User reviews

Rating this movie with the lowest score possible is just ridiculous. People should think a bit about it before rating movies, as a one star movie is just awful, almost unwatchable, and in this case Daniel Isn't Real is certainly watchable. I get it that not everybody will love it but just rate it honestly. If you like movies like Donnie Darko (2001) or Split (2016) you should enjoy this one as well. The other two mentioned are way better, no doubt about that, but Daniel Isn't Real has some good moments. The acting was good, really can't say anything bad about that even if I tried my best, the story is certainly entertaining to follow, the cinematography was way better than I expected it to be. Just do me a favor and rate your movies correctly, stop with those perfect tens for average movies, and certainly stop with insulting one star ratings for movies like this one.

It's a good flick! it might not have the most clever dialogue, but it builds tension pretty well. it knows its climax, it doesn't give a lot of unnecessary explanations, it's scary when it has to be...i enjoyed it. maybe is a bit slow in the first hour, but it makes sense in order for the final to be more frenetic.

i like horror filmes but more in the slasher genre...this one is more psychological but it works because the rythm is in the right place. some of the reviews are too harsh, maybe because the film doesn't want to rush into anything. i think that's good.

go with no expectations. i liked it. in the category of psychological horror it's not bad classified.

This film has it's moments. There is not, at least in my opinion, a clear cut direction laid out but it does have a way of drawing you in. However, it felt a bit tedious at times and I was wanting it to move along a bit better. As my title indicates, I didn't love or hate it but it was an interesting watch.

Oh no! I really wanted to like this more. It started out quite interesting and I was ready for the excitement to begin. SADLY it was mostly disappointing for me. There were really good moments but then a bunch of confusing, nonsensical silliness. I just quit caring about a third of the way through. Sorry but not for me but I am sure that others might like it better.

I rated this film a 7, fair, which isnt a 10 or a 1 which this film is neither of anyway. It's worth watching, good storyline, casting was good, directing was really good and maybe helped garner the rating for me, special effects were even fairly good, one scene in particular and several others were close. What docked the points was it felt a little rushed at times, some of the acting and scenarios were cheesy and seemed out of character, especially the doctor. The final solve seemed sort of pushed out and not pulled out with some logical investigative deducements. So then the end was a little hard to decipher and didnt really fit with the rest of the movies flow and style and here was also some very bad special effects happening that was distracting from the cohesiveness and melodic translation of the first 3/4 of the film. So its definitely worth a look, prepare to be pleased but not rocked, but also not skunked. It's only a fair movie but I think most thriller/horror/drama fans will agree.

Schwarzenegger crushed... you can see a bright future for his acting career... honestly if you like horror movies, you should give this a watch... you shouldnt even take reviewers who give out 1's and 10's seriously anyway... little bit of psychological horror, little bit of body horror, little bit of gore... nice combination to make a solid horror flick.

When Luke (Miles Robbins) was a little boy he made friends with another little boy named Daniel. But as Luke discovers, Daniel is a bad influence for him. Luke also discovers that Daniel is just an imaginary friend and is not real. After a horrific trauma, Luke is forced to get rid of Daniel by locking him up in a doll house. In the present day, Luke (Miles Robbins) is now a college freshman. Unfortunately for Luke, he is having problems dealing with personal traumas. Thinking the release of Daniel (Patrick Schwarzenegger) may allow him to move forward from his current status Luke releases Daniel from the doll house, discovering Daniel is now a similar age. Daniel agrees to help Luke with his life and personal issues. But little does Luke know that Daniel has plans that are far worse than he could ever imagine. If you've ever seen the film Drop Dead Fred (1991), the best way to describe this film is to use the same concept but turn it into a horror movie. It's a concept that I really liked the sound of but its results are a mixed bag for me. The look and tone of this film is great. It's as dark and gritty as you would expect a horror film to be. The film's setting and locations were also positive to see. Eerie sounds tracks were also used to give a nice compliment to the overall horror tones. Daniel Isn't Real has a positive first act with a good general plot and introduction. We gain a good amount of information about Luke's upbringing and the problems that are occurring within his own home. The introduction to a young Daniel is also positive and it's enjoyable to see this new friendship develop only to turn dark. The film's ending (no spoilers) was also enjoyable even though final moments did cause me to raise both my eyebrows and left me with unanswered questions. The biggest problem with Daniel Isn't Real is found in its second act. Once Luke and Daniel are reunited at an older age the plot is pretty slowed down with the two leads spending their time going to clubs, drinking and hooking up with girls. Luke seems to think partying with an imaginary friend is the answer to his problems. At no point does the older Luke of the second act even question who Daniel really is or why Daniel found Luke in the first place. Nor does Luke seems concerned with Daniel's interactions in their past... The relationship is accepted far too easily and what they do together at first is... well not whole lot. But it's obvious that Daniel generally isn't happy with Luke. Some tense moments are had as the audience sees things from Daniel's perspective. Another struggle for me were some of the key performances in this film, particularly when it came to the actor Patrick Schwarzenegger who plays Daniel. The relationship between Luke and Daniel can feel fickle and even unconvincing. It just feels like we see two mates going out for fun. I found myself needing to remind myself of the film's initial plot from time to time because performances didn't feel consistent. Overall, Daniel Isn't Real brings a fantastic concept to the horror genre. While the film's concept, filming style and gritty tone are appealing to me, unfortunately the film let its audience down with the key performances and minor details within the core of its plot. The first and Final act are generally enjoyable, but I'm left with questions which have no answers, and in the end I felt this was a truly mixed bag with missed opportunities. 4.7/10 - Walkden Entertainment

