Danika

Danika

Year: 2006

Runtime: 79 mins

Language: English

Director: Ariel Vromen

ThrillerDramaMysteryHorrorIntense violence and sexual transgression

Plagued by vivid hallucinations that eclipse her deepest anxieties, Danika Merrick has been haunted since her brother’s accidental death. The trauma triggers a terrifying vision of a bank robbery, prompting her to quit her job. Though surrounded by a loving husband and three supportive children, she cannot escape the disturbing images. Seeking relief, she turns to therapist Evelyn Harris, but a series of violent incidents involving children fuels her paranoia, leaving Danika fearing she is losing her sanity and endangering her family.

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Timeline & Setting – Danika (2006)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Danika (2006). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Location

Bank, School, Motel, Home

The story unfolds across everyday locations that ground the protagonist's paranoia: a bank during a tense robbery, a school where danger seems imminent, a motel where secrets surface, and the family home where fear, love, and tragedy collide. These familiar settings anchor the psychological thriller, showing how ordinary spaces become stages for alarming visions. The contrast between safe, everyday places and disturbing perceptions drives the suspense and reveals the fragility of the characters' reality.

🏦 Bank 🏫 School 🏨 Motel 🏡 Home

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 12:14

Main Characters – Danika (2006)

Meet the key characters of Danika (2006), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Danika Merrick (Marisa Tomei)

Danika is a devoted mother whose escalating paranoid visions threaten to fracture her family. Her schizophrenia drives volatile hallucinations—threats to her children, fears of kidnapping, and disturbing discoveries—that blur the line between reality and delusion. She seeks support from her husband and psychiatrist even as she resists acknowledging the severity of her condition.

🧠 Mental Health 👪 Family 🎭 Illusion vs Reality 💔 Trauma

Randy Merrick (Craig Bierko)

Danika's husband, whose extramarital affair and conflicting loyalties contribute to the family’s collapse. He oscillates between seeking control, addressing Danika’s paranoia, and reeling from the consequences of his actions. His betrayal amplifies Danika's sense of danger and fuels the tragedy that unfolds.

💔 Infidelity 👨‍👩‍👧 Family Strain 🗯️ Trust

Dr. Evelyn Harris (Regina Hall)

Danika’s psychiatrist who also becomes entangled in the couple’s turmoil. She embodies the duty to mediate between Danika’s delusions and reality, while revealing how personal loyalties influence outcomes. Her confrontation with Randy in the motel marks a turning point in the story.

🧠 Psychiatry 🕵️ Secrets 💔 Betrayal

Lizzie Geralds

Danika's daughter and a symbol of innocence amid the surrounding danger. Lizzie’s safety becomes the emotional focal point for Danika’s protective instincts and the fears that drive her paranoia. She represents the stakes of parental responsibility under duress.

👧 Family 💖 Mother-Daughter Bond 🛡️ Protection

Kurt Merrick (Kyle Gallner)

One of Danika’s children, whose presence heightens the sense of vulnerability in the family. Kurt becomes a focus of concern for Danika as she navigates the line between care and overprotection. His fate is tied to the film’s ultimate tragedy and the resulting guilt.

🧒 Family 🛡️ Protection

Brian Merrick (Ridge Canipe)

Another of Danika’s children whose well-being drives Danika’s vigilant behavior. The character embodies the precarious balance between safeguarding loved ones and becoming consumed by fear. The narrative uses his presence to heighten emotional stakes.

🧒 Family 💙 Vulnerability

Lauren Merrick (Nicki Prian)

Danika’s other child whose life and safety are central to her protective mindset. Lauren’s character anchors the family’s dynamics and the consequences of neglect or misinterpretation of danger. Her role links the present to the broader family tragedy.

👧 Family 🛡️ Protection

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 12:14

Major Themes – Danika (2006)

Explore the central themes of Danika (2006), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🧠 Mental Illness

Danika's schizophrenia distorts her perception, turning mundane events into threats. The narrative blurs what is real and what she imagines, challenging the audience to discern reliability. Treatment, denial, and the weight of her delusions push the plot forward and strain family relationships.

💔 Guilt

Guilt over past choices and present consequences drives much of the emotional gravity. The car crash and the deaths of the children become anchors for Danika's psychological escape and the alternate reality she creates. The film uses guilt to explore memory, responsibility, and the illusion of control.

👪 Family Dynamics

The Merrick family experiences intense strain from infidelity, protective paranoia, and fractured trust. Love and fear intertwine, pushing characters toward blame, withdrawal, and tragedy. The narrative examines how fragile family bonds are when confronted with suspicion and loss.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 12:14

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Danika Summary

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