Trailers
Description
David Callaway tries to piece together his life in the wake of his wife's suicide and has been left to raise his nine-year-old daughter, Emily on his own. David is at first amused to discover that Emily has created an imaginary friend named 'Charlie', but it isn't long before 'Charlie' develops a sinister and violent side, and as David struggles with his daughter's growing emotional problems, he comes to the frightening realisation that 'Charlie' isn't just a figment of Emily's imagination.
Starring
Awards
Key opinion
Hide and Seek is generally viewed as a competent but conventional psychological thriller that relies on standard genre tropes. While the plot is often criticized for being predictable, the strong performances of the leads, particularly Dakota Fanning, provide enough engagement to make it a worthwhile watch for genre enthusiasts.
| Acting | Dakota Fanning delivers a standout performance, effectively anchoring the film with a mature and unsettling portrayal of childhood trauma. | |
| Emotion | The film successfully maintains a consistent level of psychological tension and dread that holds audience engagement through to the climax. | |
| Screenplay | The screenplay is largely unoriginal, relying on clichéd horror tropes and a predictable twist that many viewers can identify early on. | |
| Acting | Opinions on Robert De Niro are split; some praise his committed performance as a grieving father, while others feel he is mismatched or underutilized in the role. |