My Friends Need Killing

(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.

Serious, unpleasant film deals with a Vietnam War vet who returns home to the U.S., but is unable to face life with his memories of war's atrocities...namely, the ones committed by him and his fellow servicemen. Riddled with guilt and despair, he is overcome by a grim new sense of duty...a duty to enforce 'justice' for the inhumane things he and his comrades did overseas. The story which unfolds is grievous and visceral, as he embarks on a road trip to hell with a few stops along the way...to see his old friends...friends that need killing.

This is a zero-budget affair, and its downcast voltage is enhanced by the lackluster grittiness of low production values.

Recommended, except to very sensitive people. 6.5/10

This is a low budget gem, it looks as if it was shot using the most basic equipment, the production values are non existent but the story of the deranged vietnam vet is one that stays in the mind for a while after viewing. Our hero goes on a killing spree, its a few years after he has served in nam and broke and depressed he decides to visit old friends. What could be more fun, what more could snap you out of a fit of depression than visiting ole buddies. Well this guy has different plans. Check this one out.

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.

Low budget tale of a Viet Nam vet who goes on a trip to kill his old army buddies who forced him to commit the atrocities he can't live with.

This short (73 minutes) film is very talky as everyone agonizes of their past deeds. Well done at times, a rape is particularly unpleasant, it still didn't add up to much for me, probably because I've seen too many Vet who can't cope turns violent films. I think it also doesn't help in that the movie wants to be both a look inside the mind of damaged soldier as well as being an exploitation film.

Its not bad, but in the end I was like, so? 4 out of 10