If I ever become a psychologist, I've seen enough horror movies to know I'm never going to tell people to pursue their imagination.

I love John's design, how the spikes on his head are bullets from how he died.

I believe the ending is just Dan diving back into the real world to find a new friend. He was in the house because Luke killed himself and Dan, but then the guy who shot up the coffee shop died as well. So Dan would have had to have been at the house then as well. Then it's just a quick jump down into the real world and find a new friend. I think the movie's ending is terribly sad in that way. The cycle is never broken. Dan will always just find a new host, have his fun for as long as he can and move on.

I remember an old short story about this where a guy goes around the world to research and gain knowledge, there is this house of light that could give him everything he seeks but is to scared to enter, but his shadow isn’t. His shadow disappears for years and then comes back rich and worldly, offers to pay him to become his shadow and proceeds to enslave him, the shadow taking the primary seat while the original fades and becomes the shadow.

25:40 I'm actually pretty sure he re-enters the world as an imaginary friend, onto the next possible vessel.

I mean I figured it was clear he was real when Dan was reading over the girl's shoulder so he'd know what was written. An imaginary friend isn't going to give you actual powers or anything, so the only way he'd actually be able to recite the book accurately would be if Dan was real and actually reading.

That movie SCARRED ME. especially as a huge Dylan from The Quarry fan going into that. Just finished it 10 minutes ago. I will never see dylan the same again

I wished the movie had explored the therapist character more. The therapist stated that he didn't only believe in conventional medicine. If I'm not mistaken he was the one who brought the ancient artifact dagger to the house (not sure)? It's like the therapist knew about the history of this ancient evil being. Maybe this being is well known in other cultures? Great movie and great review.

You know what pisses me off. As soon as I saw the therapist, I knew he was going to "go alone" to a crazy person's house and gets killed.

Did anyone else get major Jacob’s Ladder vibes from the party scene with the flashing lights and creatures? I think it’s pretty deliberate considering Jacob from that movie is Miles Robbins’s dad :)

The small edit to the Hieronymus Bosch painting is a nice touch~

I believe that the end of the movie is a bit more straightforward than your hypothesis, FoundFlix. My guess is that Daniel diving into the abyss is most likely precisely how he enters the real world in the first place. He calls himself the abyss, so I do not imagine he would have ever been afraid of leaping into it. In my opinion, the dollhouse/castle is Daniel's lair and he bricked off the exits so his victims couldn't access the actual exit like he can. The abyss would be like an extension of Daniel himself, like a permeable membrane that houses his inner world, keeping him safe until he ventures out to try and find a host in the physical world. Just my thoughts, though. Goodness knows what's really going on!

Also, for those who are wondering, there is a BONUS ending, which you can find on KZfaq! In my interpretation, the bonus ending takes place right after the final shot of Daniel descending into the abyss. I will summarize it here! Cassie stands nearby as a dead Luke is carted away in the ambulance. She sobs, clearly broken by this encounter. Just as she looks up, Luke (Most likely Daniel) is standing there, saying “Cassie…. I’m here…” over and over and over again. She walks away, broken, as he remains, giving one last “I’m here…” before we cut to black. To me, this means Cassie is next to be picked to have Daniel as a “friend”, however, he’s using Luke’s face… 😱

This movie is a direct adaptation of a book called In This Way I Was Saved (later changed to Daniel Isn’t Real from the popularity of the movie) by Brian DeLeeuw. It’s told from the narrative of Daniel. Definitely a sad, horrible & at times depressing story. It made me cry but if you are a reader it’s worth it. The movie is good but the book is way better (most of the time they are lol).

This might be a bit of a stretch, but I think the monsters Luke would see in the flashing lights were the darkness inside of other people. His connection with Daniel as a kid allowed him to kinda see it in the flashing lights. Their horns weren't as big as Daniels, so those other people don't have issues. I think Daniel has just been leaping from person to person and getting stronger. The reason I think of this is because of what Daniel says when Luke visits his mom. "That's because you weren't doing it right" in response to how she felt in the past. I think that meant a bit more than that. Like the darkness should be allowed to take the lead so you can feel freer and once you allow it to take the lead it gains more power. That is my view on that whole part. I don't know if that's what the movie was going for.

I interpreted the ending differently than you did. My interpretation was that he was just starting the process over again and looking for another victim.

I think the ending is just the Entity diving back into our world to find a new host. It is evident that it cannot die--something cosmic in origin, judging by the appearance of the abyss. So when Luke threw himself off the roof he essentially destroyed a perfectly good vessel for the Entity, which includes his physical presence in our world. It explains his pissed look at the end that is Luke's face for a moment before switching back to his true face. He wastes no time jumping back into the abyss (crossing into our world) because he'll never stop until he gets to do his terrors. This implies that Cassie, being so close to Luke when he died, is his next potential victim--just like what happened when young Luke was at the crime scene where Josh (previous host) died.

Damn Daniel

I love this movie. Part psychological thriller, part supernatural possession story, part Bosch hellscape. I keep trying to get people to watch it and they're like, "But I don't want Shudder!"

