PLOT: Follows a group of teens as they come across a strange object that tests their loyalties to each other and has increasingly destructive consequences the deeper into the game they go.
REVIEW: The idea of a mysterious object disrupting a group of friends’ lives isn’t new, but The Friendship Game has some fun along the way. It asks the question: what would you do if your best friends leave you behind? It’s one that many people have either experienced or at least pondered, so there’s already a good starting point to get the audience. Unfortunately, I’m not really sure that it’s presented in the most palatable of ways.
The Friendship Game is structured in a very interesting way: separating the narrative of each person by segment. Every aspect of how it unfolds in the opening feels like it’s trying to carve its own path rather than ride the same tired roads. It’s too bad they seemingly drop this after the first act and becomes increasingly generic. And that’s not to say that all of these elements even work. In fact, I’d say one pretty major element of the story comes across as very unrealistic and hokey: the hacker teenager. He’s somehow able to hack into everyone’s webcams and bares witness to the horrific events. That’s not even getting into the other aspect of his character. But I’m getting ahead of myself.
Despite the fact that they’re pretty much selling the film on her presence, Peyton List feels very miscast as the lead. She’s proven in the past that she’s a more than capable actress, I just don’t think she works as a weirdly likable misfit. Really, no one seems comfortable in their role. The dialogue is really rough, with characters talking through a lot of the exposition. But the words themselves don’t really do them any favors either. “Guy sees you in that dress, it’s gonna be his ass that needs saving.” Excuse me, what? There doesn’t feel like a single genuine moment between any of these kids. And with a film that’s supposed to be about friendship, that seems like a colossal misstep.
Visually, the film is really appealing with several notable set pieces, like a massive warehouse party and a laser tag facility. This is really where the movie shines and is easily the most visually interesting aspect. They often take the audience in and out of scenes and play with the narrative. It’s just not done consistently enough for it to really feel like anything other than a parlor trick. Same with the random killer angle that pops up, solidly planting this in the more generic territory.
I was very confused as to why they even introduced a physical object to set forth the events. I can only really compare this box at the film’s center to that of the lament configuration from Hellraiser. But it doesn’t get nearly enough of a role to even deserve the comparison. It’s essentially just there as a quick plot device to give some cosmic horror to the events that are unfolding. We never get a proper set of rules or even a visual representation of the horror at hand. Because of this, there’s not much terror to be had here.
I had a lot of hope for The Friendship Game after the very strong start, but eventually, it just falls into the same old schtick. There were no stakes here and nothing to really get me invested. Whenever there’s some kind of device that wreaks havoc on someone’s life, there need to be rules, that way we as the viewer, know what the limitations are. Because limitations are scary in horror. Freddy Krueger is scary because even if you know you’re safe while awake, the moment you dream, you’re screwed. Here, there are no rules and therefore just wanders aimlessly rather than charting a path. It takes an interesting premise and fumbles it.
The Friendship Game is IN THEATERS, ON DIGITAL, AND DEMAND ON NOVEMBER 11, 2022.
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