Blumhouse has another horror film coming out, and this one, titled Imaginary, has a cute lil’ teddy bear that is (obviously) infused with a malevolent presence. The latest trailer for the movie, in fact, is to dissuade its viewers from thinking that teddy bears are sweet and carousel nightlights are adorable. We also see a young girl—the owner of that nice little teddy bear—sufficiently traumatized by her stuffy.
According to writer-director Jeff Wadlow, that specific type of terror is intentional. “Not all imaginary friends are friendly… at least that’s what the characters at the heart of Imaginary are about to find out,” Wadlow said in a statement. “I love making films that play with the audience’s perception of what is real and what is not, so a horror movie that explores the frightening possibilities of imaginary friends was the perfect sandbox for me to play in.”
Here’s the official synopsis, which expands on what goes down in the film:
When Jessica (DeWanda Wise) moves back into her childhood home with her family, her youngest stepdaughter Alice (Pyper Braun) develops an eerie attachment to a stuffed bear named Chauncey she finds in the basement. Alice starts playing games with Chauncey that begin playful and become increasingly sinister. As Alice’s behavior becomes more and more concerning, Jessica intervenes only to realize Chauncey is much more than the stuffed toy bear she believed him to be.
Wadlow also promised that the movie is “filled with unexpected twists, big scares, and above all else, a ton of thrilling fun.” He added, “DeWanda, Pyper, and Taegen [Burns], the characters at the center of our story, are not only believable as a blended family but a blast to watch as the tale unfolds. I think audiences are going to love watching them go toe to toe with Chauncey, our evil little bear. I promise, you’ll never look at a Teddy the same way again.”
Imaginary premieres in theaters on March 8, 2024. Check out the trailer below, if you dare.
