Daniel Isn’t Real is as 2019 American horror thriller about a boy’s imaginary friend who starts taking over and controlling his life.
From Fantasia Festival 2019: In the midst of his parent’s split, Luke (Miles Robbins) is lonely and confused. That is until he meets Daniel (Patrick Schwarzenegger), a boy that only he can see, and as most kids do as they get older, he ends up locking away his imaginary friend into the recesses of his mind. However, years later, as his mother’s health condition gets worse once he leaves for university, he begins seeing odd images, led to believe that facing his imaginary friend might be helpful. What starts out as a fun little return to simpler times becomes some a whole lot more sinister. Luke starts questioning whether its his evil subconscious that created this companion and whether Daniel is real or not.
Daniel Isn’t Real is a truly scary story where childlike innocence turns dark when once friendly memories of the past come back for a haunt. Soaked in neon-tinted imagery the play between the borderlines of fantasy and schizophrenia keep this unusual story creepy and unsettling. This lends the movie some genuine stylistic but also, it gives these interesting characters some realu energy. The same can be said about how the many shots are framed. It’s a body horror film and probably not in the way most would expect, but is very done so well.
This all rests with the two leads. Daniel, played by Patrick Schwarzenegger, is a well-crafted character with plenty of suspense, even as a child, his ominous imagination keeping him all kinds of strange. He’s controlling, dominant and cunning and all this saturates the dialogue, but also his mere looming presence and an evil grin, pack him full of confidence. This is quite the opposite for Luke, who relies on Daniel to help him find his power, this slipping the balance out of whack. Sure, in a story like this, there’s an obvious twist coming: one you’ve probably already picked up on, but it’s well played out.
Daniel Isn’t Real has some minor flaws with a few on rails moments that feel weaken some of the impact, a common issue in this genre, but one character in particular is a concern though if not played out the way it is, there wouldn’t be a movie. However, it’s a decision that can’t really be overlooked. Either way, Daniel Isn’t Real is a must-see. It’s a troubling little journey seeded from the most innocent of youthful creativity and dives deep into the state of mental illness and evil possessions.