Imaginary is a 2024 supernatural horror film directed and produced by Jeff Wadlow (Never Back Down, Kick-Ass 2), from a screenplay by Wadlow, Greg Erb (Night Swim), and Jason Oremland. The film is produced by Jason Blum through his Blumhouse Productions banner and Tower of Babble.
When Jessica returns to her childhood home with her family, she finds her old stuffed bear Chauncey and that her stepdaughter Alice has grown attached to it. After Alice's behavior becomes concerning and the games that she and Chauncey play turn increasingly sinister, Jessica starts realizing that Chauncey is much more than the stuffed bear she believed him to be all those years.
The cast includes DeWanda Wise, Tom Payne, Betty Buckley, Pyper Braun, Taegen Burns, Veronica Falcón, and Dane DiLiegro.
Imaginary made its debut in theaters March 8th, 2024, courtesy of Lionsgate.
THE GOOD
To be honest I didn’t expect a ton from Imaginary considering the PG-13 rating and the overall premise of the film, but I’m here to say that I was pleasantly surprised. Now this certainly isn’t the scariest movie I have seen in last several years, but it is without a doubt one of the better PG-13 horror movies I have come across in quite awhile.
Imaginary builds tension with a very interesting story that kept me engaged throughout, above average acting especially for a horror film, and some genuinely creepy moments made possible by a great soundtrack and what I felt was a dark and balanced feel. I really liked the story and I was actually completely caught off guard by what I felt was a really cool twist that actually gave me legit chills, which at the end of the day is all I can really ask for with a horror movie. I thought the editing team did a fantastic job, and the pacing of the film was great as it never seemed to drag.
As a horror movie Imaginary does some really good things that put a smile on the face of this horror fanatic. For the most part the film relies on the less-is-more approach as you see shadowy figures from time to time while keeping you guessing as the story unfolds. The film also brings to the table some solid jump scares if that is your thing, but for me I want that uneasy feeling that eventually gives me chills and it delivers on that as well.
Imaginary tells a tragic story of childhood trauma in a very unique way giving viewers breadcrumbs as they eventually connect the dots and make sense of what is really going on. For me the story works because it has that powerful emotional element which really gives viewers something to sink their teeth into. I thought Imaginary had the feel of the Insidious franchise at times which is a good thing of course.
One of the reasons the film works so well is because viewers are introduced to characters that you can’t help but root for. I thought DeWanda Wise was fantastic in the lead role of Jessica, a step mom who is struggling to connect with her two step children while also attempting to unravel the mysteries of her own childhood after moving back into the home she grew up in. I was 100% bought into Wise’s character, and for me she felt relatable and genuine. For the film to work you really needed to become invested in her character, and a fantastic performance from Wise made that easy to do.
Pyper Braun and Taegen Burns play the two stepdaughters with Braun playing the little girl who embraces this imaginary friend. Braun plays Alice, a very troubled little girl who has struggled to come out of her shell and connect with other kids, and althought she wasn’t perfect in this role I thought she delivered a very commendable performance. When this new imaginary friend of hers is first introduced Jessica sees it as a good thing and a way for Alice to express herself, but this new relationship quickly takes a dark turn as Jessica learns that her past may not be full of the fond memories she thought it was.
THE BAD
Imaginary had its fair share of flaws which kept it from becoming a great horror film. First of all although I was very impressed by the visuals and the special effects, a few of the decisions left me scratching my head. Once the film abandoned the less-is-more approach I touched on earlier in the review viewers were given a better look at some of the so-called monsters, and although some of what the films serves up are fantastic, some not so much. At times the visuals almost felt borderline sci-fi which was a bit weird for me.
I just wish they would have stayed the course and remained consistent with the visuals. Also although I felt like the characters and the screenplay as a whole was a big strength for the film, a few things could have been better which took away from the overall impact of the film especially in the final act. Betty Buckley’s character of the odd neighbor Gloria felt a bit all over the place for me, and at times the screenplay seemed to get a bit lazy as it was attempting to bring the story full circle.
THE VERDICT
A surprisingly effective horror film with Insidious vibes offering an immersive and at times chilling story, Imaginary struggles with consistency but still delivers one of the better PG-13 genre entries in recent memory. I talked about my issues with the film and clearly it is far from perfect, but to say this is a bad movie just isn’t fair. It could have been better but they were willing to take chances and I for one appreciate that. If you go in with your expectations in check and give the film a chance Imaginary delivers an experience that for my money is worth a trip to the theater.
TED TAKES RATING - 6.5/10
Imaginary is now playing only in theaters. Check out the latest trailer below.