Daniel Isn’t Real, Movie Review

Children have imaginary friends. They become companions when they are alone, confidants for their secrets, and comforters in times of trouble. They also are the recipients of blame. They are a part of our creative being. A simple element of our sanity—just imaginary.

I saw Daniel Isn't Real at the 2019 FilmQuest Film Festival (website). This horror/thriller was nominated for ten awards.

As a boy, Luke (Griffin Robert Faulkner, IMDb page), witnesses a traumatic event in his neighborhood. As he stands there, Daniel, (Nathan Chandler Reid, IMDb page) appears next to him and asks if he wants to go play. Daniel is Luke's new friend that nobody else can see. For a while, everything goes well as they play together. That is until Daniel convinces Luke to help his mother (Mary Stuart Masterson, IMDb page) with her medication that helps stabilize her mental illness. Luke almost kills his mother and she forces him to banish Daniel into a toy house and lock him away.

When Luke (Miles Robbins, IMDb page) is in college, he's struggling from stress. At the suggestion of his therapist, he goes back to find his imaginary friend Daniel (Patrick Schwarzenegger, IMDb page). He unlocks the toy house and Daniel is there.

Daniel Isn't Real leaves you questioning Luke's mental wellbeing. We know his mother has mental illness and it could be hereditary. But Daniel is so real to Luke. Daniel gives Luke the confidence to do things he's never attempted before. As he does more, the boundaries of acceptability are pushed until Luke allows Daniel to take control. It's too much for Luke and the fighting between them escalates.

Brian Deleeuw (IMDb page) wrote the novel, This Way I Was Saved, and then teamed with Adam Egypt Mortimer (IMDb page) for the screenplay. Adam Egypt Mortimer also directed the film. Their work gives a haunting tale that is paced for building the suspense and ambiguity of the reality Luke is facing. Their collaboration earned them the honor of being nominated for Best Screenplay.

 

Along with the writing and directing, there was a lot of great work going on behind the camera. Daniel Isn't Real was well supported and honored for the work done by the crew. Other nominations included: Best Editing, Best Production Design/Art Direction, Best Visual Effects, and Best Makeup. Along with the nominations the movie won Lyle Vincent (IMDb page) Best Cinematography.

The characters of Luke and Daniel on screen is moving. Miles Robbins (Halloween 2018) as Luke gives a portrayal of a young man who is starting to question his sanity. This builds until he realizes he has to do something before worse things happen. It is a strong performance that earned him a nomination for Best Actor.

The title role of Daniel was played by Patrick Schwarzenegger (Midnight Sun, Grown Ups 2). In Daniel Isn't Real he shows he can play horror. His visual presentation as Daniel leaves no doubt that this person is a person of evil intent. The facial expressions he uses in building the tension has an intensity that draws you into the movie and pushes you away from the character. It was a stunning performance that earned Schwarzenegger the award of Best Supporting Actor.

These two performances are backed up by the rest of the cast. There interactions are realistic with only Luke being able to see Daniel and Daniel won't leave Luke alone when he is with others. The work of the supporting cast was wonderful in maintaining the affect. Along the way, we understand who each of them are as individuals and their relationship with Luke. Through the combined experiences of the characters, we are given the world view of each and where those worlds touch and overlap. All together they earned a nomination for Best Ensemble

Cast.

Adam Egypt Mortimer did a great job bringing all of the elements together. The back and forth between Luke and Daniel, along with the rest of the story elements, create a horror/thriller that was nominated for Best Feature Film.

Overall

Daniel Isn't Real is a psychological thriller exploring the question of what is real. By the end it encompasses the greater questions of what is reality. The exploration creates a grim tale of how we delineate between those who are insane and those who are evil.

For horror fans, this is a movie I recommend. Daniel Isn't Real is a great film with twists that made people in the audience squirm in their seats. The story turns around on itself into an ending you know must come about no matter how strongly you wish it to end differently. You are invested in the characters and the conclusion hits strong.

Daniel Isn't Real is currently on the film festival circuit.

I give Daniel Isn't Real 4 out of 5.

The Novel, This Way I Was Saved, by Brian Deleeuw is available on Amazon (link). I am an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. If you purchase through any links I provide, thank you.

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