When Jessica (DeWanda Wise) decides to return to her childhood home, she soon uncovers that Chauncey, a bear she left behind called is really not happy with that decision. As it feeds on the mind of her daughter Alice and many others around it, the movie dives into a hellish ride through the endless possibilities of imagination.
With a big lean on practical effects, writer/director Jeff Wadlow (Fantasy Island) clearly wants to ensure that Imaginary feels as realistic as possible and this show throughout. His seamless transitions from reality into a terrifying realm are quite impressive. The complicated dynamic within the family comes across as natural, and their tough backstories bring a crucial balance. Outside of the main cast and a superb leading performance from DeWanda Wise is an appearance from horror legend Betty Buckley, who really brings something quite special to the foundations of the picture. It’s most welcome when there are layers to the supporting cast.
Something else that really adds to a horror movie is its soundtrack, and within Imaginary, they went all out with it thanks to the addition of composer Bear McCreary (Godzilla). You can tell that an immense amount of work has gone into it, and ultimately it brings a crucial element to a horror movie like this. Although, and unfortunately, the movie can feel somewhat very similar to what horror audiences have already seen before, Imaginary is still a worthy addition to a horror icon category that includes the likes of Chucky and M3GAN. With a focus on imagination, then a sequel is easily plausible.
IMAGINARY is in cinemas now.
