This week in the crypt we take a look at the 2020 film Come Play.

Inspired by his 2017 short film Larry, writer & director Jacob Chase unleashed Come Play in October of 2020.

This PG-13 offering focuses on a monster that manifests through smart phones and other devices with a screen.

Starring Gillian Jacobs as Sarah, Azhy Robertson as Oliver, & John Gallagher Jr. as Marty viewers hear the family dynamic slowly crumbling.

As the film continues we learn that Oliver is autistic and doesn’t talk, he uses his phone to communicate. We see he has no friends and is picked on by his peers.

The “thing” inside his screen knows this and a mysterious story about misunderstood monsters suspiciously appears on his phone.

Combining elements of supernatural films worked well with this as well as the creature created by Henson’s Creature Shop.

Overall Come Play has a “gateway” horror feel. What worked for was the acting, the story, always feeling like Larry was around, and some of the FX. As well as there not being any real twists.

Where it fell short was the pacing, at times it felt slow. At times it felt predictable. Also it felt more like a PG movie than PG-13.

“And remember, if you feel a chill, that’s not the cold…you’re in the crypt!”