Horror Shorts In Focus: Play Time

Every once in a while, a horror short sneaks up on you and proves that you do not need a feature length running time to make people lose sleep. Play Time, directed by Ryan J. Thompson, is one of those little bursts of terror that manages to pack more atmosphere, scares and nervous laughter into three minutes than some films do in two hours. It is short, simple and absolutely terrifying.

The setup is a familiar one. A woman wakes in the middle of the night to strange noises drifting up from her living room. She stumbles downstairs, bleary eyed and disoriented, and finds her television spitting out scrambled images and static. Thinking she has fixed it, she switches the set off and turns to go back to bed. Then, of course, it flickers back on. The lights begin to twitch, the noise builds to a low hum, and a toy begins chanting the phrase “play time” with the cheerful tone of a possessed toddler. What happens next is pure nightmare fuel.

Even though it runs for barely more than three minutes, Play Time throws everything at you. The lighting, the sound design and the editing all work together to produce a sense of creeping panic that builds until it is almost unbearable. It starts with a little unease, a feeling that something is wrong, and by the end you are clutching your chair and wondering whether you remembered to unplug your television before going to bed.

Ryan J. Thompson directed Play Time back in 2013 and it quickly won the Bloody Cuts Award for scariest short. The award was well deserved. The film hits that sweet spot between tension and pay off that is so difficult to achieve in a short format. It wastes not a single frame, not a single sound, and still manages to be stylish while doing it. Sadly, it never reached the viral success of Lights Out, which came out around the same time and went on to inspire a feature film. If there were any justice, Play Time would have been right there alongside it, scaring audiences all over again with a bigger budget and a longer runtime.

Thompson clearly has a great visual instinct. His ability to use light and shadow, silence and sound, makes every frame count. When that toy begins its eerie chant, you can feel the dread crawl right under your skin. And yet, after making such an effective short, Thompson stepped away from directing and focused on visual effects for other projects. While it is admirable that he continues to use his skills in film, horror fans can only imagine what could have been if he had kept working behind the camera.

Part of the charm of Play Time is how tactile it feels. The analogue texture of the television screen, the flickering bulbs, the slightly washed out colours all give it a gritty authenticity. You can practically feel the static in the air. It reminds viewers of the early eighties haunted technology vibe of Poltergeist, mixed with the creeping dread of The Ring and the voyeuristic panic of Paranormal Activity. For something that lasts about as long as boiling a kettle, it leaves a remarkable impression.

The short also serves as a reminder of what independent horror can achieve. In the early twenty tens, directors were using online platforms and short film festivals to show off their scariest ideas. These mini horrors were often more creative and daring than what Hollywood was putting out. Play Time is one of the best examples of that, a perfect showcase for how imagination and timing can beat big budgets and flashy computer effects any day.

Watching Play Time again today, it still feels fresh and frightening. Modern horror has become obsessed with computer generated monsters and shiny effects, but there is something more satisfying about seeing real sets, practical lighting and sound design used to maximum effect. Thompson’s short proves that fear is not about spectacle but about mood, pacing and that horrible moment when you realise you are not alone in the dark.

If you have never seen it, find three spare minutes, turn off the lights, put on some headphones and prepare to question your life choices. Play Time is short, sharp and utterly terrifying. And when it is over, do not be surprised if you find yourself glancing nervously at your television, just to make sure it stays off this time.