My Friends Need Killing

One of the great titles in grindhouse cinema. Greg Mullavy gives an excellent performance as a guilt-ridden Vietnam veteran who decides to track down and kill the men who forced him to commit atrocities during the war.This is a straightforward, no-frills, zero-budget enterprise. The camera set-ups, lighting schemes, film stock, and locations reek of extreme poverty, but give the film an undeniably gritty feel. At times it is like watching a cheap snuff film. What stands out in the film is the agonized performance of Greg Mullavy. He seems to be giving it his all. The results are almost painfully raw. The film is one long scream. This is by no means a pleasant thing to watch, but it is a powerful viewing experience.

A disturbed Vietnam vet brutally murders all of his former platoon members who massacred the residents of a small village.Ugly and disturbing drama with repellent rape scene and truly sleazy atmosphere.I am not a fan of Paul Leder's "I Dismember Mama" but I found "My Friends Need Killing" intriguing and unforgettable.The film is well-acted and directed,the script is dark and nihilistic as it deals with dangerous psychosis,mass killing and sexual violence.I must say that the tacky film stock,seedy locations and amateurish camera-work all ooze with extreme cheapness,but fans of "Night Flowers","The Taxi Driver" or "Combat Shock" will surely enjoy this mean exploitation flick,which has far more on its mind than mere shock.8 out of 10.

(Mis)directed by Paul Leder, this is an early "Disturbed 'Nam Vet" flick. Greg Mullavy's fine performance as the central character cannot obviate the wretchedness of the filmmaking. For technical incompetence, the film falls just this side of Ed Wood's oeuvre. A dull script further ensures a thoroughly unengrossing viewing experience.

Pass this one by. An unearthed gem is not to be found here.

It is the typical movie from the gloomy seventies speaking of a gloomy period for the United States, the post Vietnam war syndrom, traumatic period for thousands of men and women, veterans and their relatives. This indie production seems to have been made without any problems with any executives in the Hollywood manner. Everything here is the reflection of the seventies, counter culture, depressing era. It is shocking, desperate, painful, and strangely well acted for this kind of stuff. Some awful scenes, for instance a rape one. It is short, and that's better because a bit too talkative for me. It is a psychotronic, exploitation feature, as you had by hundreds in those times.

Wow! Can you say… disturbing!?! With "My Friends Need Killing", the undeservedly mocked director Paul Leder ("I Dismember Mama", "Ape") delivers one of the cheapest but also one of the all-time grittiest and most confronting post-Vietnam thriller/drama portraits ever! Like its own subject matter, this film is thoroughly unpleasant and depressing to watch, and the poverty-row production values actually contribute a lot to the powerful impact of the story. This is one obscure 70's gem sensitive souls and people with a weak stomach should stay far away from, as it's a genuinely shocking drama revolving on thought-provoking themes such as post-Vietnam traumas, guilt, retaliation and mental instability. Greg Mullavy gives an incredibly strong performance as Gene Kline, a man who lies awake night after night haunted by visions of the inhuman crimes he and his unit buddies committed in Vietnam and unceasingly hears the agonizing screams of their victims. Then, one morning, he writes his army comrades and subsequently visits them all with the vast determination to kill. Some of them, like Gill and Walter, deliberately banned the 'Nam atrocities from their minds and others, like Les, still struggle daily as well, but Gene vividly refreshes all their memories and foresees a suitable punishment. Considering the budgetary restrictions, the massacres obviously aren't too bloody, but the atmosphere of the "My Friends Need Killing" is almost unbearably excruciating and bitter. Even during the ex-soldiers' talkative reunion sequences, you simply feel how Paul Leder is building up towards a disturbing highlight. Mullavy is terrific, with a seemingly natural glance of despair and madness in his eyes, and he receives excellent support from the largely unknown cast. The song during the opening credits is catchy (and typically 70's) and the camera-work is surprisingly inventive for such an underdog film. "My Friends Need Killing" is definitely a cruel, relentless and nihilistic-toned piece of 70's film-making that is guaranteed to pester your thoughts long after seeing it. Music buffs will have noticed the title of this comment was borrowed from Billy Joel's Vietnam hit "Goodnight Saigon". Goodnight Saigon, all right … and also goodnight Texas, San Diego, Los Angeles and San Francisco.