The movie will fall or rise in your viewing experience (pleasure?), according to how you feel about the main actors/characters. They are quite despicable to a degree and you don't exactly know what is going on most of the time. The title gives us a clue, but there is so much more to it.

There is enough tension to fill the whole movie and you will care at least for some of the characters on display. Cleverly assembled and edited, this can be a favorite for some people while not reaching others at all. But that is what tastes are for - and movies are made for

The actors do a good job with Patrick Schwarzenegger standing out. The directing is pushing the psychedelic button with the wannabe eary music and reddish and yellowish light effects a bit too much in my opinion but all in gets the point across. Not sure I'd have payed to see it at the movies as it has it's lengths and with a run time of 100 minutes it's pushing its luck. For those that like movies with mind tricks, dual personality issues and so forth, you'll find what you need here.

This movie took me by surprise, I started watching it expecting your average "spooky story" but Daniel is so much more.

It works on multiple levels and you will enjoy it whether you look for "teenage drama", or "scary horror", or even if you in to more of "psychological thriller" side of things.

For me personally it was a really well told story about schizophrenia/multiple personality disorder.

I did not expect such a quality from this movie either. The acting from both main leads is surprisingly good, its shoot well, and the spare use of very effective CGI adds to the atmosphere.

The story is so different from what I expected. It is engaging, thrilling and scary. It is definitely worth a watch!

4 years after his underrated Horror masterpiece Some Kind of Hate (which I will absolutely be reviewing at some point), Adam Egypt Mortimer returns to the Horror genre with Daniel Isn't Real. The bad news is that the film is a disappointment. The good news is that it's still good and more than proves Mortimer has serious staying power in the genre. It's certainly one of the better Horror movies released this year.

A big piece of why this film doesn't work as well as its predecessor is its love story. While the central romance in Some Kind of Hate seemed natural and genuinely heartfelt, here it feels more like a rushed after thought than anything. The ending wants to speak to the redemptive power of love, but the film never convinces us of the passion between Luke and Cassie that would inspire that kind of power. I buy the lust between the two, certainly, but not the love.

That brings us to another major problem with the film; the ending. On top of feeling extremely anti-climactic (I was genuinely stunned when the credits rolled), it was more confusing than anything and just leaves me with more questions than I already had.

Patrick Schwarzenegger is an actor that hasn't really made a lot of noise previously, but this is without a doubt the performance of his career. As Daniel, he's hilarious, charming, charismatic and occasionally rather chilling. He completely steals the show, reminding me a lot of a young Bill Skarsgard and proving that he has quite a promising career ahead of him playing wily villains. The rest of the cast does an adequate job, but this is clearly Schwarzenegger's movie first and foremost. I found myself smiling at almost all of his appearances.

The directing is gorgeous as well. With its psychedelic, dreamlike usage of pinks, reds and yellows against an eerie fog, you can almost consider this the plucky younger brother of Mandy. Credit should also be given to the astounding practical effects that give life to the film's stunning and horrific cosmic demons. The demon designs here are truly inventive and darkly gorgeous, reminiscent of something out of a Neil Gaiman comic.

While the relationship between Luke and his girlfriend Cassie doesn't work, the relationship between Luke and his mother surprisingly made up for the lack of heart in the romance. I could absolutely buy them as mother and son and not a second goes by between them where you can't feel the concern for each other's safety between the two. There are shockingly relatable moments between the two and I'm not merely talking about the wholesome ones. Miles Robbins and Mary Stuart Robinson do a wonderful job conveying an odd juxtaposition of loving closeness and expansive distance between their characters that's all too real for many parents and their children. It's the kind of dynamic rarely seen on screen between mothers and sons and it's representation is fairly important.

