Z (2019) - full transcript

A family find themselves terrorized by their eight-year-old son's imaginary friend.

Josh, come down and eat.

Fine.

Yo. Eat up, buddy.

- You do you're homework?

- Yep.

Of course he did.

He always does.

- Hey.

Okay, keys.

Keys.

Where are my keys?

- Seriously?

- What?

- You're ridiculous.

- See -- yeah.

I was testing you.

- Hmm.

- That was a test.

- Hmm.

- You failed.

- Aw!

And you -- thank you.

Okay.

I'm out. Knuckles.

Pound it.

Boom. Nice.

Thank you.

- 'Kay.

- Love you guys.

- Bye, Dad.

- Come on.

Hurry up.

They're gonna be here soon.

Hey.

Hey.

Hey, Daniel.

Hey, Josh.

Looks like you

finally gave in.

Yeah. Well, it keeps him quiet

on the drive, at least.

So are we still on for

girls' night next week?

Anything to get away

from this little monster.

Right? All right, hey.

You guys be good

at school.

- We know. Love you, Mom. Bye!

- All right, bye.

Good luck with that.

All right. Bye.

I saw some of you guys

were answering the questions

with numbers,

some had happy faces.

I like all the answers,

but how many muffins

are we gonna eat?

Okay, go ahead.

Hey. Sorry.

Shh.

Hear that?

Hold on.

What?

Here, uh,

you can move your guy.

Here.

I'll let you go first.

Okay.

Uh, then we set them

up in a line.

And you're like, four --

four, five, or six each.

Yeah, sure, but how many

do you want to put on first?

Six?

Yeah, sure. Here.

I'll have six, too.

I think Josh has

an imaginary friend.

Ah, that's cute.

I guess.

Okay, time for

your ni-nights.

Good night, Mom.

Good night, Dad.

And goodnight, Matchie.

Mm. Anybody else?

Goodnight, Chewie!

Mm-hmm.

Okay, give me a kiss.

- Goodnight, Mom.

- Love you.

You want it open or shut?

- Open.

- Okay. Night.

Bye, Mom!

Bye, honey.

- Good morning.

- Seatbelts?

- Yep.

- Okay.

Thank you.

Shit.

Hey, Mom.

How you feeling?

Where's your sister?

Uh, yeah, she should

be here soon.

Can I get you anything?

I saw your father.

He looked just the same.

He hadn't aged a day.

I could smell his cologne.

Ah.

Is that for

your new friend?

I don't think

we've formally met, Josh.

What's your new friend's

name?

Are you gonna tell us?

He doesn't want me to.

- Oh.

- Okay.

Hmm.

They want to know your name.

Okay. Yeah.

Okay, sounds good.

"Z"?

Yep.

Nice to meet you, Z.

He says,

"Nice to meet you, too."

Oh, wow.

He's very polite.

Mom, no! The floor's hot lava!

Stop, stop, stop!

The floor is hot lava.

Only step on the rocks.

Yeah, okay, good.

Come on.

Let's go.

It's time for bed.

No, no! You're melting!

You're melting!

Aaaaah!

No! No!

Come on.

It's time to brush your teeth.

Let's go.

Come on, Z, let's go.

Okay.

Make one more move.

Just come on.

Oh! Oh. Whoa, whoa.

This floor is hot.

So, now -- ha!

You're stuck, Z!

Okay, Josh,

come on now.

Fine.

Good night, Mom.

Good night, Dad.

Good night, Matchie.

Good night, Chewie.

Mm, sweetie, you sure you still

want to say good night to him?

Just because he died

doesn't mean he can't hear me.

Okay.

All right.

Love you.Love you, too.

Wait.

Close it.

Are you sure?

Yeah.

Z likes it dark.

So, what are we gonna

do about this?

About what?

What do you think?

What, his creepy

imaginary friend?

I don't know.

He'll grow out of it,

I guess.

Yeah.

Yeah, probably.

Did Daniel say anything?

That they weren't gonna

come today?

Josh, did Daniel

say anything?

All right,

have a good day.

Love you.

Hello?

This is.

This is never

an easy conversation to have.

I just don't understand.

Suspended indefinitely?

Listen, Josh is one

of my favorite students.

Well, what did he do

exactly?

I don't even know

where to start.

Um, the language is

unacceptable,

and now he's started

hitting his classmates.

What? Hitting?

This was all detailed in the

red cards I sent home with him.

W-What red cards?

This is your husband's signature

isn't it?

Sorry, Beth.

Until Josh can behave

in a classroom setting,

I -- I just don't see

any other options.

