Rating summary

Movie		2.5
Video		4.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		2.0
Overall		2.5

Imaginary Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Jeffrey Kauffman May 19, 2024

Films about imaginary friends seem to have another imaginary component, at least based upon this outing and the new IF (whose very title stands for "imaginary friends"), namely audience appeal. Variety just hit my newsfeed as I was starting this review with an article about IF's apparently "whiffed" opening weekend at the box office, and Imaginary didn't fare much better. If there's any good news for Imaginary's creative team, or at least its studio and/or investors, it may be that this "little" film didn't cost anywhere near the gargantuan budget IF was granted, and so Imaginary's box office receipts were at least higher than its expenditures. Unlike IF, Imaginary is not exactly a family comedy (to say the least), but it's also not a consistently scary monster movie, which may be its ultimate downfall. Yes, there are some scattered startles sprinkled throughout the tale, but this tends to be a pretty exposition heavy affair that struggles to really provide enough angst to fill its running time.

Jessica (DeWanda Wise) is a children's book author and stepmother to the daughters of her newish husband Max (Tom Payne), little Alice (Pyper Braun) and teenager Taylor (Taegen Burns). Jessica is also haunted by recurring nightmares featuring an unhinged version of her father Ben (Samuel Salary) and an equally unhinged version of one of Jessica's probably questionable creations for children, Simon the Spider. When the family takes up residence in Jessica's childhood home, Alice finds a little toy bear named Chauncey, and of course mayhem soon begins as Chauncey becomes more and more "animated" (in more ways than one). Suffice it to say that Jessica's past and Alice's present of course collide, with Jessica's family history spilling into events as well, with her own childhood relationship with Chauncey a salient point.

Imaginary has some decent sequences, but its climax in an "alternate universe" called the Never Ever may remind some viewers more than a little of another "trap" for children featured in Labyrinth. Performances are generally quite good, and little Pyper Braun is excellent in a role that requires her to be both victim and perhaps perpetrator (at least after a while). However, in the aforementioned "unhinged" category, the undisputed "winner" in this film's sweepstakes is undeniably the venerable Betty Buckley as elderly neighbor Gloria, who of course has some history with the family. Film fans may remember that Buckley was the gym teacher in the film version of Carrie, but infamous flop musical lovers will know she was also Carrie's mom Margaret in the ill fated (if still rather interesting) all singing, all dancing version of the tale that briefly (very briefly) "graced" the Great White Way. For anyone who has heard the preserved archival recordings of Buckley in that role, let's just say that while it takes some time for her to get there, Gloria is ultimately perhaps only a slight notch down from some of Margaret's more, um, energetic tendencies.

My colleague Brian Orndorf evidently liked Imaginary even less than I did. You can read Brian's thoughts here.

Imaginary Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Imaginary is presented on Blu-ray courtesy of Lionsgate Films with an AVC encoded 1080p transfer in 2.39:1. As of the writing of this review, the IMDb doesn't have explicit information on the camera, though does offer an "Arriraw" source format which of course suggest Alexas were utilized. This is a very appealing looking presentation, one that perhaps refreshingly isn't trying to ape the look of traditional film and instead kind of exploits the glossier look of digital capture. The first two acts have a glut of nicely lit material, including some outdoor shots, which help to boost the vividness of the palette and which offer generally excellent fine detail levels. Starting with some relatively early spooky basement material, though, and then throughout a blue drenched journey through Never Ever in the third act, shadow detail can occasionally be slightly lacking.

Imaginary Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Imaginary features a Dolby Atmos track that tends to spring to life most noticeably in some sudden startle effects, as in a scene involving a teen boyfriend of Taylor encountering a "transformed" Chauncey in an upstairs hallway. The opening dream sequence and then the entire Never Ever vignette (which predictably has some Inception-esque "layers") also provide good opportunities for some nicely designed surround activity that is immersive and slightly disorienting feeling, which at least subliminally may add to angst levels. Dialogue is rendered cleanly and clearly throughout. Optional English, French and Spanish subtitles are available.

Imaginary Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Audio Commentary by Producer / Co-Writer / Director Jeff Wadlow and Executive Producer / Actress DeWanda Wise


• Imaginary: Exploring the Never Ever (HD; 18:53) is perhaps needlessly split into several short featurettes (with a Play All option), but otherwise offers some nice background information and candid footage, along with some fun interviews (Pyper Braun seems to be 10 going on 35 or so).

Additionally DVD and digital copies are included, and packaging features a slipcover.

Imaginary Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Probably like many of you, I reportedly had an imaginary friend of my own when I was very little, albeit evidently a human boy named Jerry, whom according to my mother I would always blame when I was getting in trouble for something. In that regard, another Jeff, namely the main creative force behind this entry, may want to consider blaming his own "Jerry" for some of this slightly wobbly feeling film. There are some passing startle scares here, and some admittedly fun performances, but the ultimate plot feels derivative. Technical merits are solid and the supplements enjoyable for anyone who may be considering making purchase.