Imaginaryis continuingBlumhouse Productions' losing streak. The supernatural thriller marks the fourth consecutive film produced by the low-budget production company that failed to impress critics. The other films that make up this group areNight Swim, Five Nights at Freddy’s(which, despite a low critical reception, was well received by audiences), andThe Exorcist: Believer(the first of a planned - but now seeminly defunct - trilogy).
When looking at the four features' Rotten Tomatoes Scores,Night SwimandThe Exorcist: Believersit tied at the bottom spot with 22%.Imaginaryholds a 31% —but that will likely change given that the film was just released on Friday —whileFive Nights at Freddy’shas a 32% critical rating.Totally KillerandThe Passengerpreceded these four films, and both earned rave reviews from critics.
Imaginarystars DeWanda Wise as Jessica, a woman who returns to her childhood home and discovers that the imaginary friend she left behind is very real and unhappy that she abandoned him. Tom Payne, Taegen Burns, Pyper Braun, Matthew Sato, Veronica Falcón, and Betty Buckle round out the cast. The film is directed and co-written by Jeff Wadlow, who previously collaborated with Blumhouse onTruth or DareandFantasy Island; both films fared terribly with critics.Imaginaryis a collaboration between Blumhouse and Tower of Babble.
Criticism surroundingImaginaryis mostlycentered around the film’s storyline and lack of scares. The Guardian’s reviewpoints out Blumhouse’s recent stream of poorly received films, noting “another sub-par day at the Blumhouse factory, production line operating at full, breakneck speed, yet machinery on the perilous verge of total collapse,” adding that “quality control has forever been an issue and in the last year or so, it’s barely existed.”
What’s Next for Blumhouse?
While its last four films may signal a concerning trend for the production studio, not all hope should be lost. Given Blumhouse’s vast number of projects, there are bound to be duds. The company does boastits fair share of successful horror outings, includingGet Out, Sick, Freaky, M3Gan, andThe Black Phone, with the two latter films set for sequels. Blumhouse, founded in 2000 by Jason Blum and Amy Israel, has focused primarily on the horror genre, but it is also behind the Academy Award-nominated dramasWhiplashandBlacKkKlansman.
The 15 Best Blumhouse Horror Movies, Ranked
Jason Blum’s popular production company Blumhouse has become synonymous with good horror movies. These are their 15 best films, ranked.
Blumhouse’s next feature,Speak No Evil, is a psychological horror thriller based on the critically revered 2022 Danish film of the same name. The adaptation is written and directed by James Watkins, who also served in the same capacity for the acclaimedEden Lake. This will mark Watkins' first collaboration with Blumhouse.
The original 2022 film follows the story of a Danish couple, Bjorn and Louise, and their daughter, Agnes, who meet a Dutch couple (Patrick and Karin) and their son, Abel, while vacationing in Tuscany. When Patrick and Karin invite Bjorn, Louise, and Agnes to visit their homes in the Netherlands, they oblige, but they soon start noticing some troubling behavior. Despite their observations, they decide to stay, leading to a terrifying conclusion.
Watkins' adaptation stars James McAvoy, Mackenzie Davis, and Scoot McNairy. If the feature can follow in the footsteps of its disturbing predecessor, it would definitely break Blumhouse’s bad streak.Speak No Evilis scheduled for release on August 17, 2025.
Imaginaryis now playing in theaters.
