DramaYear2019Duration1h 40mIMDb6.1

Daniel Isn't Real

DramaFantasyHorror

A troubled college freshman, Luke, suffers a violent family trauma. He then resurrects his charismatic childhood imaginary friend Daniel to help him cope, not realizing how dangerous Daniel is.

Trailer

Cast

Adam Egypt Mortimer

Director

Miles Robbins

Luke

Patrick Schwarzenegger

Daniel

Sasha Lane

Cassie

Mary Stuart Masterson

Claire

Hannah Marks

Sophie

Chukwudi Iwuji

Braun

Peter McRobbie

Percy Thigpen

Andrew David Bridges

Richard

Griffin Robert Faulkner

Young Luke

Nathan Chandler Reid

Young Daniel

Daniel Marconi

John Thigpen

Chase Sui Wonders

Makayla

RM

Rosanne Ma

Professor Abelard

Katie Chang

Barista

Michael Cuomo

James

Andrew Ayala

Waterfront Security Guard

Madeleine Mfuru

Cop

Jamar Greene

Campus Security Guard

BD

Brian DeLeeuw

Writer

Adam Egypt Mortimer

Writer

Comments

10 Comments

Sayed HameedAug 7, 2024

The title leads the viewer to believe that there is some ambiguity as to whether Daniel exists or is a figment of Luke's imagination/psychosis. But about the time we get to the goofy CGI Vulcan mind-meld in the sewers, all doubt is gone. Then it literally spirals into a lame version of the underworld. Very silly. Son of Terminator is not that good of an actor. He clearly was hired for his name and his runway looks. The secondary plot with the artistic girl never really built any chemistry with the lead. I didn't care about the plight of any of the characters. And no one properly lit the scenes, making it even harder to watch. I don't remember a score. It started off okay.

ChabelyMay 29, 2023

source: Daniel Isn't Real

Mother of memesMay 23, 2023

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.

Mme 2Rayz❤️May 23, 2023

Wasted a night when I could of watched something , anything more interesting. no story, poor direction, made no sense. if you're going to do a movie about an imaginary friend at least have some kind of premise. Was he crazy, was it supernatural, what was it? It wasn't entertaining and with no clear story a bunch of nonsense thrown in to make it seem interesting dos not make it so..

SK - MUSIC / PRODUCTMay 23, 2023

This is not worth your time. There is truly no payoff to watching this and it goes nowhere at all.

MarciaMay 23, 2023

I just want to say, to anyone and everyone who worked on this movie: you all did a fantastic job and I really loved this movie. Much love to you all. It blew me away. Completely insane, gorgeous, and fun.

Chunli ❤️🙇♀️May 23, 2023

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

MULAMWAH™May 23, 2023

I saw this film recently at a film festival, wasn't really expecting much owing to the uninspired title and write up. However, I actually found this scary. This is a slow burn story of a young man descending in to mental illness. It's sinister and tense, it's main actors give excellent performances.

Prince AkMay 23, 2023

I accidentally come across this little gem.. Its psychological with horror element mix. About how we fight our own inner demons. Either we let the Demon take over ourselves or fight it till death..

DEEJAY BAXO JNRMay 23, 2023

So beware if you feel fragile,and have , in a solitude world, an imaginary friend that you talks too and thinks with, because this is a cataclysmic birth of the stars, an explotion emmiting from the explosive brain of a child, and in the end a young man, that unravels your better half to infinity. its a scary and well built story about mental health, gained by birth through mama's genes, and and the revelation of sigmund freuds id,ego and super ego all mixed together in the kenwood, added with some psychosoatic brainbreakers, and the story are completely out of control. its a film that should have a flashing sign to embrace for impact, because its scary, it mindwrecking and extremely exhausting to watch. so my advice its to watch with your own brain control button set on, and try to simplyfy the intrusions of madness that are served to you. the fact is that there are millions of people that are gaged with this set of problems out there in the world, and the film are really a groundbreaker from a psychological standpoint. the acting are extremely well done, the use of special effects very truthful, and the score are very intense and immersive. the filmatographic and editing work has been done flawless, and the set and location management has done a crude operation making this a seeworthy experience. the grumpy old man that usually shadows away from heavy psychosomatics on film, were very impressed and will surely recommend, and for the parents, dont show this to minors, it may harm in an effectful manner.

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