Daniel Isn't Real

Daniel Isn't Real

Year: 2019

Runtime: 100 min

Language: English

Director: Adam Egypt Mortimer

Echo Score: 72
ThrillerHorror

While attending college and dealing with a family tragedy, Luke resurrects his imaginary childhood friend, Daniel. Daniel is charming but unpredictable, and as their connection deepens, Luke begins a journey of self-discovery. However, Daniel's presence increasingly blurs the distinction between what's real and what's not, leading Luke down a disturbing path.

Daniel Isn't Real (2019) – Spoiler-Free Movie Summary & Plot Overview

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In the quiet corners of a campus town, Luke carries the weight of a family tragedy while trying to carve out a future for himself. When a childhood companion reappears, the charismatic yet capricious Daniel offers a strange sense of belonging that feels both comforting and unsettling. Their connection pulls Luke into a world where the line between imagination and reality grows thin, inviting him to confront the shadows that have lingered since his youth.

The film unfolds against a backdrop of muted dormitory corridors, dimly lit therapy rooms, and a home haunted by his mother Claire’s fragile grip on sanity. A subtle, atmospheric dread permeates every scene, blending psychological tension with a faintly supernatural undercurrent. The tone is a careful balance of introspective drama and unsettling horror, where ordinary moments are tinged with the uncanny, and the audience is left questioning what is truly real.

As Luke navigates college life, relationships, and his own mounting anxiety, Daniel becomes both a catalyst for growth and a source of profound unease. Their bond forces Luke to examine his identity, his fears of becoming like his mother, and the seductive promise of escape that the unseen friend provides. The story hints at a fragile equilibrium that could tip at any moment, drawing the viewer into a compelling exploration of memory, mental health, and the haunting possibility that some companions are never meant to be left behind.

Last Updated: August 10, 2025 at 01:30

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Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.

Movies with Psychological Unraveling like Daniel Isn't Real

When the protagonist's perception of reality becomes the central horror.If you liked the mind-bending horror of Daniel Isn't Real, explore these movies where the protagonist's perception of reality is the central conflict. Find similar psychological thrillers and horror films that feature unreliable narrators, themes of identity crisis, and a disturbing ambiguity about what is real.

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Narrative Summary

Stories in this thread typically follow a protagonist experiencing a severe psychological crisis, often triggered by past trauma or a supernatural entity. The narrative unfolds from their increasingly skewed perspective, creating a claustrophobic sense of dread as external threats and internal demons become indistinguishable, leading to a grim confrontation with the self.

Why These Movies?

Movies are grouped here because they share a core focus on psychological disintegration, a dark and paranoid tone, and a narrative structure that deliberately obscures objective reality to put the audience directly into the character's anxious and deteriorating mind.

Movies about Evil Imaginary Friends like Daniel Isn't Real

Childhood fantasies return with a dark and parasitic intent.Fans of Daniel Isn't Real will appreciate these films featuring malevolent supernatural companions born from childhood. Discover horror and thriller movies where imaginary friends, dolls, or childhood creations return with dark intentions, exploring themes of possession, lost innocence, and the battle for one's own identity.

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Narrative Summary

The narrative pattern involves a protagonist, often isolated or dealing with trauma, who re-engages with a childhood companion. Initially comforting, the companion's true parasitic nature is slowly revealed as it seeks to consume or replace the protagonist's identity, leading to a climactic struggle for control over mind, body, and reality itself.

Why These Movies?

These films are connected by the specific trope of a childhood imaginary friend or creation that becomes a supernatural antagonist. They share a high intensity, a dark tone focused on identity erosion, and a steady pacing that builds from nostalgic unease to outright horror.

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Daniel Isn't Real Summary

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Characters, Settings & Themes in Daniel Isn't Real

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Characters, Settings & Themes in Daniel Isn't Real

Daniel Isn't Real Ending Explained

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