Blumhouse Productions' latest offering, 'Imaginary,' has unfortunately added to the company's recent string of underwhelming releases. This supernatural thriller is the fourth consecutive film from the low-budget production house that has failed to garner positive reviews from critics. Preceded by 'Night Swim,' 'Five Nights at Freddy's,' and 'The Exorcist: Believer,' 'Imaginary' seems to have continued the trend of disappointing performances.
When examining the Rotten Tomatoes Scores of these four films, 'Night Swim' and 'The Exorcist: Believer' share the lowest spot with a meager 22%. 'Imaginary' currently holds a slightly higher rating of 31%, but this may fluctuate as the film was only recently released. 'Five Nights at Freddy's' managed to fare slightly better with a 32% critical rating. It's worth noting that 'Totally Killer' and 'The Passenger' were two earlier releases from Blumhouse that received positive acclaim from critics.
'Imaginary' features DeWanda Wise in the lead role of Jessica, a character who rediscovers her childhood home only to find that her imaginary friend from the past is real and harboring resentment towards her. The film also stars Tom Payne, Taegen Burns, Pyper Braun, Matthew Sato, Veronica Falcón, and Betty Buckle. Directed and co-written by Jeff Wadlow, known for his work on 'Truth or Dare' and 'Fantasy Island,' 'Imaginary' has faced criticism primarily for its storyline and lack of scares.
Despite the recent disappointments, Blumhouse Productions has a diverse portfolio of projects, including successful horror films like 'Get Out,' 'Sick,' 'Freaky,' 'M3Gan,' and 'The Black Phone,' with sequels planned for the latter two. Founded in 2000 by Jason Blum and Amy Israel, Blumhouse has made a mark in the horror genre and beyond, with acclaimed dramas like 'Whiplash' and 'BlacKkKlansman' under its belt.
The studio's upcoming feature, 'Speak No Evil,' is a psychological horror thriller based on the well-received 2022 Danish film of the same name. Directed by James Watkins, known for 'Eden Lake,' the adaptation stars James McAvoy, Mackenzie Davis, and Scoot McNairy. Scheduled for release on January 24, 2025, 'Speak No Evil' presents an opportunity for Blumhouse to break its recent streak of lackluster releases.
While 'Imaginary' may not have met expectations, Blumhouse's history of successful projects suggests that the studio is capable of delivering compelling and engaging content. As audiences eagerly await the release of 'Speak No Evil,' there remains hope that Blumhouse will once again captivate viewers with its unique brand of horror and suspense.
'Imaginary' is currently showing in theaters for those interested in experiencing the latest offering from Blumhouse Productions.