I just noticed that John’s monster face is because of the shoot out with the cops. There not thorns, there bullets from where the cops shot him. That’s nuts

To any one who ever dealt with personality issues, subconscious battels and the likes, this shit rings deep! What a visceral, subtle and novel take on the old "Jiminy Cricket" concept! Loved it!

I’m so glad someone’s finally giving this movie attention. It’s truly one of my all-time favorites and I’m so disappointed at the lack of attention it got.

Damn Daniel back it again with .... Wait who's Daniel?

Definitely bully McGuire vibes for sure with the dancing

I always liked to evil imaginary friend dynamic because it's kinda like creator vs creation. Someone manifest a life into existence because they need help and use that life for help, but once they don't need help they cast it away for years until boom it comes back.

Jumping into the "abyss" is probably how it gets out there to latch onto a weak-willed and lonely kid or mentally disturbed person. Like fishing.

So basically it's fight club without the fighting part, college kids, and being self aware

I think the ending is an ironic twist. Since Dan is the one seeking lonely people, and "inspiring" them. Maybe in the end, Dan was the lonely one, and he was too afraid to make the leap into the abyss. So Luke ended up inspiring Dan to make the leap he didn't think was possible.

When Luke jumped into the abyss he didn't actually enter the real world, there was only one body on the ground when they fell. I think him jumping into the abyss at the end it's just him projecting back into the world until he can find another host to cling to.

This reminds me of the Tulpa creepypasta where a guy participates in a study where he has to practice creating an imaginary person, day by day the Tulpa gets more fleshed out and real until it takes over the guy and starts living his life aka killing his family or something, been like 10 years since I read the creepypasta.

I believe the ending is how he enters into our world in the first place to find his victims its a bleak ending for sure just started the process all over again i believe

your videos have opened a whole new world of movies for me!!! I dont have the attention span to sit through all of the movies I want to see and your reviews & explanations make me feel like ive seen them 🥹❤️. Thank you!

So Adam Egypt Mortimer said "What if Drop Dead Fred was actually an evil demon instead of a helpful being?"

The "I think you should leave" reference had me dying,bro. Love your vids!

This one actually reminded me quite a lot of the dynamic between Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold. Harris had contempt for creation itself, but he couldn't exert that wrath on his own. Yet, instead of finding someone who felt like he did, he found someone who was weakened by his contempt for _himself._ Harris then used Klebold's feeling that *_his_** life* was meaningless to show everyone else that *life* is meaningless.* Even more appropriate still that the barrier between worlds, the place Luke fell through, was an abyss. _“For when you gaze long into the abyss. The abyss gazes also into you.”_ Harris in particular was enamored by Nietzsche, though I think it’s obvious he didn’t understand him. _* Klebold was obviously guilty for his part, and I’m not attempting to take that culpability away. The catalyst, however, was Harris (Harris was homicidal, Klebold was suicidal). Since that’s the dynamic I see mapped on in the movie, I think that's the relevant point of focus._

When Luke jumps into the abyss, he still has to fight for his body. Then Daniel jumps to look for another body, right?

16:00 Lawl! This is basically how I woke up after being under to have my wisdom teeth removed. My very first emotion was anger and I ripped off the ice the nice assistant was trying to wrap around my face, said something about leaving me the hell alone, and angerly stalked out the back door as my mom threw apologies left and right. I have no idea why I reacted that way, I just woke up irrationally angry.

Love your channel makes long drives so much better keep it up man

Requested this one a long long time ago! So glad to see it getting some love :)

i really love this youtube channel it’s the only channel i watch every video for. i talk about it to my friends too

I think it's possible the writer thought that the door needed to be unlocked to let Daniel out of the castle

Or maybe jumping into the Abyss is how he restarts looking for a new “friend.”

great review . would be cool if you did a yellowjackets breakdown of the season/series so far. feel I missed some things thanks for the good content

Dude that part where he forces himself into him and cut him open that sounds so cool. And oh my god I love that style is so cute little suit

22:25 this painting is originally by Hironymous Bosch. The bird demon has been switched out for the "Daniel demon". 23:45 his deformation is due to the way in which he died in the film. Those aren't horns. Those are bullets.

It’s interesting that he takes a fall into the abyss to return, only to fall from a building. I think there is a fair argument that it was all in his head after all, and that final plunge into that cosmic abyss was him falling from the building, the rest being the last of his brain’s fantasy from DMT

I absolutely loved this film!! It can be interpreted as a metaphor for schizophrenia/DID and how it can be hereditary, but also an interdimensional/cosmic horror thriller. It deserves more recognition!! Also loved the use of practical effects. Have you watched The Novice? I found it pretty interesting. Also, just finished the first season of Yellowjackets. I think these are both a movie and series that you'd appreciate. I'd love your take on them!! Love your videos, as alwaysss

Keep up the good work!

