Direction: Andrew Gaynord
Country: UK
Penned by Tom Palmer and Tom Stourton, who also shines as the lead actor, All My Friends Hate Me is a British paranoid and conspiracy comedy assembled with a succession of awkward episodes that ensure the viewer is kept guessing. The film’s direction by Andrew Gaynord is fairly good, but the constant tactics and unflinching mood become a bit of a problem along the way.
The story follows Pete (Stourton), a soon-to-be-engaged refugee worker, who reunites with his university friends for a birthday week after eight years of absence. The meeting place is an old-fashioned manor in the countryside, belonging to the parents of one of his friends. While excited to see them, this once popular socializer feels very uncomfortable around Harry (Dustin Demri-Burns), a funny local stranger they met in a pub. This man, besides stealing all the attention he would like to have for himself, seems to purposely pick on him. Everyone seems to care more about the outsider, easily taking his side whenever an argument occurs. Is this paranoia or just a simple prank?
Although just fraught enough to make us keep watching, the film manages to keep these deceptive plates spinning for longer than most, but ultimately lacks ambition. Even a bit tired of this unchanging game of secrets, assumptions and mistakes, and not impressed with the emotional trifles of the last act, I still enjoyed the finale’s sarcasm. Strouton is a saving grace in this effort, delivering an inspired performance that perfectly shapes a more mature, reticent man who once was the captain of all parties.
