Imaginary Playmate (2006 TV Movie) User Reviews

How to let an 2 hour movie feel like an 4 hour long one.

[Boba_Fett1138 · 4/10 · 8 October 2011]

It's amazing that even while this movie isn't even 2 hours long, it feels like a much longer one. This of course isn't a very positive thing to say and for the movie this means that it has some serious pacing- and writing issues.

I think I know what the main cause is. This is originally a movie meant for television, that is build up in such a way that commercial blocks can fit right into it. This means that the movie ends with a sort of cliffhanger every 20 minutes or so, followed by a much slower build up and than suddenly something mysterious occurs again, right before the screen turns black, which meant that another commercial block could be inserted right in there. So the one moment it feels like the movie is going fast and trying to wrap things up, while the other it's much slower again and not an awful lot is happening. Because this is a circle that's happening over and over again, the movie really starts to drag and feels like a long one, after a short while.

But besides; it just isn't a very special movie to watch. Once you have seen one haunted house movie, you already know everything that is going to happen in this movie as well. The lack of true originality and creativity is disappointing and still the foremost reason why this movie never manages to become an interesting one. The story is progressing in a very predictable manner and you know exactly when something is going to happen and how. This obviously makes the movie very ineffective as a mystery, thriller and horror.

Another mistake is that this is one of those movies that features a little kid in it. Nothing wrong with that necessarily but it still is something that more often works bad for the movie instead of good, since child actors are not easy to work with in an horror movie and also often aren't the most convincing actors. However in this case I wouldn't really blame the young actress but more the script, that gives the little girl lines that no normal kid would ever say, especially not in those circumstances. I hate it when scriptwriters can't make kids sound and look like just ordinary kids. It makes some of the moments that happen in this movie seem all the more silly and unconvincing really.

Someone that comes across as far more convincing is Dina Meyer. I have actually always liked her as an actress and it's sort of too bad she never really had her big breakthrough, though it still might happen of course. She is not only the best actor in this, her character is also the only real convincing one. She mostly carries the movie and does this quite well.

Nothing good, original, scary, mysterious, entertaining, suspenseful or remotely creative to see here. Just move along, move along!

4/10

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Really needs work, but there's worse out there

[slayrrr666 · 5/10 · 27 January 2010]

"Imaginary Playmate" is a somewhat slow-going and below-average ghost film.

**SPOILERS**

Moving into a new house, Suzanne, (Dina Mayer) and Mike Driscoll, (Rick Ravanello) and their daughter Molly, (Cassandra Sawtell) try to adjust to her new role as step-mom in the family. When she suddenly starts behaving like she has an imaginary friend, they try to play along to make her feel comfortable, but as time goes on, they start to get worried about her attachment to the friend. When she starts to act out even more after the announcement of her being pregnant, they realize her rantings about it being the ghost of a girl who lived in the house years earlier who committed suicide is the real culprit and try whatever they can to break the hold on her before something really dangerous happens to her.

The Good News: There wasn't a whole lot here that worked. One of the main parts is that there's actually a nice build-up to the mystery of what's going on, and it does have a fairly accurate ring to it at times. Being insistent around the parents is a normal move, because it does have some truth to it and those scenes are a natural starting point for this behavior, and it allows the film to go up in a great way since it's a perfect starting point. The next actions, from the revelation of the blood-stained bed-sheets and the freak-out in the bathroom during the bath are quite fun and are great examples of building off something already established since there's been the introduction of the act beforehand. The best part, though, is the sequence in the bedroom where the dolls all come flying off the shelves at the individual, which is a creepy idea and is executed quite well. This is a freaky scene and is played perfectly here to make for a really enjoyable and entertaining moment. Another really good moment comes when the two play a game of hide-and-seek, which is a lot more thrilling than it sounds in passing and is a pretty good, tense moment, as well as a sequence where the walls are suddenly popping out of their foundation and start shaking wildly, causing another big scare in the film at the right moment when it needs to by causing a bloody miscarriage through it all. It's got one more creepy scene where they walk-through a neglected attic, injecting some really good atmosphere into the whole thing. The last good plus is the finale, which is where it reveals all the events in the past, including the possession that is required for it to be completed and results in a little bit of energy to end the film. These little moments all are all that work in this one.

