Blumhouse has gained notoriety for its long list of hit-or-miss films, and "Imaginary" unfortunately does not seem to break this pattern. Directed by Jeff Wadlow, known for "Truth or Dare," the story revolves around Jessica (DeWanda Wise), a children's book author and stepmother who moves into her childhood home with her family. The plot takes a dark twist as Jessica's youngest stepdaughter, Alice (Pyper Braun) forms a distressing bond with an imaginary friend, Chauncey, stirring up a cocktail of buried memories and hidden traumas.
Despite its strong potential to explore the complexities of family dynamics and the often terrifying nature of imagination, "Imaginary" fails to dive too deeply into its premise. Instead, the audience is left grappling with an array of convoluted plot lines and unnecessary world-building while the domestic drama fizzles in the background. What begins as a horror film morphs into a poorly executed version of fantasical science fiction, falling flat and rendering the influence of the imaginary friend a mere side note.
As the movie progresses, the story becomes more and more disjointed, bringing in unnecessary characters and awkward dialogue that detracts from the film’s essence. A horror film by name, it lacks the necessary thrills, chills, and gore associated with the genre. Additionally, the flat performances given by what could have been a stellar cast render “Imaginary” more of a missed opportunity than an intriguing exploration of the hidden shadows of the mind.
It’s a shame as "Imaginary" had the potential to be much more - a campy, gore-filled romp akin to movies like "Ted" or even a flick with a self-aware horror-comedy edge like “M3gan” or “Child’s Play.”. However, it floats aimlessly along as an inconsistent and forgettable narrative that unfortunately pales compared to other films of its kind. Strikingly lacking in imagination and thoughtfulness for a movie that centralizes these very concepts, "Imaginary" leaves a lot to be desired.
