Universal, on digital download now

A solitary autistic boy comes across a creepy children’s story on his new tablet, unaware that by reading it, he’s inviting a monster into his home.

Writer/director Jacob Chase’s feature directorial debut expands his 2017 five minute short, Larry, and is a strong little chiller with good performances, a budget that does the story justice and just enough jumps to satisfy the horror brigade.

Oliver (Azhy Robertson, Marriage Story) is on the autism spectrum and finds it hard to communicate with his parents Sarah (Gillian Jacobs, Fear Street) and Marty (John Gallagher Jr, 10 Cloverfield Lane), as well as his friends. He relies on his tablet to speak on his behalf, leading to physical and mental bullying by the mean kids at school.

A sleepover designed to get him involved with other boys ends with the lightbulbs blowing out in the house and the houseguests being traumatised by the arrival of an unseen spirit. You see, by engaging with the Misunderstood Monster book on his tablet, Oliver has got the attention of Larry, a gangly Gollum-like beast that wants to cross over into our realm and claim him.

Comparisons with Jennifer Kent’s superior The Babadook are inevitable, the single mum (dad lives at another house) fighting to protect her child from a supernatural being. The familiar creature design is that of an emaciated, long-limbed ghoul with razor teeth, but Larry isn’t overused and is well realised. The strength of the movie is in its dynamic between mother and son, Robertson and Jacobs convincingly selling us on their terror as they face the creature.

Verdict: A solid, if familiar, horror story with credible performances and decent production values. 7/10

Nick Joy