"Josh left class

without permission

and refused to come back

when asked."

"Josh was caught harassing

other students,

both verbally

andphysically."

"Josh has been using

vulgar language repeatedly,

was asked to stop

but continued."

Sh-- shall I keep going?

Okay.

I'm sorry.

It's just, kids get

into trouble sometimes.

It's what they do.

Well, our kid just got

suspended, Kevin,

so great job.

That's good parenting.

And he refuses to take

responsibility for any of it.

He blames all of it

on his new best friend.

Okay.

So what do you want to do?

Having an imaginary friend

can come from

several things --

boredom, loneliness,

a need to establish boundaries,

and sometimes means

acting out.

So, does he need to be

on something?

Beth.

Jesus. Were not

medicating our kid.

No, I don't think

that's necessary.

A lot of children develop

imaginary friends,

and oftentimes it can be

a positive experience.

So, is there anything we can do

to help him be less...

you know, destructive?

Well, you could try playing

with him more at home.

You could be there for him

like his friend is,

help him see that

it's all right

to be himself

around real people.

Okay.

So, that's it?

I think so.

I think he's a perfectly normal

8-year-old boy.

Okay.

Nice to see you again,

Beth,

although I wish it was

under better circumstances.

- Oh. Yeah.

- Josh, let's go.

Come on, Z.

Z?

Yeah, that's what

he calls it.

Listen,

thanks for everything.Uh, yeah.

We'll follow up

in a couple days.

- Of course.

- Okay.

- Thank you very much.

- Thank you.

Okay. Hey, Josh.

You know, you really gotta

go see Mom.

She's --

she's looking rough.

She keeps asking

about you.

I know. I know.

It's just, I can't see her

like that.

It actually makes me

feel sorry for her.

I don't think

that's possible.

What has she been saying?

She talks about Dad a lot.

He's having fun.

Wish I had a friend

like that.

Ah, just make one up.

That's what he did.

Hm.

Kevin.

Josh?

Josh.

Hi, Mommy.

Z doesn't want crust

on his sandwich.

Okay, honey.

Can you just give me that -- No!

I have to finish.

He's hungry.

Okay, why don't you

just give me the knife?

Careful now.

Good boy.

I'll tell you what -- we will

finish this in the morning.

Okay? Right now,

let's just go back to bed.

- Thanks.

Is this for me?

Ah.

So, what are you two

getting up to today?

- We're going to Play Zone!

Hey, you show your mom

a good time, little dude.

And you, remember --

just be the friend

he needs.

All right, I gotta run.

I love you guys.

Knuckles.

All right.

Yeah! Yeah!

Oh!

I'm gonna get you!

- Whoo!

Ha, ha, ha!

I won!

You lo-o-o-o-ost!

Now, come on.

Let's go on the big slide.

Big slide, big slide.

- No. No.

- Yes!

- I don't like the big slide.

- Yes, yes!

Oh.

Oh, my God.

Hey, Mom, look at me!

Come on.

Come play.

- Josh?

- Help me!

Josh!

Ah! Josh!

Okay, okay.

Josh!

Ha, ha, ha!

I got you! I got you!

I got you!

Oh, my God! You should have seen

the look on your face!

It was classic.

Mom!

Yeah.

Can you get me and Z

some milk?

Sure.

Oh, hey.

How was Play Zone?

It was awesome. Yeah?

But she was waytoo scared

to go on the big slide.

Every time.

Wait!

Grab the 2 %.

Let me tell you a secret.

You tell her you're going

on the small slide.

You sneak around

to the big line-up.

She never has a clue.

Hey, you think Z

would mind

if I have a piece

of his garlic toast?

Thanks, Z!

Ugh.

Kevin, don't, please,

talk to it

like it's real.

Give me your glass.

Thank you.Here you go, bud.

Hey.

Hey.

What's on your mind?

Is it a certain letter,

perhaps the last one?

Something happened.

What do you mean?

So, Josh was playing

at Play Zone and, uh...

It was like for a second...

...I -- I saw --

I saw it.

I -- I saw Z.

God, I wasn't gonna

say anything.

But a couple nights ago

when I was heading up to bed,

I swear I saw something standing

in the corner watching me.

You know, at first

I second-guessed it.

I -- I closed my eyes,

and I told myself

it wasn't there.

But it was, Beth.

Something was there.

Really?

No, it was my jacket.

Z isn't real.

Grow up.

Thanks.

Look, it's our kid's

imaginary friend.

Oh, Jesus Christ.

Cheer up.

Okay.

Uh, I like baseball.

Mm-hmm.

Mostly center field.

