Andrew Gaynord’s “All My Friends Hate Me”

All My Friends Hate Me (2022)

Described as a “Horror/Comedy”, this is torture porn for people with social anxiety closer to Michael Haneke than Edgar Wright

As the film begins, Pete (Tom Stourton who is also cowriter with Tom Palmer) is preparing to meet up with university friends for his 31st birthday at an estate owned by his friend George(Joshua McGuire). Having just returned from volunteering in refugee camps, he’s considering proposing to his girlfriend, Sonia(Charly Clive) who is due to catch up with him later at the manor.

From the start, Pete has awkward interactions with the locals en route which starts a slow drip of cringe-inducing situations that will eventually turn into a raging torrent. At its heart, the film is about what divides people from class and perspective to how we grow and change at a different pace to those around us. It is not an easy watch and probably requires a second viewing to get the most out of it, but even for those who like it, that will be last thing on your mind as the credits roll.

It’s difficult to review in detail without giving away too much of the story but it is excruciating if not consistently engaging. As a debut feature for Andrew Gaynor as well as screenwriters Stourton and Palmer, it’s a solid start that’s deceptively simple and well-balanced if not uncomfortable viewing.