In Come Play, based on a short film from a couple years back, autistic child Oliver (Azhy Robertson) becomes the target of a monster named Larry who wants him to be his friend... forever! Bum, bum, bum! But yeah, it's decent.
The biggest strength here is that the movie looks at what it is like to have more severe autism (Oliver barely speaks in this) and what it is like for a parent raising one. The movie does a great job making you feel for Oliver and his mother Sarah (Community's Gillian Jacobs). There is also a part with a group of bullies that could've been really predictable, but I was pleased that it went in a different direction.
Larry, who's invisible for most of the time if he isn't seen, is a fun skeletal design, though the budget on his computer animation didn't feel particularly high, so it's probably a good thing they keep him to the shadows. I like that the character gives off this dark fairy tale vibe.
Nice lighting scheme in this; it managed to be eerie without being darkly shot enough that there's no color or you can't make things out.
Acting is good, especially from Robertson. (Heck, all the child actors in this are good.) After what I thought was a disappointing performance in Magic Camp, I'm glad to say Jacobs has bounced back and is believable as a worried and stressed-out mother.
That all having been said, this is a competently handled movie, but it didn't "wow" me that much. Too many of the scares lack something or went by too quickly to register. In general, a lot of parts of this feel too similar to other works. The dramatic/real world parts also could've been trimmed down a bit. All complaints aside, the final confrontation is pretty good with strong visuals and tension.
I can't say this is a particularly original or standout film, but I think most horror fans will have a good time with it.
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