Cringe-inducing socially awkward scenarios tread the very fine line between comedy and horror. One slight social misstep can tip the scales firmly into gut-busting comedy or an abject nightmare, both feeding on stress in distinctly different ways. Andrew Gaynord‘s feature debut deftly pushes social anxiety, tension, and humor so far that it becomes inseparable from horror. All My Friends Hate Me depicts one of the most uncomfortable reunions centered around a profoundly insecure man trying to navigate a social circle that’s no longer familiar.
Pete (co-writer Tom Stourton) just got back from volunteer work at a refugee camp and looks forward to spending his birthday weekend at a sprawling country estate by his friend George (Joshua McGuire). They’ll be joined by former college pals Fig (Georgina Campbell), party animal Archie (Graham Dickson), and Pete’s ex, Claire (Antonia Clarke). Pete’s girlfriend Sonia (Charly Clive) will arrive later to join them, giving Pete plenty of time to catch up with pals since losing touch years ago. Instead of arriving to a warm reception, however, Pete discovers an empty mansion. The reunion only grows increasingly absurd and uncomfortable from there, especially with the arrival of local Harry (Dustin Demri-Burns), who seems intent on replacing Pete. The more insecure and paranoid Pete grows, the more bizarre the weekend gets.
Every attempt to reconnect goes awry and builds tension. Pete’s attempts to revive old in-jokes or pick up where he left off are met with indifference at best and outright hostility at worst. Stourton displays remarkable nuance with his character; Pete’s impotent attempts to hoist himself into the center of attention induce audible groaning and sometimes full-bellied guffaws. There’s an exciting blend of affable charm and painful clumsiness to Pete that furthers the unique genre blend. It likely helps Stourton co-wrote the feature with Tom Palmer and understands this character like no other.
Gaynord also toys with audience sympathies, switching allegiances in varying scenarios. It’s easy to side with Pete’s friends when they rightfully call him out on poor behavior, but then the next minute, they’re taking their pranks and teasing too far; it’s to the point of malice. A layer of psychological suspense keeps the mood off-kilter; is it all in Pete’s insecure mind? Or do all of his friends actually loathe him? The more Harry invades the group, the more sinister the mood becomes. It creates sequences full of suspense and thrills, particularly a hunting scene.
Horror and comedy share similar rhythms and play remarkably well together. All My Friends Hate Me exemplifies this, seamlessly toggling between cringe-inducing humor and unsettling thrills. It captures the expectations and reality of awkward reunions, made even more authentic through its biting wit and angst toward classism and aging. Simple misunderstandings turn into ominous catastrophes as egos and vulnerability clash. Gaynord’s debut isn’t horror in the conventional sense. Still, his ability to push social anxieties well past its boundaries into terror territory makes for an unpredictable experience that thrills, chills, and delights in equal measure. It’s a straightforward narrative rendered far more complex thanks to its complicated lead and idiosyncratic tone.
source https://bloody-disgusting.com/reviews/3669690/tribeca-review-all-my-friends-hate-me-induces-social-anxiety-darkly-funny-thriller/
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