5.3 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 2.5 | |
Overall | 2.5 |
A woman returns to her childhood home to discover that the imaginary friend she left behind is very real and unhappy that she abandoned him.
Starring: Pyper Braun, Taegen Burns, DeWanda Wise, Betty Buckley, Tom Payne (V)Horror | 100% |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 2.39:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.39:1
English: Dolby Atmos
English: Dolby TrueHD 7.1 (48kHz, 24-bit)
Spanish: Dolby Digital 5.1
French: Dolby Digital 5.1
English, English SDH, French, Spanish
Blu-ray Disc
Two-disc set (1 BD, 1 DVD)
Digital copy
DVD copy
Slipcover in original pressing
Region A (B, C untested)
Movie | 2.5 | |
Video | 4.5 | |
Audio | 4.5 | |
Extras | 2.0 | |
Overall | 2.5 |
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.
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 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.
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.
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