Mortimer balances Horror and comedy wonderfully in Some Kind of Hate and does so again here. The comedic timing of the cast is absolutely perfect, just as the gruesomeness and bizarre nature of the scares is truly haunting. Finding the right balance between Horror and comedy can prove a challenge for a lot of films, but this is something that Daniel Isn't Real soars at.

In the end, while Daniel Isn't Real isn't anywhere near where I was hoping it to be, it's still a damn good movie and certainly one of the better Horror movies of 2019.

That's what fighting your inner demons look like.

I'll confess, they did have a compelling idea, a notion that holds significant importance but just like we witness in most cases, those ideas happened to fizzle out when it mattered the most when it was time to implement the very same. In spite of their earnest efforts (which I do appreciate, by the way, make no mistake) the execution does come off unskillful at times if not achingly short-sighted!

Even though I do understand that the creators had to make compromises to be accessible to a much broader audience but then again topics like these generally demand a certain degree of sincerity & seriousness and letting that slide may as well lead to severe consequences. And yes you guessed it right, that is precisely what happened in this case. A fascinating concept bogged down by poor presentation.

While slow to start and a bit tough to follow at times, this movie proposes an interesting and dare I say reasonable concept from the beginning - a darker perspective on having an imaginary friend as a child. But it's so much more than that. Boundaries are pushed and expectations are thrown out the window during the 100min runtime, particularly in the second half. Around 40min in, we finally get a glimpse of why this is deemed a horror movie, and the practical/cosmetic effects are superb, especially for a low budget flick. These visual horror elements are not overdone, but used theatrically moving forward, to punctuate key turning points. I can't say I'm a huge fan of how they ended it, but part of me is inherently a fan of ambiguity over overtness in cinema. Both Miles Robbins and Patrick Schwarzenegger we're great, as was Mary Stewart Masterson. Theoretically there's a lot of room for a sequel, or even a prequel; the creators did a great job composing an expandable universe with this one.

Ever since seeing the trailer for "Daniel Isn't Real" I had a very good feeling about it - felt like something right up my isle. I also have to admit that Mortimer's previous feature "Some Kind of Hate" wasn't particularly enjoyable in my book, in fact I gave it a 3/10. However, I'm happy to conclude that "Daniel Isn't Real" is a huge improvement in the directors portfolio & is an ambitious, imaginative and effective portrayal of inner demons, mental illness and also toxic masculinity.

Adam Egypt Mortimer's second feature doesn't work equally great on all levels and consistently through its runtime, but it still impresses. The first hour was disturbingly gorgeous - the tone, the practical effects, acting & production design together made an atmospheric, intriguing and well-paced story of a millennial protagonist (portrayed by Miles Robbins) dealing with past trauma, mental health issues and a vile personal demon called Daniel, given a maniacal and slick appearance by the performance of Patrick Schwarzenegger. Seemingly inspired by the best from several cult films, Mortimer has created an arguably fresh take on schizophrenia in the horror genre, proving that it (the genre) allows to depict emotions and sensations that are otherwise complicated to serve in a readable way. The last thirty or so minutes still keeps the tone, acting & aesthetic intact, but the pacing starts to get a little uneven as new plot turns take place - plot turns which meaning/s I'm not sure of. The word "fantasy", in its more classical sense, comes to mind, unfittingly this time. Not that I didn't understand them, I just question their necessity and impact on the rest of story, I felt like the ending could've been, should've been even more morally messed up.

For the most part I loved "Daniel Isn't Real" in and out, but, nearing the end, something that can be described as underwhelming crept up in me. Nevertheless, it has established itself as one of my favorite horror indies of 2019 & comes as a strong recommendation from me to everyone who loves their schizo, psycho, psychedelic, atmospheric and mentally messed up horror movies. My rating: 7/10.

Daniel Isn't Real is set in the world of mental illness, but it isn't about mental illness. The main character Luke seemingly struggles with some sort of cognitive and psychiatric issue upon the return of his imaginary friend Daniel from childhood. Questions of mental illness plague Luke given his mother's own psychosis. But Daniel may be more than just the imaginary friend of Luke and the personification of Luke's libidinal impulses. And, this fantasy or supernatural element could place Luke outside the realm of your average psychiatric case. Or not. You decide.

