The new Blumhouse horror film Imaginary is an excellent example of a horror movie with a lot going on. It tells the story of evil imaginary friends and is sure to make teenagers scream with its jump scares and adolescent antics.
The main character is Jessica Jessica (DeWanda Wise), who, with her husband Max (Tom Payne) and two stepdaughters Alice (Pyper Braun) and Taylor (Taegen Burns), moves back into her childhood home. Max has to leave the family to go on tour with his band, and he thinks that it would be best for Jessica and the kids to move back into her childhood home, which is supposedly the source of her happiest childhood memories. However, it’s clear that Jessica, who writes a children’s book series called “Molly Millipede” and suffers from recurring nightmares featuring giant spiders, might have preferred a safer retreat.
Thanks to the ominous music and imagery, the audience is aware of some creepy events that took place in the house during Jessica’s childhood. However, Jessica is oblivious and happy to return after a long time. But the creepiness starts when Alice discovers a stuffed teddy bear that she names Chauncey. As Jessica gradually recollects more about her past, Chauncey takes Alice on a sinister scavenger hunt and begins to terrorize the household.
The movie “Imaginary” loses its charm when a strange neighbour named Betty Buckley and a child psychologist named Veronica Falcón enter the story. There’s a moment of pure absurdity when a therapist interviews Alice while Chauncey the Teddy bear is present, and Alice speaks in both her and the bear’s voices. Suddenly, the bear speaks by itself, which scares the therapist and leads her to ask Jessica if Alice has been studying ventriloquism. This question is both reasonable and ridiculous.
The movie also lacks a subtle sense of family dynamics. The director, Jeff Wadlow, goes to great lengths to show that Taylor dislikes her stepmother, but Jessica still feels like an outsider. It’s revealed that the girl’s real mother was violent and mentally unstable, which adds another layer of complexity to the plot.
Matthew Sato’s portrayal of the family’s troublesome neighbour is the weakest aspect of the performance, while Braun impressively embodies Alice’s many highs and lows. Wise, who is also an executive producer, delivers a strong performance. Betty Buckley appears as Gloria, Jessica’s nosy neighbour and former babysitter. Her teasing delivery adds to the film’s skilled horror-movie vibe. Although Gloria’s fixation with the imaginary friend realm could make her a villain, Buckley’s performance makes her a fascinating character to watch.
“Imaginary” is a suspenseful movie with good performances, but it falls short in terms of storytelling. The production design is impressive, and the scariest creature in the movie is made using practical effects. Betty Buckley’s teasing delivery elevates the film’s horror-movie pro feel, making her character fascinating. Overall, the movie offers fun and inventive scares.
