I feel like I say this all the time: finding new, fun, inventive horror movies with great endings is really difficult to come by these days. However, writer/director Jacob Chase is here to prove it still can be done with his film, Come Play. Based on Chase’s short film, Larry, Come Play gives us a new, exciting twist on horror that I haven’t seen since Hush.
Come Play stars Gillian Jacobs (Community), John Gallager Jr (Westworld), and newcomer Azhy Robertson (Marriage Story) as Oliver; a non-verbal child who is on the autism spectrum. Inspired by his wife’s work with children on the autism spectrum, Chase takes technology used for Oliver’s communication and turns it into a living nightmare.
Oliver is constantly bullied by his classmates and desperate for a friend. While reading a creepy children’s bedtime story, Oliver meets Larry – a terrifying creature who will live in my nightmares. Larry’s MO is to lure sad, lonely children with the promise of friendship in order to take them back to his world forever. In this case, by using Oliver’s communication devices against him, Larry’s plan is in full swing. Oliver tries to convince his parents that someone, no – some “thing” is after him, but like typical adults they don’t believe their child until it’s too late to stop him.
An Original Concept In Horror With Come Play
I can honestly say this is the first time in a long time that I loved a horror movie. Come Play was fun, exciting, and original. The pacing was fantastic, the film hits the ground running and doesn’t slow down. The use of Oliver’s communication devices could seem like something you may have seen before. But Jacob Chase figures out a way to add new and exciting ways to build tension and terrify his audience.
The acting is superb. I was absolutely blown away by Azhy Robertson’s portrayal of Oliver. I believed him every second he was on screen to the point where I googled him to confirm whether or not he was non-verbal and on the autism spectrum.
Come Play is scheduled to be released on October 30, 2020. Get your popcorn ready, curl up on the couch, and get ready to meet Larry.
So, are you excited for Come Play?
