Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Brutal
- eerie
- paranoid
- stylish
- late night horror viewing
- indie horror marathon
What critics said
Critics broadly found the film stylish, well acted, and genuinely suspenseful, especially in its unsettling ambiguity around mental illness and supernatural evil.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
The film keeps Daniel’s status uncertain between an imaginary manifestation of Luke’s mental illness and a malevolent demonic force.
Daniel appears to empower Luke while manipulating his artistic development and behavior for increasingly sinister purposes.
Luke’s diverse traumas and childhood imaginary friend become intertwined through Daniel’s manipulative presence.
Critics specifically praised the film as stylishly crafted while describing its suspense as keeping viewers off-balance.
Films like Daniel Isn't Real, and why
Fight Club
psychological horror centered on a domineering alter ego and unstable identity
Fallen
supernatural psychological thriller sustaining uncertainty between mental illness and demonic possession
The Other
disturbing identity horror involving a sinister counterpart and fractured reality
Session 9
stylish psychological horror rooted in trauma, isolation, and ambiguous supernatural forces
Movie Details
- Director
- Adam Egypt Mortimer
- Release Date
- 2019-12-06
- Runtime
- 101 min
- Rating
- 6.1 / 10 (252)
Cast
- Miles Robbins
- Patrick Schwarzenegger
- Sasha Lane
- Mary Stuart Masterson
- Hannah Marks
- Chukwudi Iwuji
- Peter McRobbie
- Chase Sui Wonders
- Katie Chang
- Michael Cuomo
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Daniel Isn't Real about?
- A traumatized young man reunites with his imaginary childhood friend, only to discover that confidence can become a terrifying form of possession.
- What is Daniel Isn't Real like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Daniel Isn't Real as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is Daniel Isn't Real violent?
- Yes. Ember rates the violence in Daniel Isn't Real as brutal.
- What did critics think of Daniel Isn't Real?
- Critics broadly found the film stylish, well acted, and genuinely suspenseful, especially in its unsettling ambiguity around mental illness and supernatural evil.
- Which films are like Daniel Isn't Real?
- Films with a similar feel include Fight Club, Fallen, The Other, and Session 9.
- How long is Daniel Isn't Real?
- Daniel Isn't Real runs 101 minutes.
- Where can I watch Daniel Isn't Real?
- In United States, Daniel Isn't Real streams on Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads.
