Mörderische Freunde

"Scream"'s Matthew Lilard is at his insane best in this variation on student life. Unlike another film which took a comic approach to the "dead roommate equals good grades", this film is deadly serious. Good performances aside, the script meanders and lacks true thrills, making it slow going at times. But hang in for the ending - as usual, the best part of the curve is the twist.

Insane college student figures out a way to get his grades the easy way. Murder. Everything goes his way as he outwits the police, fools the university staff, and pins the rap on his dopey partner. However, all is not as it seems and some surprises are in store for the viewer. Interesting little thriller, with some black comedy thrown in the mix: makes a guy wonder if such a rule could exist in a university without causing just such an incident.

Pretty decent premise but poor execution in many ways. The benefit of ONE semester of A's is hardly enough to stake the whole story/elaborate plan on. Instead of telling a solid story, this movie gets caught up patting itself on the back, thinking it's just that clever. Clever is when a movie shows you everything but you still don't see whats right in your face. This movie shows you everything, as well as unnecessary filler that only exists to throw off the viewer. The use of flashbacks to explain things that can easily be figured out is insulting to viewers and really dumbs things down. It takes away from the movie.

I somehow missed this movie in the 90s, and just came across it. I would have loved it when I was young, as its in the same vein as Scream and Urban Legend-- though not a slasher. I was able to enjoy it but it was quite predictable.

Matthew Lillard was amazing. He always seems like such a genuine guy in interviews, and I can clearly see he showed up for this movie, and brought all of his energy to his performance.

As with many other late 90s movies, some parts aged horribly and were super uncomfortable.

I remember watching this quite a few years ago and enjoying it and decided to re-watch it again to see if I still did.

It's an interesting idea and one that is executed very well. The plot is easy to follow and the fast paced script keeps things moving along nicely. There is plenty of suspense as the student plot to get higher grades spins out of control. The acting is mainly just passable apart from the always excellent Matthew Lillard who always plays the slightly maniacal jerk role so brilliantly and and there is an early appearance for the gorgeous Keri Russell.

There is a great twist ending which along with Lillard's performance elevates this film above average for it's genre.

This is not a great film by any means but it is very entertaining and well worth watching if you're at a loose end.

The premise behind this movie is, how much is someone to compromise their morals in order to achieve academic gain? In the tradition of movies such as "The Perfect Score" and "Cheaters", but much, much darker, that question is answered...and then some. Matthew Lillard does an amazing job as a cunning, manipulative, and more than slightly psychotic college roommate willing to do anything to get ahead. The movie contains enough plot turns to make your head spin at times, but the acting is solid and the storyline was more than enough to keep me captivated throughout. Its an old question placed in a contemporary context, and it makes for a damn good horror film.