The Bad News: There were some problems to this one that really hold it down. One of the biggest issues here is the fact that the film is just so slow-going that there's not a whole lot of action going on in here. This one tends to unravel everything at such a pace that there's nothing but one seemingly slow-moving scene after another, especially since the only time this one sinks down into a fast-moving plot is when the ghost action occurs, and since those are so short and sporadic in their appearance, it takes a long time to really get going. That those are in short supply to begin with manages to make the rest of the time even duller since its pacing is so languid that there's a lot of time in between the scenes, and all that does is make the scenes stick out even more. This one really could've used more to beef it up and make it seem like a more energetic, or even a slightly more dangerous film, which would make the scare-attempts last a little longer, giving them more muscle while also making the film a little quicker. The only other real flaw to this one is the fact that the relationship in here between the father and daughter is completely unrealistic and not at all realistic in a normal sense. The out-and-out anger and continuing belief to stay on the daughter's side, despite, especially later in the film when the evidence is a lot greater and more convincing than in the beginning, when the skepticism is a lot more natural, in the face of such evidence simply reeks of desperation for the audience and has no real natural connection in real-life. Most father's wouldn't be so blind to see such behavior without feeling something is wrong, and to continue to act in a way that isn't doesn't feel realistic or natural. These here are the film's problems.

The Final Verdict: While not the worst example of the genre, there's not a whole lot in here that can overcome the flaws present. Recommended for those that are fans of these kinds of films or find this one interesting, while those that like a little more weight to their films should heed extreme caution.

Rated PG-13: Language and Mild Violence

Instantly Forgettable stuff.

[allyatherton · 6/10 · 17 July 2016]

An imaginary friend turns bad.

Starring Dina Meyer, Rick Ravanello and Cassandra Sawsell Written by Christine Gallagher Directed by William Fruet.

This is an average low budget movie with a predictable and familiar plot to thousands of other haunted house movies. It's better than I thought it would be but it's still pretty average fair. Dina Meyer plays a good part but the rest of the cast could well have been stolen from any old soft porn movie that's ever been made. It's a bit of fun but also instantly forgettable and the ending was also predictable and could have been foretold after about ten minutes.

Nothing new here but it was okay. A decent story spoiled mainly by a low budget.

6.5/10

Don't Care

[ttapola · 3/10 · 30 April 2011]

When the summary of someone's 10/10 review is "I love this movie", it's pretty safe bet that not only have they *not* written a review but an opinion but also that the said rating is probably a major overstatement. And at least in the case of this excuse for a TV movie, even the average at the time of writing, 5.6/10, is an overstatement.

There seems to be no info on the length of the movie, but I can assure it is *too* long. 110 minutes including commercials was what was allotted for its "around midnight" time-slot here - presumably not because it is too scary for kids but because it is likely to put the viewer into sleep. For a thriller, this is seriously lacking in thrills and the makers don't seem to have the slightest idea of how to create a ghost story. There isn't a mood to speak of - the scenes seem like they are all first takes, the angles and the music couldn't be more bland and the editing is from the bottom of TV movie barrel - slow and lazy.

If, for some bizarre reason, you end up watching this movie - maybe because there really is nothing else on, or you want to calibrate your rating criteria, or perhaps are feeling masochistic, do have a game: count every movie cliché you recognize. The script is so full of recycled plot elements that you are likely to give up. The whole thing is a 3/10 example of pointlessness likely to just leave you feeling indifferent.

A rather dull ghost story.