I had a difficult childhood and due to loneliness I created a voice to guide me. It's interesting how we seem to ignore questioning how we think and what potential our imagination has. It seems we can have different variations in the way we think as some people don't even experience inner monologue, whereas I feel disconnected from these inner voices and believe them to be more akin to independent simulations created by my brain.

Lmao the I think you should leave reference is spot on 😂

Great video there dude!!!

Idky I thought you did this movie already and that this was a reupload or something, I remember watching this early pandemic times and really liking it.

Nothing dissociates you more than waking up, opening KZfaq, and seeing a video title that says you aren't real.

This looks good thanks man 😊

FINALLY! watched this in 2020 & was so upset it was underrated! thank you so so much

The actor who plays Luke is Miles Robbins who is going to be in a game called The Quarry which is made by the same people who made. Until Dawn

That title poster looks so very much like a VHS box graphic for an 80s horror film you'd have seen on the shelf in a video rental place.

I would love to see you explain The House (2022) because I think you would figure what the hell happened in that movie.

If Dan can just come into the real world in his true form but didn’t show it until the very end, it could be that Dan knew that such a thing would be far too easy and being as evil as he is, decided to have some sadistic fun in the process.

Thank you so much for the "I Think You Should Leave" reference.

i love your videos. it helps me so much as i have trouble following the story most times. you should review DRIVE THRU.

You do good summaries

Is it just me? Or does this movie look like a more darker version of Drop dead Fred?

Thanks alot shows that you listen to fans

Damn Daniel. Back at it again with the white vans!

I think maybe the ending is more like this is how Daniel is immortal and now he’s going to invite himself into someone else’s life. Since A. John said it happened to him when he died and B. Luke used to abyss as the connection to the real world

Good vid, thanks you!!

I wonder how the Spirit-otherwise-known-as-Daniel got into our world to begin with. I think the abyss is just a kind of gateway for the spirit to get into our world. He won't have a body when he gets here but we've seen how he crosses that bridge when he comes to it; inhabiting ppl's minds with the goal of eventually taking over the body.

Did he just say “that slicks back real nice “ like Tim Robinson in I Think You Should Leave

It could be that Daniel was also trapped in the Castle with the others and needed someone to take down the bricks behind the door to escape. John was trapped for a long time and never tried to get out, so Daniel had to move on to Luke. Once Luke opened the way to the outside Daniel was free to escape as well using the same path

"That slicks back reeeaaal nice!" Clean reference 😎

Maybe Dan didn't go to the real world, maybe he simply ended his life because he was mad and tired of having to make fake friends to the loners just for slow ass chance to take control when they sleep.

seems pretty cool, i might check this flick out

Would love to see an Ending Explained on The Mortuary Collection!!

Dude you got to do “The deep house.” That’s on Hulu. It’s story has a lot of holes but they way it’s filmed is absolutely amazing

Never heard of this but the title tells me it will be ✨weird✨

Who would win? ancient demon guy that posses people and takes control of their physical bodies or dollhouse

I think that when Daniel jumps into the abbess like Luke did, was Daniel jumping back to our realm into a new person, cycle starts again

I feel like him jumping off at the end was him starting over with someone else appearing imaginary Cause when Luke did it he appeared but I think that only Daniel could see him

No, Daniel at the end was just going back to earth to find another friend. Think ur wrong this ONE time but have to call it out brother!

21:18 the i think you should leave reference lol

I need more to these types of movies...like any research on real type situations that make this real...and books,comics,director details for behind the scenes thoughts like on alien theology youtube channel

That "I think you should leave" reference at 21:23 tho lmao

This 'Drop Dead Fred' remake is _DARK_ ...

Love your videos! Could you share which platform you found these movies on? Sometimes it's not mentioned and I want to find them if possible. Thanks ❤️

Apparently you forgot, that there was a closed door, until Luke created a key. Daniel could not take a stroll to the abyss, now he can.

PLEASE cover Archive 81- best show I have seen in a long time!!!

Finally watched this movie after its been on my freaking list on prime video for a long time lol..pretty good film. I kinda felt like I was watching Jacob's Ladder which of course it starred his Dad.

Daniel does have some fire fits tho

I kind of saw this as some errant void based entity- whether its a demon, a long dead ghost etc would help flesh out the metaphysics a bit better like what are its weaknesses and things.

I'd love to see your take on "My Heart Can't Beat Unless You Tell It To" from 2020

This movie is so damn good . Was very surprised !

Younger i didn't have imaginary friends, but simply imagination to play in my room I needed this to cope with my mom's bipolar disorder and depressing episodes....

11:50 Her painting looked like Jimmi Simpson😂😂

Thank you.👍

I think Luke found a way to break a hole in the house (barrier representation) and go back by jumping off giving Dan a different way out. I wonder with that other guy trapped and changing if dan was human at one point (or at least something other than he is now), got stuck or trapped there, and being there slowly twists you into something else.

I need to check this out

Happy to see the comments section is back 😃

Who would have known Arnold Schwarzenegger son would go into a horror movies an not action!

You Gotta Do *Archive 81*