Imaginary Cat

The film begins with Jessica experiencing a terrifying nightmare where a creature in the form of a spider stalks her, revealing her past trauma involving her father, Ben. She wakes up in her bed, realizing it was just a nightmare, but the sense of fear remains. This event establishes the presence of supernatural elements linked to her childhood fears.

Jessica, an award-winning children’s book author, moves with her family into the house where she grew up. Her past incident with her father, Ben, who once attacked her, caused her to leave the house years earlier. The move reopens old wounds and introduces the supernatural disturbances present in the house.

Alice, Jessica’s stepdaughter, claims to talk to an imaginary friend named Chauncey. She is seen having a tea party with him and refers to him as if he is real, foreshadowing the influence of her imaginary companion. Jessica and Max dismiss Alice’s imaginary friend as innocent, although it hints at deeper supernatural issues.

Jessica meets Gloria at the house, who claims to be her former babysitter. Gloria reveals she used to be Jessica's babysitter during her childhood, and she shows familiarity with the house's dark past. Gloria’s interest in the house hints at her obsession with the supernatural aspects rooted there.

Jessica overhears Alice having a tea party with Chauncey and hears an unseen woman’s voice. A disturbance leads to police arriving after Jessica’s mental health status is questioned following an incident involving Alice and their mother, Samantha, who displays disturbed behavior. This highlights the growing supernatural influence over Alice.

Jessica visits her father Ben in a nursing home, hoping to reconnect. Ben’s mental state has deteriorated, and he becomes hysterical, grabbing her wrist painfully. This emphasizes Jessica’s unresolved trauma linked to her father and the circle of darkness surrounding her past.

Taylor invites Liam over, who gives her allergy medicine mistakenly believed to be drugs. Liam’s strange behavior leads Jessica to investigate, where she notices Chauncey’s shadowy appearance. His transformation into a monstrous bear terrifies Liam, revealing the sinister nature of Alice’s imaginary friend.

Jessica finds childhood drawings with altered heads and learns about the 'Never Ever,' a supernatural realm connected to her past. She realizes that opening the door to this world requires a scavenger hunt, symbolizing her need to confront her childhood fears and trauma to free Alice.

Jessica, Taylor, and Gloria enter the supernatural 'Never Ever,' a world shaped by children's imaginations. They search for Alice and witness disturbing scenes from Jessica’s childhood, including Ben’s attempt to protect her from Chauncey. Gloria’s obsession with the realm culminates in her being torn apart by Chauncey.

Jessica and Taylor find Alice in a fictionalized family apartment. They attempt to convince her that the fantasy world is not real. As Chauncey turns monstrous, Jessica fights to save her daughters, eventually sealing Chauncey behind a door by burning his creature form, symbolizing the destruction of her childhood fears.

Following the chaos, Jessica, Taylor, and Alice check into a hotel, but signs of Chauncey’s influence persist when they see a teddy bear resembling him. The ending suggests that the supernatural entity may still be at large, hinting at the cycle of fear and that the threat continues beyond the immediate story.