Come Play
Oliver is a lonely young boy who feels different from everyone else. Desperate for a friend, he seeks solace and refuge in his ever-present cell phone and tablet. When a mysterious creature uses Oliver's devices against him to break into our world, Oliver's parents must fight to save their son from the monster beyond the screen.
Working with a modest budget of $9.0M, the film achieved a modest success with $13.2M in global revenue (+46% profit margin).
Plot Structure
Story beats plotted across runtime
Narrative Arc
Emotional journey through the story's key moments
Story Circle
Blueprint 15-beat structure
Arcplot Score Breakdown
Weighted: Precision (70%) + Arc (15%) + Theme (15%)
Come Play (2020) showcases strategically placed story structure, characteristic of Jacob Chase's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 13-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 36 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.6, the film showcases strong structural fundamentals.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Oliver, a non-verbal autistic boy, sits isolated in his room using his phone and tablet to communicate while his exhausted parents struggle with his condition and their failing marriage.. Structural examination shows that this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 12 minutes when A mysterious story called "Misunderstood Monsters" appears on Oliver's tablet, introducing Larry, a creature who is lonely and wants a friend - the story begins downloading itself onto all of Oliver's devices without his control.. At 12% through the film, this Disruption aligns precisely with traditional story structure. This beat shifts the emotional landscape, launching the protagonist into the central conflict.
The First Threshold at 24 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 25% of the runtime. This demonstrates the protagonist's commitment to Larry fully manifests in Oliver's home during a violent supernatural attack. Oliver and his parents can no longer deny the threat is real - they must actively fight to protect Oliver from being taken., moving from reaction to action.
At 49 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 51% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. The analysis reveals that this crucial beat Larry nearly succeeds in taking Oliver during a massive attack at their home. The family discovers that Larry can only be stopped if Oliver has real human connection - but Oliver's father Marty still can't accept his son's condition, raising the stakes of their family dysfunction., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 72 minutes (75% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Larry breaches all defenses and takes Oliver into his dark realm. Sarah witnesses her son disappearing and believes she has lost him forever - the ultimate failure of a parent to protect their child., shows the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Synthesis at 77 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 80% of the runtime. Sarah confronts Larry in his dark world and fights to reclaim Oliver. She proves her unconditional love and acceptance, showing Oliver he is not alone. The family unites with genuine connection, breaking Larry's power over Oliver., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Come Play's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 13 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs a 15-point narrative structure framework that maps key story moments. By mapping Come Play against these established plot points, we can identify how Jacob Chase utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Come Play within the drama genre.
Comparative Analysis
Additional drama films include Eye for an Eye, South Pacific and Kiss of the Spider Woman.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Oliver, a non-verbal autistic boy, sits isolated in his room using his phone and tablet to communicate while his exhausted parents struggle with his condition and their failing marriage.
Theme
Oliver's mother Sarah tells another parent that everyone needs connection and friendship, even if it comes in unexpected forms - foreshadowing the story's exploration of loneliness and the dangers of seeking companionship without boundaries.
Worldbuilding
Establishing Oliver's daily struggles with bullies at school, his parents' strained relationship, his dependence on technology for communication, and his desperate desire for friendship despite his inability to connect with other children.
Disruption
A mysterious story called "Misunderstood Monsters" appears on Oliver's tablet, introducing Larry, a creature who is lonely and wants a friend - the story begins downloading itself onto all of Oliver's devices without his control.
Resistance
Strange occurrences escalate as Oliver experiences supernatural events through his devices. His parents dismiss his fears as imagination. Sarah researches the story and discovers disturbing reports of other children who encountered Larry.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Larry fully manifests in Oliver's home during a violent supernatural attack. Oliver and his parents can no longer deny the threat is real - they must actively fight to protect Oliver from being taken.
Mirror World
Sarah connects with other parents online whose children were targeted by Larry, forming a support network that mirrors Oliver's own need for connection - showing that isolation affects everyone, not just those who are different.
Premise
The family battles Larry's increasingly aggressive attempts to take Oliver. They learn Larry feeds on loneliness and targets isolated children. The parents must confront how their own disconnection has made Oliver vulnerable.
Midpoint
Larry nearly succeeds in taking Oliver during a massive attack at their home. The family discovers that Larry can only be stopped if Oliver has real human connection - but Oliver's father Marty still can't accept his son's condition, raising the stakes of their family dysfunction.
Opposition
Larry's attacks intensify and become more personal. The entity begins targeting Sarah and Marty to isolate Oliver completely. The parents' marriage crumbles further under the stress, and Oliver becomes more vulnerable with each family fight.
Collapse
Larry breaches all defenses and takes Oliver into his dark realm. Sarah witnesses her son disappearing and believes she has lost him forever - the ultimate failure of a parent to protect their child.
Crisis
Sarah and Marty face their darkest moment of grief and guilt. They realize their own inability to truly connect with Oliver and each other created the void that Larry exploited. They must decide if they're willing to sacrifice everything to save their son.
Act III
ResolutionSynthesis
Sarah confronts Larry in his dark world and fights to reclaim Oliver. She proves her unconditional love and acceptance, showing Oliver he is not alone. The family unites with genuine connection, breaking Larry's power over Oliver.