Oh, yeah,

that's for sure.

Ah, there's a crazy tiger!

Yeah, or is this a leopard

or cheetah?

What does

she look like?

Eh, the same,

just deader.

Oh, shit.

You should go up there.

Dead bodies

freak me out.

Yeah.

She's our mom.

Yeah.

Z.

Z.

Z.

Z.

Z.

Hmm.

Hey.

I couldn't do it.

Let's go.

Hey, Anne, it's Beth,

Josh's mom.

Yeah, hey, listen,

I -- I just was wondering

if maybe Josh could have a play

date with Thomas this afternoon?

Oh, okay.

Yeah.

No, we can -- we can

just do it another time.

All right, thanks.

Hey, yeah.

I -- I just --

I haven't seen you guys since --

since Brittany's birthday,

and, uh, I just thought

maybe Josh could come over

and have a play date with her.

Hi. It's Josh's mom.

Listen, I was --

Wow.

Hello?

So, how is everything?

I feel like I haven't

seen you in forever.

I'm sure you heard

Josh got suspended.

Where's Daniel?

Uh, he's upstairs,

but I think he might be

taking a nap, and --

It's like my son's

one of those children

of the cornfield

or whatever.

Of course not.

I'm sorry about...

you know.

Ghosting me?

Yeah, that.

He's a good kid,

you know?

He's just got a really --

I don't know,

a vivid imagination

right now.

It wasn't just my choice.

Daniel was

really freaked out.

He said Josh was talking

about hurting animals.

What? No.

He would never do that.

All I know is that Daniel

was coming home crying,

and I need to

protect my son.

- Daniel!

- Aaaaah!

- Oh, my God.

Oh, my God!

- Oh, my God, Daniel!

Call 911!

Daniel! Daniel!

Ah!

I am so sorry.

I don't even know

what to say.

Just stop it!

Just go away!

I never want to

see you again!

It's okay, baby.

Mommy's right here.

Oh, hi, Mommy.

Wanna play?

Hi, baby.

Yeah, you just -- you let us

know if you need anything.

Okay, yeah, and --

and we're s--

I -- all right, bye.

Jesus.

How is he?

I don't even know

where to start.

It's not good.

What do we do?

Josh!

Honey, come and eat!

Josh.

I've been downstairs

calling you.

Josh.

Joshua,

I am speaking to y--

Do you like it?

It's Z.

Um...

I would like you to come down

for lunch, please.

Okay.

Come on. Eat up.

I'm not hungry.

Well, if you're not gonna eat,

at least drink your milk.

Make you big and strong,

just like Z.

Z says I shouldn't.

Really?

Okay, here we go.

I'm gonna drink some.

See?

It's good, huh?

Want some carrots?

Why don't we just hire

some movers to do this?

I don't know.

You want to pay for it?

Good point.

Hey, what's up

with Josh today?

Uh, I don't know.

I guess he's --

he's just a little off.

♪ New friends

along the way♪

♪ We love to sing

and we love to play♪

Oh, no way!

Nice.

Oh, my God.

Wow.

Oh. Oh, wow.

Here, let's get

a shot of that.

For when you find

your Princess Charming.

I should just douse this place

in gasoline.

I'm sure insurance would have

to be worth something.

Like 10 bucks.

Seriously.

God.

Whoa.

She kept

allof this stuff?

Yeah, tucked away

in her basement

along with all the rest

of her forgotten shit.

You were cute, though.

Mm.

What happened to you?

Mm.

What did you inherit

when your mother died?

Oh, a giant bag of badges

from the 1970s.

Josh?

Josh?

Hey, you shouldn't be

in this room.

Come on.

We're all done packing.

Josh.

Hey, come on.

What's going on

with you?

I don't want you coming

in this room anymore.

Come on, Jenna.

Yeah!

- Oh, that's --

♪ To you♪

Ahhh!

You want

to blow this out?

- No, I'll wait.

- Where's Beth?

- She's up there?

Elizabeth.

Beth,

what are you doing?

Let's go.

Beth!

Okay.

Come on, Z.

Ooh!

There you go!

Come on, Z.

Let's go.

Beth!

Come on, Z.

Come on, Z.

Oh, this is going to

take a few coats.

Shit is dark.

At least he's not playing

with this thing anymore.

Yeah.

Josh, come and eat!

Hey.

You okay?

I don't feel good.

Oh.

Ah, you know what?

Don't -- don't drink that.

Here.

Oh, baby,

you're burning up.

Kevin, can you bring me

the thermometer please?

Josh?

Are you okay?

Oh!

You know what?

That's it, that's it.

Get it out.

