Daniela Forever (2025) - Film Review

      Daniela Forever, 2025.

      Written and Directed by Nacho Vigalondo.

      Starring Henry Golding, Beatrice Grannò, Aura Garrido, Rubén Ochandiano, Nathalie Poza, Pilar Bergés, Godeliv Van den Brandt, Frank Feys, and Rocío Saiz.

      SYNOPSIS:

      The film centers on a man who participates in a sleep trial that enables him to reconstruct his life with his deceased girlfriend through lucid dreaming. Writer/director Nacho Vigalondo is somewhat of a less recognized filmmaker, as his latest high-concept sci-fi, Daniela Forever, is being released in some theaters this weekend with minimal promotion, which is surprising considering he previously directed Colossal, starring Anne Hathaway, about alcoholism intertwined with kaiju elements. In this case, the theme of alcoholism is replaced with grief, as Henry Golding’s character, Nicolas, struggles to cope after a tragic accident that claimed the life of his girlfriend, Daniela (Beatrice Grannò).

      Nicolas’s grieving takes a peculiar and unhealthy turn when he enrolls in a clinical trial for a sleeping medication that induces lucid dreaming. Rather than adhere to the guidelines of exploring his subconscious and reporting the findings, he seizes the opportunity to frequently reconnect with Daniela. Consequently, he dreams so often (potentially misusing the medication) that one begins to wonder if he will eventually lose connection to reality and not wish to awaken.

      As expected, Daniela Forever reveals surprises regarding the true nature of the relationship, including the introduction of Aura Garrido’s Teresa, a woman with a complex history with Daniela who attended her funeral. Throughout the dream sequences (notably enhancing the photograph aspect ratio of the real world to full-screen, perhaps signifying that without Daniela, Nicolas' world feels confined, emptier, and less vibrant), rules are gradually established concerning their interactions, their knowledge, and the sci-fi abilities that manifest. Nicolas gains a newfound control within the relationship, able to manipulate Daniela as if she were a VHS tape, erasing memories or rewinding and fast-forwarding her with simple voice commands. Sometimes he employs this ability in jest and harmlessly; other times, it seems to reflect his avoidance of the reality that their relationship was not without issues.

      The film also follows recognizable lucid dream logic, with Nicolas capable of bending reality to his will during these sequences, whether unlocking doors using his mind or changing settings to places like the club where they met. The only limit is that he can only explore environments already embedded in his real-world memory. Anything outside of that is portrayed as a viscous substance that will vanish once he reveals it back in reality. There are also quirky moments, such as wearing amusing Halloween costumes (for reasons that won’t be disclosed, though they are charming and later take on a more empowering tone), blending generic elements with hilariously imaginative ones. It remains noteworthy that Nacho Vigalondo’s films are remarkably convincing, even in terms of special effects, despite their presumably limited budgets.

      While Daniela Forever is undeniably creative—blending elements from Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, The Adjustment Bureau, and Inception into a narrative that is distinctly Vigalondo—it unfortunately shows less interest in exploring some of the darker implications of the sci-fi themes and the experience of losing oneself to a dream world. Instead, it focuses on continuing the relationship, revealing insights that challenge everything Nicolas believes about it. Consequently, it suffers from a sluggish pace and concludes on an anticlimactic note.

      Despite this, Daniela Forever possesses a captivating allure and understated beauty, treating its limbo-like dream world as both eerie and enchanting. Nacho Vigalondo has skillfully paired leads with palpable chemistry and a keen mind to explore his sci-fi concept. The film is effective overall, even if it begins to feel like it might extend indefinitely at times.

      Flickering Myth Rating – Film: ★ ★ ★ / Movie: ★ ★ ★

      Robert Kojder