Daniel Isn't Real

For me, perhaps the best cheap indie horror of the year (not counting the “bigger indies” that go normally to the cinemas, like Midsommar, for instance). It’s a shame that in the end things strangely fall apart, because, up to the last ten minutes, it leaves a hopeless, sad and dark post-viewing sensation. But then the creators decide to show a bit more than would probably be advisable given the financing, thus weakening a little the impression of a 100% serious film. Nevertheless, I’m glad that Mortimer is improving with each film (I saw much promise the last time), and that they’re coming up with original ideas, or at least adapting them, and I’m curious about what’s next. (29/11/2019)

Adam Egypt Mortimer and his most interesting and best work. It's the story of a young man who has an imaginary friend in his head who encourages him to do bad things, helps him to achieve his goals, but also slowly gains control over him. Well acted, disturbing, psychological, dreamy and with a great beginning and ending. I loved the demon masks in the background and one crazy scene with a stretched jaw. Enjoyed it, liked it. 7/10. (28/11/2019)

Following a traumatic event, an eight-year-old boy called Luke meets and brings home an imaginary friend called Daniel. Daniel supports Luke in developing his imagination and helps him regain his self-confidence, but then, of course, nothing is quite as it seems. This is a relatively interesting variation on horror movies about the split personality disorders, which may be rooted in schizophrenia. However, there may also be something more unreal and deceptive behind it. This movie has an almost hypnotic atmosphere, and is based on the solid performances of the actors playing the central duo - Patrick Schwarzenegger especially draws the audience’s attention, not only because he looks exactly like Arnold when he was young, but because the role of the manipulative demon was so apt and fit him like a glove. If the plot offered something fresh that we have not seen before in other movies, and most importantly, a more powerful finale, I would have been completely satisfied. [Sitges 2019] (05/10/2019)

Um thriller com elementos de horror sobre um jovem cujo amigo de infância imaginário lhe aparece, encorajando-o a fazer coisas más e assumindo gradualmente o controlo das suas ações e do seu corpo. O conto habitual do estilo Jekyll e Hyde de lidar com terrores interiores é dominado por desempenhos decentes do elenco não conhecido e por uma mitologia bastante inovadora de amigos imaginários e dos demónios pelos quais são controlados (provavelmente melhor retratados no livro em que o filme se baseia). A direção bastante rotineira é suficiente para algumas cenas notáveis, mas não faz uso suficiente das principais coisas que teriam tido a oportunidade de tornar o filme verdadeiramente distinto, o que faz com que o filme pareça um pouco fácil de ser esquecido, apesar de algumas ideias interessantes e inovadoras. (05/10/2019)