#AMFAD All My Friends Are Dead

The trailer for this movie looked interesting so i gave it a shot. The intro is a bit confusing and goes on for a while but once we finally introduced to the main characters, the movie pick a better pace.

Most of the characters were extremely annoying and most viewers will probably be eager to see them meet their demise, but i think it was mostly done on purpose.

The "hostel-light" scenes were interesting and i kinda wish there would had been more of them. Eventually the movie turn more into your regular slasher but it make sense storywise. The kills are overall gory/bloody enough but some of the practical effects were a bit amateurish and looked kinda fake.

The Scream part about the mystery killer is fine but i figured most of it way before the ending. Keeping this spoiler free, was the payoff worth it? Kinda... but part of the ending felt a bit wonky.

Overall its a decent enough slasher flick. Won't break any ground but enjoyable for fans of the genre wich are always on the lookout for a new one.

I must admit I wasn't holding out much hope for this film especially seeing as jojo was in it but thankfully she isn't really in the film other than flashbacks but I was pleasantly surprised. Don't get me wrong it's not the best horror I've seen and it most certainly isn't the worst. Its a teen slasher which i do like and it also had gruesome killings. I like that it was based on the seven deadly sins (not a spoiler as says that in trailer). It also had twists that I must admit I didn't expect. I also like a jumpy film and this did have the odd jump I wasn't expecting. Some of the actors aren't great but others aren't too bad. If you take it for what it is a comedy teen slasher and like twists I think it's worth a watch. Certainly didn't regret watching it.

Horror films, as a genre, have always cannibalized one another. It's a fairly rare thing to see an actual new idea in horror. When a new idea does come about, the film makes a mark.. and is then copied repeatedly. This film is NOT one of those unique horror films.

If you've ever wanted to explain how horror films cannibalize each other, this film is a PERFECT example of creating a horror film without one single unique idea and just using a collection of stolen plots and motivations from OTHER films strung together.

This film starts with 10 minutes of just random back story to try and set up some history - using a concept taken from the movie "Seven".

Then it goes on to a typical young adult road trip ultimately ending up in a "Cabin in the Woods".

It's a very odd choice to put the title sequence here..... 20 minutes into the film.....

Then the story continues a la "I Know What you Did Last Summer" in addition to borrowing heavily from the "Saw" and "Scream" franchise.

.... a callback to "Seven" (Or perhaps "The Collector")... and then "Scream" again.... and "I Know What You Did Last Summer" Again...

Acting was a mix of terrible to passable. But as a story it was just a bad copy of every popular horror concept from the past.

------- Pass -------------

#AMFAD All My Friends Are Dead had a seemingly fun premise, combining a modern slasher concept with a talented director. The story follows a group of teenagers who rent an Airbnb to attend a big music festival, only to be threatened by a masked killer. The film hints multiple times that the group's past plays a role in why they are being targeted, with the murders loosely based on the seven deadly sins. I usually enjoy these kinds of movies, even though such "dumb slashers" are often flawed and not very good. However, they are usually entertaining and a fun way to pass the time. With Marcus Dunstan as the director, known for movies like The Collector series and the underrated horror thriller The Neighbor, I was intrigued to watch this film. Unfortunately, the result was more disappointing than I expected.

The characters are absolutely unlikable, which is not uncommon for this subgenre. However, the audience needs to connect with the cast on some level to create tension. Without that connection, you do not care when a character dies and cannot root for them. Sometimes, in such cases, you can root for the killer instead, but even that was difficult here. The masked killer lacked depth, and while the motive was clear, the villain was not interesting or memorable enough to root for. The mask itself, a modern slasher design with LED lights, did not stand out or leave a lasting impression.

The acting was subpar, though I would not have minded that too much, especially for a low-budget slasher. The movie is marketed heavily around JoJo Siwa, with her name prominently displayed on the cover. However, she has a very minor role, so if you are watching solely for her, you will likely feel let down.

Despite its terrible characters, uneven script, and predictability, the movie was entertaining. I do not regret watching it, and I can understand why others might hate it. That said, you can still have a decent amount of fun with it despite all its flaws. Overall, it is a slightly below-average slasher for genre fans and might be suitable for watching with a group of friends, especially if you are barely paying attention and laughing at the characters' absurd decisions. While I hoped this movie would offer much more, it fell short of my expectations. Still, in my eyes, it is a watchable flick. [5.4/10]

Not too shabby. Adding energy to the generic formula while being little more than an ode to 80's horror. What makes it work though is the energy picking up in the second to latter half of the film, some hilarious kills coupled with the type of characters you can't help but hope will meet a grisly end and a conclusion that's surprisingly effective. Predictable? Yes. But it's elevated by a team both in front of and behind the camera that genuinely put in the work and with an ending leaving room for a sequel, I actually wouldn't mind another go around to see what else they have up their sleeves..