Let’s dissect “Imaginary,” the film that promised us a stroll through the amusement park of horrors but ended up being the merry-go-round that’s out of order.

“Imaginary,” the latest brainchild from the Blumhouse playground, seems to have confused its recipe somewhere between horror and a bewildering fairy tale without the charm. Directed by Jeff Wadlow, known for movies that dance between dread and drollery, this film features Jessica (played by DeWanda Wise), a children’s book author who moves back to her childhood home, hoping for a fresh start with her family and a break from past traumas. Instead, she faces a stuffed bear named Chauncey, who’s about as intimidating as a marshmallow in a hot cup of cocoa, with ambitions to become the next icon of horror​​​​.

In a tale as old as time, or at least as old as Blumhouse’s formula, we are served a platter of horror tropes garnished with the faintest hint of originality. The narrative attempts to weave a complex web of childhood trauma, step-family dynamics, and imaginary friends who might just be a little too real. Yet, the film seems to trip over its shoelaces, presenting us with a story that feels as if it was stitched together during a brainstorming session gone wrong​​.

Our leading lady, Jessica, wishes to stitch together a broken family but ends up facing off against a teddy bear that could use a bit more stuffing in the horror department. The bear, Chauncey, tries to haunt with pretty minimal menace, failing to elevate the film beyond the realm of PG-13 spooks. And while DeWanda Wise gives a performance that could be described as an earnest effort in a sea of flatlines, the rest of the cast seems to be waiting for a bus that never arrives at the station.

In its brighter moments, Imaginary flirts with comedy and it’s in these moments the film finds its shaky legs. Especially with characters like Liam, who bring a slice of laughter, making us wonder if the film might have fared better as a comedy with occasional bumps in the night. Yet, the movie seems determined to present itself as a horror flick, as if suffering from an identity crisis exacerbated by an overdose of clichés and undercooked subplots​​​​.

To its credit, Imaginary doesn’t completely miss the mark. It plays with some interesting ideas, weaving in themes of the dark sides of imagination. But like a child playing hide-and-seek alone, it doesn’t quite know where it’s going or why. The film hints at depth with its backstory and relationship between Jessica and Alice, yet these moments are like fleeting shadows in a house with too many lights on​​.

Imaginary might be the film to watch if you’re in the mood for a mild thrill without the nightmares, or if you’ve ever wondered what happens when a teddy bear gets a taste for the dramatic. It’s a movie that tries to be many things but might just end up being the background noise to a cozy, if slightly bemused, evening in​​.

Director: Jeff Wadlow
Writer: Jeff Wadlow, Greg Erb, Jason Oremland
Released March 8, 2024