Written and directed by Brian Patrick Butler, Friend of the World is the most bizarre film I have sat down to watch recently. There is no doubt Butler intended for this bewilderment, as the scenes were very deliberately written and filmed. Although it technically falls within the post-apocalyptic category, Friend of the World defies any specific genre.
With most of the world ending at some point due to a war, the film takes place in a dark and dank bunker. A crackpot general (Nick Young) and filmmaker (Alexandra Slade) make their way through the structure, with a few disturbing surprises along the way.
Friend of the World will absolutely not be for every genre fan. Shot mostly in black-and-white, it is Troma-meets-art film. Deranged images are thrown at the viewer, with Butler taking little time or care to explain what you are seeing. With a 50-minute runtime, the film stays at an even pace while maintaining a cramped, dreadful feeling. Showing the film mostly in black-and-white was a wise choice, allowing the location to be more effective and suffocating. The special effects looked decent, with a couple of nice up-close shots.
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The acting, falling primarily on the shoulders of Nick Young and Alexandra Slade, was surprisingly solid. Young had a much more purposely over-the-top performance while Slade remained level-headed, keeping the film grounded. The unexpected humor thrown in was appreciated, as it helped break up the claustrophobia.
Friend of the World is truly an acid trip of a movie, and I admit I would struggle to fully explain what I watched, but… it was oddly enjoyable. Being such a niche film, I am not sure who the intended audience would be, but Brian Patrick Butler at least gained one fan tonight.
The film is now streaming free on PLEX TV and available on Vimeo.
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