Kill Your Friends

People who have written bad, simple minded reviews have no idea what they are talking about.

The book is the one book I couldn't take reading, it's a lot more cynical and black, but the style is very cool, as all books by Nivel. They are fast, they are black, they are pop literature. So, that this movie is based on a contemporary bestseller known for it's incredible dark style should be a clue.

Second - the actors are such a cool choice, not only the lead character, but also Moritz Bleitreu, e. g. and others. Look them up, if you don't know any European actors.

Third - music choices were great! Partly a kind of parody on that British happy-happy-jump-jump Techno _from the 90ies_ but also very fitting: The Prodigy and others from that time. Lots and lots of other very funny parodies, loved the girl band with the strings.

4. Worcaholism and Drug use in London, career pressure, etc. are not unrealistic at all, nothing unusual shown, people kicking others out, going through their things, etc. (well I hope the murders are not normal).

Finally - British Pop Culture, and British Black Comedy. This should have given the final clue. Don't watch it if you don't like the genre.

Despite only loosely living up to the title, Kill Your Friends is a darkly funny and very twisted look at the high stakes world of music management that desperately wants to be American Psycho but lacks the energy and darkness to fully achieve those lofty ambitions. It's still able to sustain itself on some good jokes interspersed throughout and the overall cynical nature, culminating in a satisfyingly twisted ending.

Nicholas Hoult doesn't always feel like the best choice for this material however, he is fully committed to this irredeemable character so he can move past those early growing pains. He's ambitious to the point of being ruthless and conceals his true villainy under a false layer of incompetence. Even with a fairly strong supporting cast of characters it's still all resting on his central performance to keep things going.

Owen Harris' competent yet bland direction weirdly lacks the necessary manic energy outside of some brief glimpses into Hoult's darkest thoughts. For a film that spends so much time in clubs and drug fueled parties, its lowered visual energy becomes kinda distracting, counterbalanced by the tone never wavering. On the opposite end of the spectrum, Tom Holkenborg's score and the soundtrack really understood the assignment.

I attended the world premier for "kill your friends" at the fantasy film festival in Berlin which was the opening film - and was pleasantly surprised. Usually the open movie is OK, this time it was the best I have seen in the last 15 years going to the fantasy film festival.

I had not read the book on which it is based, had not read the description (as I always go to the opening movie no matter what), so I did not know what to expect.

Kill your friends is about a hotshot in the finding and signing music talent industry who wants to be the department head, however is clueless but very determined. It is an over the top black comedy that has tons of coke and pills, some nudity and gore, and great lines.

I was very entertained and can only recommend the movie. Most likely will get an 16/R rating for the violence, drugs and nudity.

This Film tells the story of a record industry talent scout in the 1990's London, who stops at nothing when it comes to career advancement.

Firstly, the music in the film is great because those songs are the songs I grew listening to. Hearing relatively non hit tracks such as "The Private Psychedelic Wheel", or other big hits like "Encore Une Fois" brings back memories of those great years!

Nicholas Hoult is insanely handsome in this film. He's charming and likable even though his character is reminiscent of "American Psycho". That's what make the film very interesting and engaging. I really enjoyed it.

The movie is all about Steven Stefox (played by Nicholas Hoult), a guy working in the music industry, as a guy that is supposed to discover and sign new bands. He's not very good at his job, so he tries other ways to achieve his goals. I'm not sure why it's also categorized as a comedy because you won't laugh one bit. It's more a crime story with a lot of drugs and a narrating voice describing what to do to make it in the music industry. It's entertaining to watch. Steven is a narcissistic person, addicted to fancy drugs, and doing everything it takes to make it to the top. There are no likable characters in the movie but that's not the point. They are all career driven and very egoistic. Since it is about the music industry you have a lot of tunes, some good ones but also bad ones. It's not a bad movie even though I saw better similar ones.