Macabre...ish Horror Review: Daniel Isn’t Real

by Kimberly Walker February 05, 2021

Daniel Isn’t Real, 2019/ 1 hr 40 min

Trouble at home and witnessing the aftermath o mass shooting at a coffee shop, Luke, finds a new friend named Daniel. Except no one can see Daniel but Luke. They have great adventures together, they duel in castles and give Luke’s mother (Mary Stewart Masterson) super powers by adding an entire bottle of pills to her shake.

So Daniel is banished to a dollhouse and locked inside.

When Luke (Miles Robbins) returns home from school, he finds home to be in complete disarray and his mother is clearly struggling with her mental health. A visit to the therapist (Chukwudi Iwuji) reminds him of his invisible friend, so he returns home and unlocks the dollhouse.

And Luke sees the friend he hasn’t seen since he was 8, all grown up, in his Mom’s bathtub. Daniel (Patrick Schwarzennegger) notices Luke has lost his joy and his imagination but he has inadvertently made another friend, Cassie (Sasha Lane).

But there is something about Daniel. He’s not just a good harmless imaginary friend.

He’s hardly good and definitely not imaginary. And after a while Daniel becomes the worst thing that’s ever happened to Luke.

This psychological thriller is good. Good story, concept and pacing. Some blood and graphic moments plus jump scares and crazy effects. Adult scenes and nudity.