All the Wrong Friends is a fascinating indie thriller released in 2016, directed and written by Ryan Hawkins and Mark Kerins. The movie stars Nick Commella as Ray, Ricco Fajardo as Niko, and Tom Gelo as Leroy in the leads. The story follows a group of four friends who reunite ten years after graduating high school for one wild night out in Houston, Texas. But everything goes wrong, and the night takes a dark turn as the secrets of the past come back to haunt them.
The opening sequence sets the tone for the rest of the film as we see a teenage girl being attacked by a mysterious masked man. The scene then transitions to Ray, who is seen on his laptop searching for something. Cut to ten years later, Ray contacts his old buddies Niko and Leroy to come to Houston to hang out for the night. They agree, and the three meet up at a bar before heading out to a party.
The night out soon turns disastrous when they run into a mysterious woman named Rachel, a former classmate who is also at the party. Rachel is the one who tells them about the murder of a teenage girl that happened back in their high school days, quickly putting the friends on edge. As the night progresses, Ray becomes increasingly paranoid, convinced that someone is watching them. Niko and Leroy brush it off as his imagination running wild, but soon they realize that something sinister is going on.
The movie unfolds as a nightmarish, tense, and intense thriller with a sci-fi edge to it. The film takes place in one night, and the action never lets up, keeping the audience on the edge of their seats. The pacing and the editing are both impressive, with the tension building with each passing minute. The camera work is also well done, with plenty of close-ups and quick cuts to capture the characters' facial expressions and reactions.
The performances are fantastic, with Nick Commella leading the pack as the anxious and paranoid Ray. He perfectly captures the character's emotional state, making the audience feel every bit of his fear and anxiety. Ricco Fajardo and Tom Gelo also give strong performances as Niko and Leroy, respectively. And the supporting cast, including Daryl Anthony Harper and Alex R. Wagner, adds depth and intrigue to the story.
One of the most impressive aspects of All the Wrong Friends is how it masterfully blends genres. It's both a thriller and a science-fiction film, with the story taking a twist that you're unlikely to see coming. The film is not only about the characters but also about themes such as guilt, secrets, and the consequences of our actions. It's a smart movie that keeps you engaged not only with the characters but also with the story's ideas.
The film's soundtrack is also worth mentioning, with an eerie and unsettling score that adds to the movie's overall atmosphere. The choice of music is spot on, and it heightens the tension and the overall experience.
In conclusion, All the Wrong Friends is an excellent thriller that keeps you engaged from beginning to end. The film's smart blend of genres, impressive performances, and tight pacing makes it a must-see for fans of the genre. It's a film that deserves more recognition, and it's an excellent example of how indie movies can be as good, if not better than big-budget productions.
All the Wrong Friends is a 2020 horror movie with a runtime of 1 hour and 18 minutes.
It has received mostly poor reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 3.7.
