by Jack Grimme, Contributing Writer
Blumhouse Production’s latest psychological horror film, Imaginary,finds a family facing a supernatural threat shortly after moving back into the matriarch’s childhood home. If that brief synopsis sounds a little bland, it may be due to the fact that this is the framework for a considerable chunk of modern horror. From the first trailer, this film is a paint-by-numbers thriller flick with little nuance to add to the genre. Regardless of the underwhelming marketing, though, it deserved an honest chance. The horror genre thrives on surprise hits and cult classics, so every single release has the chance to be a hidden gem.
As the title suggests, the film’s twist on the formula is the focus on imaginary friends.. What are they? Why does the concept span countries and cultures? Could they be avatars of an unseen realm of childhood creativity? These are all genuinely intriguing questions with interesting applications if handled correctly. And there are moments where true creativity is on display. In a few instances, the horror is carefully enhanced by keeping the unseen threat just barely off camera. The imaginary creatures are occasionally unsettling, largely due to the impressive use of practical effects whenever feasible. The scariest moments of the film are also sold by the impressive work of Pyper Braun, the young child who befriends Chauncey, the imaginary friend. Braun is also responsible for some of the funniest moments of the film. The young actress manages to out-act all of her costars and hopefully has a promising future ahead of her.
Aside from a scene or two, my enjoyment with the film ended there. Its greatest sin is the predictability. Every beat is so intensely telegraphed that it is hard to find any suspense in the story. Most of the jump scares have been done before, and the larger world and lore that is being built up is concerningly similar to some other horror properties. The film also suffers tremendously from the main characters making completely inexcusable decisions. This is an issue that finds its way into the best and worst horror films, but at a certain point, you find yourself wondering whose side the main character is on. Are you trying to sacrifice your step-daughter to the extra-dimensional monsters or are you just that incompetent? This film certainly isn’t the worst instance of this infuriating cliché, but it definitely fails to evade the trope.
Unfortunately, this is a horror movie that lacks enough originality to have any real staying power or cultural significance. It is not a horrible night at the theater, especially if you are a connoisseur of the genre, but I wouldn’t go into it expecting any closure to the half-baked loose threads left in the hopes of a sequel or franchise.
Rating: Didn’t Like It
Imaginary is currently playing in theaters
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