With a seemingly infinite amount of entertainment at my fingertips, I’ve been watching a lot of really weird stuff lately. The stranger the better. And thanks to the addition of a monthly subscription to Shudder, there’s plenty to go around. Daniel Isn’t Real blends very real trauma, adult-onset schizophrenia, and classic mythology into an often disturbing tale of young man’s torment.
Based on the novel, “In This Way I Saved You” by Brian DeLeeuw, a young boy finds an imaginary friend to help him cope after experiencing a traumatic childhood event. As a young man in college, Luke returns to his childhood home and rediscovers his friend Daniel to help him with the new stressors in his adult life. However, as that relationship is rekindled, it leads Luke down a dark and dangerous path.
DeLeeuw co-wrote the screenplay with director Adam Egypt Mortimer so the spirit of the source material remains intact. The story investigates the effects of trauma, how we cope with it, hereditary mental illness, and the concept of self-identity while adding its own mythology into the mix. While the low budget is noticeable, that’s some pretty heady territory for a horror film and the ideas hold up pretty well. Even with some of the limitations in place, the movie still has style thanks in large part to the design of the main character.
Luke’s journey is easy enough to get on board with but, due to the nature of his situation, it’s binary. Eternally handcuffed to Daniel’s story, the two dance around one another in a chaotic and parasitic relationship. In an often emotional performance, Miles Robbins plays Luke in the lead role and walks a thin line, navigating hereditary mental illness from his mother (played by Mary Stuart Masterson). It’s a delicate portrayal that works well to cultivate sympathy.
However, it’s Patrick Schwarzenegger who steals the show as Daniel. Clearly a blend of Tyler Durden and Patrick Bateman, he mixed plenty of style with lethal ambition. It’s one of those characters you just love to hate and Schwarzenegger did a great job embodying both malice and style. I’m sure the last name is going to open a lot of doors for him but he did a great job as the charismatic psychopath.
While it may not ultimately be the kind of film that develops a cult following over time, it’s a haunting film in many ways that convey many different levels of regret, sadness, and horror.
Recommendation: If you enjoy horror films, this definitely has some strong fear elements in play grounded in psychological trauma. Don’t expect a masterpiece but there’s more than enough to creep you out.