Josh:

It's okay, buddy,

get it out.

You're all right.

Well, do you know when he'll be

out of his appointment?

Well, he wrote my kid

a prescription,

and now he's having a reaction.

He's vomiting.

Well, I -- I don't know.

Do we put him on

something different?

You put our son on medication

and didn't tell me?

You're not here, Kevin.

You're not seeing

what I'm seeing.

You don't understand

how bad it is.

He threw a kid

off a fucking balcony.

You don't know that,

Beth!

He said he didn't do it.

Bullshit! Give me the pills.

No.

Give me the pills.

Kevin. Don't.

No! Ugh!

Like you don't keep things

from me, Kevin?

How about the red card?

Huh? How about those?

You don't think it would be nice

to know about those

before everybody

in the school

decided that we were

terrible parents?

Thisis not about us!

This is about him.

They were helping, Kevin.

♪ Sleepy time

Sleepy time ♪

♪ Now it is

your sleepy time ♪

♪ And go to sleep ♪

Z.

Z.

Z.

Z.

Z.

Beth.

Z.

Z.

Z.

I, M, A, G, I, N, E, Z.

"Imagine Z."

"Imagine Z."

"Imagine Z."

"Imagine Z."

"Imagine Z."

"Imagine Z."

"Imagine Z."

Beth!

It's okay.

I --

What happened, Beth?

What happened in there?

Z is real Kevin.

He -- he's re-- real.

Beth, what you're saying,

its --

I know.

I know how it sounds.

You just --

you have to trust me.

He -- he was

my friend, too.

Okay. Okay.

Okay.

Jenna.

Beth, I --

Jesus. What are --

what are you doing here?

Are you okay?

Are you all right?

I didn't...

get to see her.

I just, uh --

I, uh -- I messed up.

No.

No, you didn't.

It's okay.

Mm.

It's okay.

Okay, no, no.

Okay.

Mm.

Come on. It's okay.

We'll sort it out.

She's our mom.

She's all we had.

We still have each other,

huh?

Ah. I --

I just need to --

to lie down.

I just need to lie down.

Okay.

Ah.

It's time

for your ni-nights.

I don't want to do 'em.

Why not?

I don't feel like it.

Honey, what's wrong?

You saw Z, didn't you?

What do you mean?

He saw you, too.

Hello? Dr. Seager?

Um, I'm sorry to call so late.

It -- it's Beth.

No, no, it's fine.

Is everything all right?

I ju-- actually,

just was wondering

if maybe I could schedule,

um, an appointment?

Is everything's okay

with Josh?

Um, it's not for Josh.

Mm. It's for me.

It's happening again,

isn't it?

Same thing that happened

when you were a child.

When I heard your son

say the name Z,

I realized

I'd heard it before.

What is this?

You were a patient

of mine, Beth.

Your father brought you to me

when you were Josh's age.

He begged me to help you.

He was terrified.

Your friend was unlike anything

I'd ever encountered.

He was... dangerous,

destructive, obsessive.

Of course, when he stopped

bringing you in,

I -- I thought

you'd outgrown it.

I had no idea

what had transpired.

I want to

show you something.

Hello, Elizabeth.

Hi.

Hello, Z.

So, Beth, your dad told me that

you didn't love him anymore.

Why would you say

such a thing?

Because it's true.

Your dad said that you're

refusing to go to school.

Z says I don't need school.

He says he'll take care of me.

What happens

when you outgrow Z?

Every child outgrows their

imaginary friend, you know.

Z says when I'm older,

he'll find me,

and we'll get married,

and we'll have lots of babies.

It's been waiting

for you, Beth,

and I think

it's using your son

to try to reconnect

with you.

But it wants only you.

Oh, come on, come on.

Just pick up, please.

Hey, this is Kevin Parsons

I'm not avai--

Oh, shit.

Kevin, please.

Please pick up.

Hey, this is Kevin Parsons

I'm not available...

Agh! ...to take your call

right now.

Hi, buddy.

I love you.

Come on.

Get out of the way!

Oh, Josh.

Z.

Z.

Z.

Z.

Kevin!

Josh!

Kevin.

Mommy!

I'm scared!

Josh!

Josh!

Aah!

Josh!

Let him out, please!

Ah! Ah! Ah!

Please!

I'll be yours.

Please don't take my baby.

Z, I'll be yours, okay?

Please.

Please just let him out.

Please.

Ah! Ah!

Ah! Josh!

- Mommy?

- Josh!

- Mommy.

- It's okay.

Okay.

Okay, baby.

Mommy.

