Imaginary
Imaginary
- -When Jessica moves back into her childhood home with her family, her youngest stepdaughter Alice develops an eerie attachment to a stuffed bear named Chauncey she finds in the basement. Alice starts playing games with Chauncey that begin playful and become increasingly sinister. As Alice’s behavior becomes more and more concerning, Jessica intervenes only to realize Chauncey is much more than the stuffed toy bear she believed him to be.
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Imaginary was released on March 8, 2024 in US and on March 15, 2024 it will be released in India. ‘The Imaginary’, which is set to come out on their OTT platform on July 5, 2024.
Movie Review
Blumhouse’s latest horror venture, Imaginary, directed by Jeff Wadlow, seems to be more of a theme park attraction than a coherent film. The story follows Jessica, a children’s author and artist who moves back into her childhood home with her new husband and stepchildren. As her stepdaughter Alice invents an imaginary friend named Chauncey the Bear, Jessica begins to recall the dark events from her past that drove her away from the house years ago.
Despite a strong opening scene, the film quickly derails into a series of missteps. The dialogue is clunky and filled with unnecessary exposition, treating the audience as if they cannot follow simple plot points. Characters redundantly state what has just been shown, leading to an overall sense of distrust in the viewer’s intelligence. Attempts at humor often fall flat or come across as unintentional comedy, making the film entertaining in a way that might not have been intended. This unintended humor, coupled with the laughter it elicited from the theater audience, became a saving grace for the experience.
The cast, including DeWanda Wise and Betty Buckley, does its best with the material provided. Wise delivers a few standout moments as a classic horror movie mom, trying to bond with her stepchildren. Buckley, however, steals the show as the “creepy occult expert,” fully embracing the campiness of her role and delivering a memorable final act monologue. Her performance turns a potentially cringe-worthy part into something delightfully over-the-top.
While the monster designs and costumes show potential, they are significantly underutilized, especially given the abundance of jump scares throughout the film. The climax offers a predictable twist, which is quickly undone by an even more predictable and unsatisfying twist. The final thirty minutes left the audience more amused than frightened, leading to a chorus of chatter and laughs as the credits rolled.
Imaginary might be best enjoyed by those who appreciate “so-bad-it’s-good” films. Its numerous flaws create a sort of unintentional campiness that can be entertaining if approached with the right mindset. For those who enjoy cheesy, deeply flawed horror films, Imaginary could be a fun outing, especially when viewed with friends. However, if you prefer your horror with more polish and coherence, you might want to set your expectations accordingly before heading to the theater. Happy watching, bad horror fans!