Like as if a teendrama novel was turned into a movie. This wouldn't be the worse thing but the movie starts out so much more incredibly raw than it turns out to be. We start with a boys imaginary friend telling him prescription pills will give his mother superpowers, so he dumps them in the blender. Then halfway through the movie the imaginary friend literally becomes a "wingman" to help him impress the girl and look like a great guy. Hmm. I just don't know. It seems to be either the kind of movie that does not take the viewer seriously or it just had serious creative difficulties in the writing process. It comes off looking tacky, like it is a kid trying to make an adult movie. It's disapointing because the music and cinematography really had me at some moments

The Young Cast and Crew of this "Imaginary Friend" Nightmare Show Above Average Creativity and Zest.

The Horror and Thriller Genre has a Rich History of Showcasing and Exploiting Personality Disorders.

It's a Story that Lends Itself to Disturbing and Terrifying Imagery and Horrific Situations.

The Film Adopts a "Psychedelic" Tone from the Stunning Artistic Images During the Openings Credits.

From There the Film Progresses with a Nightmarish Tale of a Schizophrenic College Freshman (Miles Robbins) and His Uneasy (to say the least) Relationship with an "Imaginary Friend".

"Daniel Isn't Real" says the Title, but Audiences are Quick to Challenge that Statement as the Film Unfolds.

"Daniel" ({Patrick Schwarzenegger) is the "Friend", Helper, Tormentor, and Nemesis.

He Represents the "Inner" Intelligence that is Gregarious and Creativity that Daniel Possesses but is too Shy and Insecure to Let Breathe and Associate with the World.

It Proves Rewarding for Luke and the Medication and Visits to a Psychiatrist are Now what Constitutes Life for the Withdrawn Youth who has a New Hobby Photography and an Actual Girlfriend to Relate to.

But Things Don't Stay "Normal" for Long. Daniel is a Demon that Thrives on Terror, Violence, and Dominating the Weak Luke.

There are Images that Disturb and Horrify and the Tone is Relentlessly Unsettling with Many Stand-Out Scenes.

The Ending is Up for Debate about the Particulars but Regardless, this is Fresh Look at and Old Type.

Are your inner demons real? An entertaining psychological horror. It boldly examines challenging subjects like mental illnesses alongside the struggle for self-confidence. How it handles mental health is thought-provoking and it never demonises suffers of these real-life issues.

The plot is already questionable but throw in Patrick's acting and the film becomes a comedy. Also, I'm tired of movies always having that "type of girl" in movies. You know she shows up uninvited, invites people she barely knows into her home, is a bit wild but caring enough to make up for it and of course she has to be an artist. Yeah we've seen it before. This film is ridiculous.

This is a pretty interesting, especially for the first half or so, horror film about an imaginary friend, Daniel, that a young child, Luke, has put to rest due to pressure from his mother. That's that until later in life when this child grows into a rather troubled nerdy introvert, played by Miles Robbins, has problems socializing and seeks help from a psychiatrist who rather bizarrely suggests that he resurrect this imaginary friend thinking it might help him cope dealing with others. We then get an adult version of the "friend" and things go swimmingly...for a while as eventually good old Daniel has a mind of his own and more beyond that. Up until this point all of this makes for a somewhat fascinating little horror tale, but it turns into something that at times is a bit ridiculous. All in all though, it's an unusual horror film. It's biggest asset is Robbins who is very good. Patrick Schwarzenegger plays the adult Daniel. The problems with the script is with this character and I'm not sure if it's well played or not, but it is ominous, so I guess Schwarzenegger does well enough in the role. I didn't even realize until it was over that Mary Stuart Masterson played Luke's mother, who is another bizarre character here. She's not bad in an ultimately so-so, though odd, film.

Smart B grade movie. I did think it was very clever in its narrative and storyline. Acting in some parts let down the film,and also being a low budget movie,the SFX,wasn't so shabby! But,all I forgiven! Average movie...had a very personal message to it,in terms of mental illness...

There's nothing wrong with the premise: a young guy gets harassed by the old imaginary friend from his childhood who mysteriously pops up in his life again. But I think the makers more or less got entangled in their ambitions and in the complexity of the story, resulting in this unbalanced mixture of psychological, existential and supernatural sources for all the goings-on. It made it hard (at least for me) to team up with main character Luke, all the more since they made Miles Robbins play him like a sad depressed loner, dragging himself with bended head through the NY streets. The part of Patrick Schwarzenegger is way more rewarding, he plays the machiavellistic, devilish Daniel with panache, very convincingly evoking in Luke a mounting feeling of exasperation, aversion and in the end mortal fear. And a special mention of the small but important part of Luke's mentally derailed mother, played very touchingly by Mary Stuart Masterson.

The settings are a bit underwhelming, rather dark and grey, but the special effects are pretty good, and although the story gradually grew a bit too complex and weird, the movie is entertaining enough to keep you interested until the end. But if you would ask me to explain it all? You better don't.....