You don't want me to be taking

care of Josh right now, Beth,

trust me.I don't have any choice.

You're all I have left.

He's not safe with me.

He won't be safe

with me, either.

It's not forever, okay?

It's just until

I figure some things out.

Take this,

and you

clean yourself up.

If not for me,

then for him.

Okay?

All right.

Just...

imagine Z.

Imagine Z.

Imagine Z.

Imagine Z.

Imagine Z.

Imagine Z.

Three... two...

one.

One...

two...

three.

Ready or not,

I'll find you, Z.

I'm gonna find you.

I found you.

I forgot 2 %.

I'm sorry.

I forgot...

I know.

2 %.

Beth?

I know you're in there.

I spoke to your sister.

She told me

what happened.

Dr. Seager.

Are you okay?

Yeah.

Yeah, I'm fine.

I heard about Kevin.

I'm so sorry.

Is someone in here

with you?

No.

Can I come in?

I don't -- I don't think that

that would be a good idea.

Please.

Beth...

I think I can help you.

Oh! Whoa! Whoa!

Whoa!

Is Josh here?

Uh, no,

he's at my sister's.

Uh, maybe we could...

sit in the living room.

He's here with you,

isn't he, Beth?

I don't know what

you're talking about.

Is this what you want?

To be with him?

I -- I think

you should go, please.

Please.

Listen to me.

You created this thing.

It's all in your head.

This is not real.

This is not real.

No!

Stop, please.

Please stop!

Please! Stop!

I'll be right out.

Okay?

I'll be right out.

What do you want for breakfast?

Z, I can't find you.

Do we have to

play this game tonight?

It's so late.

Ah! Ah.

I now pronounce you

husband and wife.

The floor... is lava!

And you can't step

in the lava...

or else you'll get burnt.

Come on, Z.

Ha!

You're stuck, Z!

- Hello?

- Jenna.

Beth? Oh, my God.

Why aren't you

answering your texts?

I know. Listen, I don't have

a lot of time to talk, okay?

I'm on my way up!

I can find you.

Can you put Josh on the line

for me, please?

Mom?

Hey! Hi, Josh.

How are you, baby?

I miss you.

Listen, I'm gonna see you

really soon, okay?

You tell Aunty Jenna

that I will call her

as soon as I can.

You stole my friend!

Josh?

Oh, shit.

Z?

Hello? Beth: Jenna.

I need you to get Josh

out of there right now.

Whoa. Slow down. Are you with him

right now?

Do you see him? Yeah, he's fine.

I'm looking right at him

right now.

Okay, listen, I want you

to put him in the car

and just get as far away

as you can.We're fine.

It's just, how much longer do

you need me to keep him for?

Ugh! You're not

listening to me. Please!

I want you to just get Josh

out of there right now.

It's not safe.He's fine, Beth,

I promise.

Josh?

What you mean he's gone?

You said he was right there.

Beth, I know.

Just -- Josh?

Just give me a second.

What do you mean

give you a second?

Where is he? Josh.

Oh, shit.

Answer me.

Where is Josh?

I have no idea.

He was just

sitting right there,

and he just disappeared.

Just give me a second.

Please, I need you to

tell me you see him.

Oh! Where is he?

Josh!

Jenna, please talk to me!

Where is my son?!

Ma'am, open the door.

We're here

to help you, Beth.

Jenna?

Jenna, are you there,

please?

Josh!

Jenna, please tell me

you're there.

I'm looking, okay?

Just give me a second.

Jenna, please.

Come on, Z.

Choo-choo-choo!

Chugga-chugga-chugga-chugga-

chugga-chugga-chugga...

Choo-choo!

Chugga-chugga-chugga-chugga-

chugga-chugga-chugga...

Choo-choo!

Chugga-chugga-

chugga-chugga-choo.

Josh!

Josh!

Chugga-chugga-chugga

choo-choo!

Chugga-chugga-

chugga-chugga...

Josh!

Jenna, tell me

you have him, please.

Is Z in there with you,

Beth?

He has my son!

Remember...

this is all

in your mind, Beth.

No, I don't know.

This thing -- you got to get it

out of your head.

You created it.

Only you can stop it.

Only you can stop it.

I can stop it.

Josh!

I got him.

I got him, Beth.

He's okay.

Oh, Josh is okay.

He's okay.

Mommy?

All right.

Here we go.

Good.

Okay, Josh.

Try to get some sleep.

Can I do

the ni-nights?

Not tonight.

We'll do them

tomorrow.

Good night, Mom.

Good night, Dad.

Good night, Aunty Jenna.

Good night, Matchie.

Goodnight, Z.