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Daniel Isn't Real

Play trailer 1:59 Poster for Daniel Isn't Real 2019 1h 36m Horror Mystery & Thriller Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
84% Tomatometer 81 Reviews 55% Popcornmeter 250+ Ratings
A troubled college freshman resurrects his imaginary friend to help him cope with a violent trauma.
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Daniel Isn't Real

Daniel Isn't Real

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Critics Consensus

Daniel Isn't Real, but the smart, stylish fun waiting for genre lovers in this well-acted suspense thriller is completely genuine.

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Critics Reviews

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Tara Brady Irish Times Feb 13, 2020
4/5
Adam Egypt Mortimer's second feature ... offers a novel convergence of mental health issues, toxic masculinity and occultish vibes. Go to Full Review
Ed Potton The Times (UK) Feb 10, 2020
3/5
The end goes a little off-piste, with much of the sweaty creepiness replaced by silly creature effects. There's enough before that, though, to elevate Adam Egypt Mortimer's film above the bog-standard psychological horror. Go to Full Review
Anton Bitel Little White Lies Feb 7, 2020
5/5
This schizophrenic buddy pic is the real deal. Go to Full Review
Rachel Bellwoar Vague Visages Mar 26, 2024
With Daniel Isn’t Real, Mortimer stands by his choices and doesn’t wobble. The result is a film that’s harmonious and undiluted, if prickly and divisive. Go to Full Review
Dallas King Flick Feast Nov 11, 2022
4/5
Slowly morphing from a character study of a man coping with trauma and mental illness into a dark and twisted horror... Adam Egypt Mortimer’s thrilling film and Patrick Schwarzenegger’s performance are the real deal. Go to Full Review
Laura Potier Outtake Mag Aug 16, 2021
3.5/5
Daniel Isn't Real is entertaining throughout and features very solid performances from its young cast, but it doesn't quite pack the punch it thinks it does. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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Justin W @RT37619642 1 day ago It's pretty hard to get into a movie who's lead character has an imaginary friend that is a douchebag. Speaking of him, the actor that plays Daniel is about the most beta looking dude in the world and when he's trying to be intimidating it just comes off as pure cringe. There is absolutely nothing scary about this dude at all. Characters are extremely unrealistic, unlikable, and incredibly annoying. It's such a silly depiction of NYC artists. Slow moving plot that little happens. Just not good in any way. See more Makaiya D @RT54830146 1 day ago Best part about this movie is that it ended. See more Sarah L @RT58124791 Aug 11, 2026 I thought the effects were kind of lame but this movie deeply disturbed me a couple of times. I just kept imagining myself as the main character, what I would do or how I would feel. There were some cliche horror tropes and bad decisions made, but it definitely delivers as a psychological horror. I even dreamed about this movie, and that is an extremely rare occurrence for me. See more Dorian G @RT53763132 Aug 7, 2026 I loved every part and aspect of this movie. See more R T @Snakeyb Mar 7, 2026 Liked the acting and cinematography. Script and plot was interesting. Didn’t like the last 15 minutes, turned into a supernatural horror. I would have preferred it to have stayed psychological thriller/drama My Significant Other fell asleep, not because of the film but because she had a long day being pregnant. She also found the subject matter interesting See more Gabriel T @GabrielFagundes Jan 16, 2026 Apart from minor imperfections or overused horror tropes, "Daniel Isn't Real" is a quite solid movie. It has characters you care about, good special effects, an interesting psychological subtext, chemistry during the romantic scenes, good visual, etc. See more Read all reviews
Daniel Isn't Real

My Rating

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Depraved 88% 49% Depraved Watchlist TRAILER for Depraved Head Count 74% 43% Head Count Watchlist TRAILER for Head Count Caveat 82% 58% Caveat Watchlist TRAILER for Caveat Killer Influence % % Killer Influence Watchlist TRAILER for Killer Influence Coming Home in the Dark 92% 45% Coming Home in the Dark Watchlist TRAILER for Coming Home in the Dark Discover more movies and TV shows. View More

Movie Info

Synopsis A troubled college freshman resurrects his imaginary friend to help him cope with a violent trauma.
Director
Adam Egypt Mortimer
Producer
Josh C. Waller, Elijah Wood, Lisa Whalen, Daniel Noah
Screenwriter
Brian DeLeeuw
Distributor
Samuel Goldwyn Films
Production Co
ACE Pictures Entertainment, Samuel Goldwyn Films, Ace Pictures (II), SpectreVision, Company 3
Genre
Horror, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Dec 6, 2019, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
Oct 11, 2019
Runtime
1h 36m
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