All The Wrong Friends Movie Review

All The Wrong Friends premiered at a small festival in 2016 (Indy Film Fest.) All The Wrong Friends is the type of film I really like but, to be frank, it’s a bit of a mixed bag. I’m very much the kind of person who’s a devil for details and wasn’t surprised to learn the script undertook a rewrite just days before production. Even the title was changed from Double Dealing to the current one that remained. The Wrong Friends story begins with a bunch of high school kids, one year after they graduated. Brought together by an annual festival, called TerrorStock.

The central group now includes Drew’s girlfriend Nani along with Drew’s main pals, Adam and Simon. Within the first two minutes of the film, Adam announces he has invited some less-than-welcome additions from their heyday. Logan and Erika pull up in a car cranking heavy metal and Logan is introduced to Drew’s girlfriend.

All The Wrong Friends Review

His first words are racially charged. He instantly stereotypes Nani by asking her whether she has a Pomeranian named Ali Baba. In an especially poignant time like June 2020, this is rather bad timing for an unnecessary scripted slur. To make matters worse, no one says anything to Logan. Nani is relocated from her passenger-side seat to the back of the car they are traveling in.

For the purpose of setting up the character of Logan as a twat, this does so instantly. However, it poses further issues to the storyline. Logan and his girlfriend immediately ambush and take over the trip to TerrorStock. The original group has accommodation booked, and check-in time, and the festival seemingly begins that night. Logan leaves his car behind and they all squeeze into Drew’s vehicle and somehow end up driving.

Then he takes a massive detour and Nani and Drew wake up from a lovely nap to discover they are ‘stopping to pick up some stuff.’ The group has arrived at a remote house that backs onto a lake. They are trying to find its resident, Mondo, who is not at home.

Logan is adamant that Mondo is not far away. He expects them. Logan tells everyone they will simply stay the night and head off tomorrow. Missing Mondo’s house then becomes a party pad for the six uninvited guests. They help themselves to his beers, take drugs, and have themselves reminiscing. Nani is the only person in the group who doesn’t indulge. She tries to make a hasty retreat. Drew takes her upstairs to talk. They end up having sex in Mondo’s bed. Immediately after, they find Mondo’s dead body in the bathroom. The suspicion begins and bad decision-making continues.

Who Is The Killer?

Performances range from really good, Nani (played by Krishna Smitha) to uneven and unconvincing at times. All The Wrong Friends is an independent film created as part of a University pilot program though. Considering this, the overall quality is definitely up there above many of its peers. It’s a directorial debut for Ryan Hawkins and Mark Kerins whose other works are short films. The movie has ten listed writers, which always poses issues if you ask me. It’s certainly where some of the consistency problems probably started.

Additionally, special effects consist of practical efforts. Despite noticing a bullet to the shoulder creates less blood spatter than one to the temple, cinematography covered up any opportunities to inspect it closer.

Overall, All The Wrong Friends is a hefty achievement considering the filmmaker’s ability. A complicated story with no real surprises didn’t really do it any favors though. For a free movie via the Tubi TV App, made on a low budget it’s successful. It’s just a shame the stereotyping of its only ethnic cast member was treated the way she was. Unless the dialogue forms a pivotal part of the story at hand, it’s not required. Logan was an asshole without having to do that.

• More films that overplayed their hand’s Inheritance / Trauma Center / Underwater / The Pool / Bullitt County / The Toll
• The streaming release was on the 15th of June 2020

All The Wrong Friends Movie Trailer

Watch the full movie for free on TubiTV.

Filmmakers

• Starring: Nick Commella, Ricco Fajardo, Tom Gelo, Dexter Hostetter, Andrew Milbourn, Sean O’Connor, Brina Palencia, Krishna Smitha, and Boo Williamson.
• Writers: Justin Amos, Sophia Basiliadis, Cydney Cox, Alyssa Evans, Ryan Hawkins, Ryan Kaul, Mark Kerins, Parker May, Adrien Vielder, and Amanda Presmyk.
• Distributed by Terror Films.

I give All The Wrong Friends

2 steel bars to the forehead out of 5