Review: Imaginary 2024
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| Imaginary Review |
Introduction
The new Blumhouse horror movie, Imaginary. Directed and
produced by Jeff Wadow, known for hits like Kick-Ass 2, Truth or Dare, and
Fantasy Island, Imaginary explores the dark side of childhood imagination.
Imaginary Trailer
Plot
Imaginary follows Jessica Barnes, author and artist of a
children's book called Molly Milipede, who moves back into her childhood home
with her new husband Max and stepdaughters. When Alice, the youngest
stepdaughter, finds an old teddy bear that becomes her imaginary friend Chanty,
the games they play turn increasingly sinister. Jessica must confront her past
and battle an ancient entity to save Alice and her family.
Characters
The actors, including Danda Wise as Jessica, deliver their
best performances with the given material. However, the script falls short with
cheesy dialogue and corny acting, detracting from the overall experience.
Themes
Imaginary initially appears to be a metaphor for kids dealing
with mentally ill parents, but the themes take a left turn when Jessica's old
babysitter, Gloria, is introduced. The movie then focuses on Jessica earning
the title of mom from her step kids, leaving the original themes unexplored.
Setting
The sets and practical effects are highlights of the movie,
with Simon the Spider and the big scary version of Chony bear being
particularly impressive. However, the creatures lack action, leaving viewers
wanting more.
The Never Ever
The Never Ever, a land of endless imagination, is a letdown
due to its familiarity. Despite its original blue color grading, it fails to
deliver on the promise of unlimited creativity.
Pacing
The pacing of Imaginary is an issue, with the plot becoming
increasingly convoluted and the horror elements taking too long to materialize.
The hour and 40-minute runtime feels excessive, especially considering the lack
of scares and urgency.
Box Office Performance
Imaginary had a budget between $1 and $13 million and made
only $9.9 million during its opening weekend, which is less than the equally
bad Night Swim. However, Blumhouse's ability to keep budgets small ensures a
profit, even for less successful films.
Conclusion
Imaginary is a missed opportunity for
Blumhouse to explore the concept of limitless imagination. While Danda Wise
delivers a strong performance and the effects are impressive, the film lacks
scares, urgency, and danger. The movie's themes and setting are underutilized,
leaving viewers with a sense of unfulfilled potential.
Summery
Imaginary is a Blumhouse horror film directed by Jeff Wadow, featuring Danda Wise as Jessica Barnes, who moves back into her childhood home with her new family. The movie explores the dark side of childhood imagination when Alice, Jessica's stepdaughter, finds an old teddy bear that becomes her imaginary friend Chanty. The film's themes and setting are promising, but the script, pacing, and character development fall short, resulting in a lack of scares, urgency, and danger. Despite the impressive performances and effects, Imaginary fails to deliver on its potential, making it a disappointing addition to Blumhouse's horror lineup
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