Imaginary
Movie Trailer
Release Date
March 8, 2024
Genre
Supernatural Horror
Cast & Crew
- DeWanda Wise as Jessica
- Tom Payne as Max
- Taegen Burns as Taylor
- Pyper Braun as Alice
- Veronica Falcón as Dr. Alana Soto
- Betty Buckley as Gloria
- Dane DiLiegro as Chauncey Bear
Director
Jeff Wadlow
Producer
- Jeff Wadlow
- Jason Blum
Writer
- Jeff Wadlow
- Greg Erb
- Jason Oremland
Budget
$10–13 million
Production Company
- Blumhouse Productions
- Tower of Babble
Running Time
104 minutes
Languages
English
Maturity Rating
R
Content Advisory
- Horror elements
- Intense scenes
- Frightening images
Movie Story
Imaginary follows Jessica (DeWanda Wise), a children’s book author, who moves into her childhood home with her husband, Max (Tom Payne), and his two daughters. When young Alice discovers an old teddy bear named Chauncey, strange and terrifying events begin to unfold, revealing that Chauncey is more than just an imaginary friend. As Jessica delves deeper into her past, she uncovers dark secrets about her childhood, leading to a chilling confrontation with the sinister forces haunting her family.
Special Effects
The film utilizes a mix of practical effects and CGI to bring the eerie atmosphere to life, particularly in the depiction of the monstrous Chauncey and the supernatural elements that permeate the story.
Box Office Performance
Imaginary grossed $43.7 million worldwide. Despite its modest earnings, the film gained attention for its creepy premise but received generally negative reviews from critics.
Filming Locations
- New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
Notable Quotes
- “Some friends are never really imaginary.” – Jessica
- “The past has a way of catching up with you, especially when it’s never left.” – Gloria
- “You can’t run from your own nightmares.” – Dr. Soto
Behind-the-Scenes
- The film was shot on location in New Orleans from May to June 2023. Director Jeff Wadlow worked closely with Blumhouse Productions to create a horror experience that plays with the concept of imaginary friends and childhood fears.
Final Verdict
Imaginary is a tense supernatural horror film that explores the darker side of childhood imagination. While the film struggles with pacing and coherence, it delivers some genuine scares and a strong performance by DeWanda Wise. Fans of psychological horror may find the film’s concept intriguing, though it may not stand out in the crowded horror genre.
IMDb Rating
4.8/10
Image Source: by Parrish Lewis/Lionsgate