Imaginary
When Jessica moves back into her childhood home with her family, her youngest stepdaughter Alice 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.
Despite its tight budget of $13.0M, Imaginary became a box office success, earning $43.8M worldwide—a 237% return. The film's unconventional structure attracted moviegoers, showing that strong storytelling can transcend budget limitations.
Plot Structure
Story beats plotted across runtime
Narrative Arc
Emotional journey through the story's key moments
Story Circle
Blueprint 15-beat structure
Arcplot Score Breakdown
Weighted: Precision (70%) + Arc (15%) + Theme (15%)
Imaginary (2024) exhibits strategically placed narrative design, characteristic of Jeff Wadlow's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 13-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 44 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.4, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Jessica returns to her childhood home with her new family, attempting to build a life as a stepmom. The house represents a fresh start but also unresolved past trauma.. Significantly, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 13 minutes when Alice becomes obsessively attached to Chauncey the bear, claiming he wants to play increasingly disturbing games. Her behavior shifts from normal to concerning as the imaginary friend takes hold.. At 13% through the film, this Disruption is delayed, allowing extended setup of the story world. This beat shifts the emotional landscape, launching the protagonist into the central conflict.
The First Threshold at 26 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 25% of the runtime. This indicates the protagonist's commitment to After Alice is injured during one of Chauncey's "games," Jessica decides she must actively investigate the bear and the supernatural forces at work. She commits to protecting Alice no matter what., moving from reaction to action.
At 53 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 51% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Notably, this crucial beat Jessica discovers the horrible truth: she created Chauncey as a child and he has been waiting for her return. Alice is just bait. The entity wants Jessica back, raising the stakes from protecting Alice to confronting her own past., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 78 minutes (75% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Alice is fully taken into the Never Ever realm, seemingly lost forever. Gloria sacrifices herself trying to help, dying in the process. Jessica is left alone, having failed to save either of them., shows the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Synthesis at 83 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 80% of the runtime. Jessica battles Chauncey in the Never Ever realm, using her adult understanding combined with childhood imagination. She rescues Alice and destroys the bear by accepting and then severing her connection to the entity., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Imaginary's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 13 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs structural analysis methodology used to understand storytelling architecture. By mapping Imaginary against these established plot points, we can identify how Jeff Wadlow utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Imaginary within the horror genre.
Jeff Wadlow's Structural Approach
Among the 6 Jeff Wadlow films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.3, reflecting strong command of classical structure. Imaginary represents one of the director's most structurally precise works. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Jeff Wadlow filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional horror films include Lake Placid, A Nightmare on Elm Street and Cat's Eye. For more Jeff Wadlow analyses, see Fantasy Island, Never Back Down and Kick-Ass 2.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Jessica returns to her childhood home with her new family, attempting to build a life as a stepmom. The house represents a fresh start but also unresolved past trauma.
Theme
A character mentions that sometimes what we imagine can become real if we believe in it enough, establishing the theme of how trauma and imagination intertwine, especially in children.
Worldbuilding
Jessica settles into the old house with stepdaughters Alice and Taylor. We learn about family dynamics, Jessica's strained relationship with the girls, and discover the dusty basement where Alice finds Chauncey, a tattered teddy bear.
Disruption
Alice becomes obsessively attached to Chauncey the bear, claiming he wants to play increasingly disturbing games. Her behavior shifts from normal to concerning as the imaginary friend takes hold.
Resistance
Jessica tries to rationalize Alice's behavior as normal childhood imagination while strange events escalate. She consults with her husband and researches, debating whether to intervene or let it pass naturally.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
After Alice is injured during one of Chauncey's "games," Jessica decides she must actively investigate the bear and the supernatural forces at work. She commits to protecting Alice no matter what.
Mirror World
Jessica encounters Gloria, her father's former caretaker, who reveals she also had experiences with Chauncey as a child. This relationship mirrors Jessica's own forgotten childhood trauma with the bear.
Premise
Jessica explores the supernatural rules of Chauncey's world—the Never Ever realm where imagination becomes deadly reality. She uncovers her own repressed memories while trying to save Alice from the same fate.
Midpoint
Jessica discovers the horrible truth: she created Chauncey as a child and he has been waiting for her return. Alice is just bait. The entity wants Jessica back, raising the stakes from protecting Alice to confronting her own past.
Opposition
Chauncey's power grows stronger as Jessica's memories return. Alice is pulled deeper into the Never Ever realm. Jessica's attempts to fight back fail as the entity uses her own childhood trauma and imagination against her.
Collapse
Alice is fully taken into the Never Ever realm, seemingly lost forever. Gloria sacrifices herself trying to help, dying in the process. Jessica is left alone, having failed to save either of them.
Crisis
Jessica confronts her deepest fear—that her own imagination and unresolved trauma created this monster. She must accept responsibility for Chauncey's existence and her role in endangering Alice.
Act III
ResolutionSynthesis
Jessica battles Chauncey in the Never Ever realm, using her adult understanding combined with childhood imagination. She rescues Alice and destroys the bear by accepting and then severing her connection to the entity.