A social satire that hints at horror, ‘All My Friends Hate Me’ is overstuff and overlong but entertaining nevertheless.
The nightmare of going to a party where you don’t know anyone is something that recurs in my mind. Imagine showing up at a party and having no one to talk to? Or better yet, you have nothing in common with people you should know? Even worse, what if you know everyone but they don’t treat you like friends anymore?
Pete has found success in his life and has drifted award from his old pals, but the secrets they’ve been holding onto in the last number of years come to a climax. Tales of failed suicides, drunken hookups, and flaunted wealth have shown the changes that a decade can bring to old friends. But more than that, everyone seems to be turning against old Pete. The university’s former class clown has grown up, and his friends seem to have grown against him.
When an interloper arrives at the party that seems to be taking notes on Pete and spurring on conflicts between the classmates, things get even more convoluted. Bad binge drinking and rude jokes and failed attempts at skeet shooting all seem to make Pete into the subject of ridicule. But is it just paranoia and mental illness for Pete, or is something sinister happening?
The massive flaw in the film is that it is just so long and too lugubrious to last for too long. At 90 minutes it feels stretched to its limits. If it were about half the length, it would be far more compelling. The ending is also a stretch beyond the imaginable but could be a lot more poorly done.
All My Friends Hate Me is worth the watch for great performances and a good look. If you go beyond the mixed effort of the script, you’ll be in for a big treat.