars veteran actor Ernest Borgnine as the titular Merlin, a mysterious shopkeeper with a penchant for dealing in magical and supernatural artifacts. The movie is essentially an anthology of two separate stories, loosely connected by the character of Merlin and his magic shop. The first story focuses on a middle-aged couple named Grandpa and Grandson, played by George Milan and John Terrence respectively. After stumbling upon Merlin's shop while out on a walk, they decide to buy a cursed monkey toy for their granddaughter. However, things quickly take a turn for the worse when the monkey begins wreaking havoc around the household, causing various accidents and injuries. As the couple struggles to get rid of the toy, they begin to realize that their actions may have unleashed something far more sinister than they ever could have imagined.

The second story is centered around a struggling novelist named Jonathan Cooper, played by Bunny Summers. After suffering multiple rejections from publishers, Jonathan finds himself desperate for inspiration. It's then that he meets Merlin, who offers him a strange and magical typewriter that he claims will help him write his greatest work yet. As Jonathan begins to use the typewriter, he finds that the stories he writes are not only eerily accurate but also seem to be connected to a series of bizarre and unsettling occurrences within his own life.

Merlin's Shop of Mystical Wonders is a strange and at times disjointed film, with both stories feeling somewhat disconnected from each other. However, the movie is saved by the strong performances of its cast, particularly Borgnine, who brings a sense of gravitas and menace to the role of Merlin. The movie also features some genuinely creepy sequences, particularly in the first story, which manages to elicit a surprising amount of tension and dread from a simple toy monkey.

One of the more interesting aspects of the film is the way in which it blends elements of horror and fantasy together. Rather than relying on traditional horror tropes like jump scares or gore, the movie instead leans heavily into its fantastical elements, presenting a world where magic and the supernatural are not only real but also dangerous. This approach gives the film a unique and unsettling atmosphere that sets it apart from other movies in the genre.

Another standout feature of the movie is its use of practical effects. While some of the effects are a bit dated by modern standards, there's a charm to the low-budget makeup and creature designs that adds to the film's overall sense of otherworldliness.

Overall, Merlin's Shop of Mystical Wonders is an underrated gem of a horror movie. While its plot may be somewhat convoluted, the film more than makes up for it with its strong performances, unique blend of horror and fantasy, and genuinely creepy sequences. If you're a fan of low-budget horror or fantasy movies, then this one is definitely worth checking out.

Merlin's Shop of Mystical Wonders is a 1996 horror movie with a runtime of 1 hour and 32 minutes. It has received poor reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 2.3.