Come play

We still remember with special attention many horror and science fiction films that made us want to relive strong moments in cinema or video. Whether it be Steven Spielberg's timeless masterpiece E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial (1982) or films that perfectly mix fantasy and horror such as Poltergeist (1982), The Amityville Horror (1980). These films have left their mark on our memories as much for their originality and their treatment as for their willingness to stage masterful scenarios and to put an American family at the center of the narrative when faced with supernatural or fantastic events.

In his short film Larry, a guard in an open-air parking lot after discovering a tablet in the lost objects and starting to read a graphic tale about a horrific creature found himself face to face with it in the real world. This creature could only be seen through augmented reality. The basics of his first film Come Play were already there and this very successful short film skillfully played on the viewer's fear and perfectly controlled effects. It remained to find out how to properly develop the idea of the Larry monster in a film and above all to succeed in diffusing the same fear throughout the length of the feature film.

The trailer of the very tinged 80's film had caught our attention and could announce a real event film for all the horror movie lovers who grew up with the above-mentioned films. By starring a young autistic child who can only express himself through his phone or tablet and by confronting his parents to a supernatural and dangerous force, Come play had found the right approach to really immerse us in this story but above all to really frighten us. There are many horrific scenes that really startle you here and the script doesn't neglect at any time the psychology of the characters nor the numerous special effects that are very effective.

We discover Oliver, a lonely young boy with non-verbal autism who feels different from the others. Desperate for the absence of a true friend, he seeks comfort in his ever-present cell phone and tablet and discovers an application featuring a creature named Larry. When this creature uses Oliver's devices against him to enter our world, Oliver's parents (Gillian Jacobs and John Gallagher Jr.) must fight not only to save their son from the monster but also try to understand the origin of this evil. Come play not only pays homage to the classics of the 80s but also shows the dangers that can emanate from new technologies such as cutting themselves off from the real world and the loneliness that can result. Larry is not only an ordinary monster, he is also the sum of all the fears of being alone.

Director and screenwriter Jacob Chase's first film is a true storyteller's gift for immersing viewers in a story worthy of the best ghost train-like roller coasters. In the same way, the director does not hesitate to slip in a few obvious winks to E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial (1982) and Poltergeist (1982) whether it be the Star Wars characters (a Stormtrooper and Chewbacca) in Oliver's room, his first meeting with Larry or that haunted kitchen in which the chairs and table move by themselves. In the same way by avoiding relying only on virtual special effects, Jacob Chase returns to the use of special effects used in the 80s, such as using a creature created by The Jim Henson Creature studios. By rediscovering all the strength of these landmark films of the 80s, Come play stands out as one of the best horror films of this year.

It would also be interesting to compare this movie with the equally excellent Mister Babadook (The Babadook) (2014) by Jennifer Kent, as both films have so many similarities and so many undeniable qualities. By putting an illustrated tale at the center of the story and the will of a mother to protect her son from a supernatural force and omnipotence, these two films show that horrific cinema is not a sub-genre as many people would like to confine it. These films can allow brilliant directors to express an undeniable know-how. Even if our preference goes to Come play which is a worthy inheritor of the productions supervised by Steven Spielberg, these two films are classics of the genre and deserve to be seen several times to capture their full force.

In the same way that it is the young actor Azhy Robertson who plays Olivier or Gillian Jacobs, John Gallagher who plays his parents, these three actors prove to be perfect in their roles and are directed to perfection by Jacob Chase. By making his characters credible, Come play is one of the films events of this end of year.

By highlighting our over-dependence on new technologies that tend to lock us in a real cocoon rather than make us share the joys of the city together, Come play shows that horrific fantasy cinema can address both young and adult audiences by not relying on outrageous horrific effects but on a palpable psychological fear. It is therefore easy to understand why this film was released for Halloween, as it is the perfect film to respect this American national holiday despite the current pandemic that continues to spread.

Come Play
Written and directed by Jacob Chase
Produced by Andrew Rona, Alex Heineman
Based on the short movie Larry by Jacob Chase
Starring Gillian Jacobs, John Gallagher Jr., Azhy Robertson, Winslow Fegley
Music by Roque Baños
Cinematography : Maxime Alexandre
Edited by Gregory Plotkin
Production company: Amblin Partners, The Picture Company, Reliance Entertainment
Distributed by Focus Features
Release date: October 30, 2020 (United States)
Running time: 96 minutes

Viewed on November 5, 2020

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