Imaginary (2024)
Imaginary takes us on a journey into the eerie depths of childhood imagination. Jessica, portrayed by the strong-willed DeWanda Wise, revisits her childhood home with her family, including her stepdaughter, Alice. On discovering a teddy bear named Chauncey Alice’s behaviour takes a strange turn under his influence, leading to very unsettling events. Jessica senses something is wrong and embarks on a frantic mission to rescue her daughter from the grip of this seemingly real, imaginary companion.
The film cleverly taps into a human fear—the hidden darkness that can reside within innocent childhood fantasies. It reminded me of movies like The Babadook (2014), where the boundary between fantasy and reality blurs, evoking a sense of unease. However, Imaginary falls short of reaching the same psychological depth of horror. While it delivers some atmospheric moments, the scares rely more on sudden jumps and noises than on sustained dread.
The performances are strong, with Wise carrying the emotional weight as the determined mother. Young Pyper Braun skilfully portrays Alice’s transition from innocence to something more unsettling, effectively capturing her character’s descent. Some of the side characters in the movie feel like they could use more depth, and their reasons for doing things are a bit unclear.
The visual style of the film is a bit mixed. While the use of colours effectively sets a gloomy tone, the special effects, especially in later scenes, start to look like unconvincing CGI. The editing keeps things moving at a good pace, but some transitions feel abrupt and disrupt the overall flow.
What really stands out about Imaginary is its sound design. The music is a blend of twisted nursery rhymes and eerie strings that perfectly match the unsettling vibe. The sound of Alice’s panicked whispers while playing with Chauncey gave me chills.
Imaginary is a film with a promising concept. It doesn’t quite reach its potential, but it still manages to deliver some decent scares. The performances are solid, and the atmosphere is eerie. The sound design is top notch. However, issues like underdeveloped characters, inconsistent special effects, and pacing problems prevent it from being truly terrifying.
For fans of horror movies who enjoy exploring themes related to the darker side of childhood, Imaginary offers an entertaining popcorn flick experience. It may not scare you to the point of hiding under the covers. But it will certainly make you reconsider the make-believe companions your children make friends with!
(In cinemas — check your local movie guide for show times.)