“Come Play” is an untraditional horror story written by Jacob Chase.
The film focuses on the monster Larry who is looking for a friend. The character of Larry began with a short film made by Chase in 2017. However, the film Come Play according to Chase is a project that stands on its own. The film tells the story of the monster Larry and a young boy named Oliver while exploring a variety of themes. In Chase’s own words: “I wanted to make a horror film that drew on what was around us every day which is our phones our tablets, and our screens… technology is just a window to this other world where this monster lives.”
Oliver is a young boy on the autism spectrum who is non-verbal and uses a tablet or a cell phone in order to communicate with the people around him. Technology is Oliver’s window into socialization, while Larry uses technology as a window into moving from his world into ours. Their shared dependence on technology becomes the foundation of their relationship because in reality, they both are just looking for a friend. However, their desire for companionship might come at a cause.
Come Play, tells the story of friendship, family, and the fears that come with the acceptance of one’s reality. Oliver’s parents (played by Jillian Jacobs and John Gallagher Jr.) struggle to understand their son and how to properly support him, however, their love and willingness to sacrifice for him and his safety become clear through the choices they make to protect their son from Larry.
When discussing the film with director Jacob Chase researched life on the spectrum, speech therapy, and other important aspects of Oliver and his parent’s life in order to have a film that offered authentic representation to life on the spectrum. Ultimately, the film’s foundation is empathy which will hopefully be a window to viewers gaining compassion for those around them.
The film is now playing!