[jhpstrydom · 2 August 2011]

Not to say that this is the worst movie I've ever seen, it isn't actually, its just extremely dull and uneventful, the supposed scariest part of the movie is close to the ending but its more like something you'd expect from the GOOSEBUMPS series.

The acting wasn't bad I have to say but its one of those cases where the characters aren't really likable and they're not exactly dis likable either, they're just not developed enough for you to feel any kind of emotion for them, plainly put they are one dimensional.

Overall, it wasn't a complete waste of time but I would recommend that its better not to pay to see this film, of course you can do worse by far but honestly if you really want to see it, try and do so without spending money on it.

A disappointment

[r96sk · 4/10 · 12 May 2020]

What a terrible film.

'Imaginary Playmate' is a disappointment in almost every area. The premise is potentially interesting though it's littered with question marks, they can't seem to make their mind up if the playmate is imaginary, invisible or even just hiding. The camera work is poor, as is the dialogue while the editing is mystifyingly choppy.

The acting isn't much better at all. I do appreciate what Cassandra Sawtell brings, which is nothing incredible but given her young age and what she's working with I think she does an admirable job as Molly. The others, who are led by Dina Meyer (Suzanne) and Rick Ravanello (Michael) aren't up to scratch.

As always, I respect the people involved though this isn't one I'd recommend.

Forgettable

[Leofwine_draca · 3/10 · 17 July 2015]

A highly forgettable Canadian TV movie, the only thing of interest about IMAGINARY PLAYMATE is that it was directed by none other than William Fruet, the man who made the likes of SPASMS and CRIES IN THE NIGHT back in the day. It's always sad when a director with a unique and independent style ends up making slick, cookie-cutter TV movies for The Man, but I guess that's the way of film-making...whatever pays the bills.

The storyline involves a guy, his daughter, and the woman who becomes part of the family when she marries him. All goes well at first, but soon the daughter develops a strong relationship with her imaginary friend, who she christens Candace. When supernatural events begin to occur in the home, the girl's stepmother begins to believe that the imaginary friend might not be so imaginary after all...

Weak sauce is the key phrase here. The thrills and spills are diluted, the few supernatural scenes inserted into the production are tame and predictable, and the scenes involving a ghostly kid are laughable. It doesn't help that we're saddled with the continually uninspiring Dina Meyer (STARSHIP TROOPERS) as the lead, or that the male performers are considerably worse than she is. IMAGINARY PLAYMATE is a dud, nothing more.

I love this movie!

[lisacro · 10/10 · 27 February 2007]

This movie is excellent! The movie begins with a somewhat normal family who have just moved into a new house. The little girl, Molly, sees the tree swing in the backyard is swinging by itself. She begins talking to her imaginary playmate and acts like this playmate, Candace, is really there. Creepy! Had me hooked from the beginning. The suspense of why things are happening and how these things are related to the family in the story is wonderfully done. The little girl, Molly, is one of the best little actresses I've seen in a while. She makes her character seem so real when she sees the imaginary playmate and how she acts scared. I believe the fact that the little girl's birth mother had passed away and her dad had remarried added to the storyline. The little girl never called her step mother "mommy" so when that happens Suzanne (step mother), even though she's figured out earlier that Candace was a real little girl that had died, knows something isn't right. This movie is very well written and the actors are excellent. It was definitely one I would've had to see had it been in theaters.

good movie

[nilbog_king · 8/10 · 3 April 2008]

I liked this movie a lot. I watched it one autumn day while home and was very satisfied with how it played out. It slowly built up tension and had an interesting plot and climax the characters Suzanne 7 molly were well developed and likable and all the actors did a good job. This website says i need 10 lines before this comment will be submitted so lets see what else can i say. The surprise at the end was good, It was interesting to see how Suzanne reacted to things slowly realizing that Candice was more than just imaginary and how the husband didn't believe her. I also liked the setting the old house was atmospheric, and the attic had the look of a dilapidated old place with secrets. all these ingredients add up to a fine little thriller witch should pass a pleasant hour or so for you to watch.