ALL MY FRIENDS HATE ME
It wouldn't be a film rec from me if I weren't at least a year late to the party, so here I am! I'm totally shook after watching British director Andrew Gaynord's 2021 comedy-horror film ALL MY FRIENDS HATE ME (trailer here). Currently available to stream on Hulu, the film follows co-writer and star Tom Stourton as Pete, a quintessential thirtysomething "regular guy" who reunites with his school friends to celebrate his birthday weekend. Pete is overcome with paranoia at every turn, worried that his longtime friends and their strange new friend Harry (Dustin Demri-Burns) are out to get him. The horror tone and pacing heighten the tension of seemingly small interactions, calling out uncomfortably funny nuances of male insecurity through the characters' one-upmanship, bravado, pranks, and roasts. Pete's misdirected outbursts bring CURB YOUR ENTHUSIASM-esque cringe comedy to this dark exploration of subtly toxic masculinity. Watch it this weekend...but don't overthink it after watching. I'm sure all your friends love you!
—Dustin Sloane, Development Assistant
