Saagar Kote
‘Wish Upon’ centers on the difficult life of Clare Shannon, a teenager pursuing high school. She faces constant ridicule at school, and her father, Jonathan, struggles to provide for them as a dumpster diver. Their home is dilapidated, and Clare’s only solace comes from her friends, Meredith and June. Clare’s monotonous existence changes dramatically when her father discovers a mysterious wooden box with Chinese inscriptions during one of his dives. He gives it to Clare as a gift, hoping to lift her spirits.
Clare soon realizes the box is no ordinary object and may have magical properties, especially after learning that it can grant seven wishes. Tempted by the possibilities, the main character begins making her wishes. However, she may soon learn that such power is not without dark consequences. Clare’s otherwise mundane existence is made special by the presence of her dog Max, who is a trustworthy friend and someone who is with her during difficult moments of her life. SPOILERS AHEAD.
Max Goes Through a Tumultuous Journey Across Different Timelines
Max has been a constant presence in Clare’s life since her childhood. He is with her during the shocking suicide of her mother, Johanna. As a young Clare takes a walk in the neighborhood with a young Max, she returns to find her mother hanging from the roof in the bedroom. Max even spots that there is something wrong with the trash bucket, sensing that Johanna is having a hard time. The dog grows up with Clare and is her only true companion. He even lies in bed with her, giving her the emotional support necessary to cope with her past. After Clare makes her first wish once she finds the magical box, Max visibly shows signs of sadness. He realizes that something is bad and could possibly cause trouble for everyone. Clare is able to fulfill her wish by causing Darcie to develop a rare skin condition. But this comes at a terrible cost.
Clare realizes that Max is missing and tries to find him. Though she is happy about Darcie’s fate, she still depends on Max for emotional support. She desperately searches for him and ultimately finds him dead, eaten by rats in the basement. Max becomes the first victim of Clare’s wishes. The family members bury Max alive, as Clare cries profusely over the death of her one true friend. At this point, Max is seemingly dead forever. However, things take a turn after Clare’s sixth wish. It can be presumed that Max comes back to life in the first altered reality, as Johanna resurrects. The sixth wish allows Joanna to have a happy family, and Max is definitely a part of that. Max’s fate undergoes another challenge when Clare makes her final wish. She returns to the time before she got the box in the first place.
As she wakes up in the second altered reality, she sees a healthy and happy Max lying on her bed. She cuddles him and realizes that she has saved his life. Despite Clare dying in the final moments of the film, Max is surely alive. Since he has a connection with Clare’s first wish, he will stay alive in the second altered reality due to the fact that Clare never gets to the point of the first wish. Clare dies, but Max will continue to live in the house, where he will likely provide emotional support to Jonathan. In conclusion, Max stays alive after he goes through several realities and timelines.
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