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Daniel Isn't Real
2019 101 min United States of America 18+
★6.5
Horror, Mystery
Director: Adam Egypt Mortimer
🎭 Based on
«In This Way I was Saved»
byBrian DeLeeuw
Trailers
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Description
A troubled college freshman resurrects his imaginary friend to help him cope with a violent trauma.
Worldwide:
$75,407
Starring
Miles Robbins
Actor
Patrick Schwarzenegger
Actor
Sasha Lane
Actor
Awards
5 wins & 4 nominations total
Key opinion
Daniel Isn't Real is a stylish psychological thriller that explores the dark manifestations of the subconscious and internal trauma. While the film is praised for its ambitious premise and strong conceptual opening, it suffers from a polarizing second half that shifts into chaotic, less convincing territory.
| Theme | The film offers a compelling, albeit heavy-handed, exploration of the subconscious mind as a battleground for trauma and internal identity. | |
| Originality | The narrative structure feels derivative, frequently drawing distracting comparisons to the trope of the 'Fight Club' style alter-ego. | |
| Acting | Performance quality is inconsistent; while some find the lead actors sincere and committed, others view the portrayals of psychological breakdown as unconvincing and shallow. | |
| Pacing | The film starts as a grounded psychological drama, but opinions diverge on the second half, with some praising the psychedelic escalation while others find it collapses into a chaotic and clichéd finale. | |
| Production | Visual execution is polarized: some applaud the slick, Lovecraftian-inspired atmosphere, while others dismiss the special effects as cheap or superficially psychedelic. |