"Imaginary Playmate" is a somewhat slow-going and below-average ghost film.
**SPOILERS**
Moving into a new house, Suzanne, (Dina Mayer) and Mike Driscoll, (Rick Ravanello) and their daughter Molly, (Cassandra Sawtell) try to adjust to her new role as step-mom in the family. When she suddenly starts behaving like she has an imaginary friend, they try to play along to make her feel comfortable, but as time goes on, they start to get worried about her attachment to the friend. When she starts to act out even more after the announcement of her being pregnant, they realize her rantings about it being the ghost of a girl who lived in the house years earlier who committed suicide is the real culprit and try whatever they can to break the hold on her before something really dangerous happens to her.
The Good News: There wasn't a whole lot here that worked. One of the main parts is that there's actually a nice build-up to the mystery of what's going on, and it does have a fairly accurate ring to it at times. Being insistent around the parents is a normal move, because it does have some truth to it and those scenes are a natural starting point for this behavior, and it allows the film to go up in a great way since it's a perfect starting point. The next actions, from the revelation of the blood-stained bed-sheets and the freak-out in the bathroom during the bath are quite fun and are great examples of building off something already established since there's been the introduction of the act beforehand. The best part, though, is the sequence in the bedroom where the dolls all come flying off the shelves at the individual, which is a creepy idea and is executed quite well. This is a freaky scene and is played perfectly here to make for a really enjoyable and entertaining moment. Another really good moment comes when the two play a game of hide-and-seek, which is a lot more thrilling than it sounds in passing and is a pretty good, tense moment, as well as a sequence where the walls are suddenly popping out of their foundation and start shaking wildly, causing another big scare in the film at the right moment when it needs to by causing a bloody miscarriage through it all. It's got one more creepy scene where they walk-through a neglected attic, injecting some really good atmosphere into the whole thing. The last good plus is the finale, which is where it reveals all the events in the past, including the possession that is required for it to be completed and results in a little bit of energy to end the film. These little moments all are all that work in this one.
The Bad News: There were some problems to this one that really hold it down. One of the biggest issues here is the fact that the film is just so slow-going that there's not a whole lot of action going on in here. This one tends to unravel everything at such a pace that there's nothing but one seemingly slow-moving scene after another, especially since the only time this one sinks down into a fast-moving plot is when the ghost action occurs, and since those are so short and sporadic in their appearance, it takes a long time to really get going. That those are in short supply to begin with manages to make the rest of the time even duller since its pacing is so languid that there's a lot of time in between the scenes, and all that does is make the scenes stick out even more. This one really could've used more to beef it up and make it seem like a more energetic, or even a slightly more dangerous film, which would make the scare-attempts last a little longer, giving them more muscle while also making the film a little quicker. The only other real flaw to this one is the fact that the relationship in here between the father and daughter is completely unrealistic and not at all realistic in a normal sense. The out-and-out anger and continuing belief to stay on the daughter's side, despite, especially later in the film when the evidence is a lot greater and more convincing than in the beginning, when the skepticism is a lot more natural, in the face of such evidence simply reeks of desperation for the audience and has no real natural connection in real-life. Most father's wouldn't be so blind to see such behavior without feeling something is wrong, and to continue to act in a way that isn't doesn't feel realistic or natural. These here are the film's problems.
The Final Verdict: While not the worst example of the genre, there's not a whole lot in here that can overcome the flaws present. Recommended for those that are fans of these kinds of films or find this one interesting, while those that like a little more weight to their films should heed extreme caution.
Rated PG-13: Language and Mild Violence
**SPOILERS**
Moving into a new house, Suzanne, (Dina Mayer) and Mike Driscoll, (Rick Ravanello) and their daughter Molly, (Cassandra Sawtell) try to adjust to her new role as step-mom in the family. When she suddenly starts behaving like she has an imaginary friend, they try to play along to make her feel comfortable, but as time goes on, they start to get worried about her attachment to the friend. When she starts to act out even more after the announcement of her being pregnant, they realize her rantings about it being the ghost of a girl who lived in the house years earlier who committed suicide is the real culprit and try whatever they can to break the hold on her before something really dangerous happens to her.
The Good News: There wasn't a whole lot here that worked. One of the main parts is that there's actually a nice build-up to the mystery of what's going on, and it does have a fairly accurate ring to it at times. Being insistent around the parents is a normal move, because it does have some truth to it and those scenes are a natural starting point for this behavior, and it allows the film to go up in a great way since it's a perfect starting point. The next actions, from the revelation of the blood-stained bed-sheets and the freak-out in the bathroom during the bath are quite fun and are great examples of building off something already established since there's been the introduction of the act beforehand. The best part, though, is the sequence in the bedroom where the dolls all come flying off the shelves at the individual, which is a creepy idea and is executed quite well. This is a freaky scene and is played perfectly here to make for a really enjoyable and entertaining moment. Another really good moment comes when the two play a game of hide-and-seek, which is a lot more thrilling than it sounds in passing and is a pretty good, tense moment, as well as a sequence where the walls are suddenly popping out of their foundation and start shaking wildly, causing another big scare in the film at the right moment when it needs to by causing a bloody miscarriage through it all. It's got one more creepy scene where they walk-through a neglected attic, injecting some really good atmosphere into the whole thing. The last good plus is the finale, which is where it reveals all the events in the past, including the possession that is required for it to be completed and results in a little bit of energy to end the film. These little moments all are all that work in this one.
The Bad News: There were some problems to this one that really hold it down. One of the biggest issues here is the fact that the film is just so slow-going that there's not a whole lot of action going on in here. This one tends to unravel everything at such a pace that there's nothing but one seemingly slow-moving scene after another, especially since the only time this one sinks down into a fast-moving plot is when the ghost action occurs, and since those are so short and sporadic in their appearance, it takes a long time to really get going. That those are in short supply to begin with manages to make the rest of the time even duller since its pacing is so languid that there's a lot of time in between the scenes, and all that does is make the scenes stick out even more. This one really could've used more to beef it up and make it seem like a more energetic, or even a slightly more dangerous film, which would make the scare-attempts last a little longer, giving them more muscle while also making the film a little quicker. The only other real flaw to this one is the fact that the relationship in here between the father and daughter is completely unrealistic and not at all realistic in a normal sense. The out-and-out anger and continuing belief to stay on the daughter's side, despite, especially later in the film when the evidence is a lot greater and more convincing than in the beginning, when the skepticism is a lot more natural, in the face of such evidence simply reeks of desperation for the audience and has no real natural connection in real-life. Most father's wouldn't be so blind to see such behavior without feeling something is wrong, and to continue to act in a way that isn't doesn't feel realistic or natural. These here are the film's problems.
The Final Verdict: While not the worst example of the genre, there's not a whole lot in here that can overcome the flaws present. Recommended for those that are fans of these kinds of films or find this one interesting, while those that like a little more weight to their films should heed extreme caution.
Rated PG-13: Language and Mild Violence