Imaginary (2024) Movie Review

 The Blumhouse studio seems to be churning out movies faster than ever, but quality seems to be taking a nosedive. Known for franchises like Insidious, Paranormal Activity, and The Purge, Blumhouse has become its own brand of low-budget horror films. Unfortunately, lately, their films have been lacking in quality control.

While there was a glimmer of hope with the surprise success of "M3gan" in January 2023, it didn't last long. Following that, we've been served up a string of disappointing sequels, reboots, and adaptations. The latest disaster to hit theaters is "Imaginary," a film so poorly put together that it's a wonder it's even seeing the light of day.

Director Jeff Wadlow, who gave us the somewhat enjoyable "Truth or Dare," seems to have lost his touch with his latest Blumhouse offering. "Fantasy Island" was a mess, and "Imaginary" follows suit with sloppy world-building and a lack of focus. It's a shame to see the studio's horror standards plummet so low, but it seems they've hit rock bottom with this one.

The story kicks off with Jessica and her new family moving into her childhood home, hoping for a fresh start. But when her stepdaughter Alice befriends an old teddy bear named Chauncey, things take a terrifying turn.

While there are warning signs early on

—some cringeworthy acting and cheesy dialogue

—the buildup is decent, though nothing groundbreaking. 

The plot feels like a mishmash of other movies like "Hide and Seek" and "Poltergeist," but it's lacking depth. As the story progresses, the flaws become glaring, and what could have been a mediocre horror flick turns into a disaster.

"Imaginary" joins the ranks of other recent Blumhouse disappointments like "Night Swim." It feels like something you'd find buried in the bargain bin of a video store, with its tired focus on trauma. The final act is a mess, with plot holes galore and shameless borrowing from better films like "It" and "Coraline."

Despite a promising cast, including DeWanda Wise and Betty Buckley, the movie is weighed down by cringeworthy dialogue and a lackluster script. Director Jeff Wadlow aimed to create a fun, audience-friendly horror flick reminiscent of 80s classics, but "Imaginary" falls short, feeling more like a broken rollercoaster than a thrilling ride.