Deadly Friend (1986)

User Rating:

4.8/10   

Director:

Wes Craven

Writers:

Diana Henstell (novel)
Bruce Joel Rubin (screenplay)

Release Date:

10 October 1986 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Horror | Romance | Sci-Fi

Tagline:

Some people are just better off dead

Plot:

Paul is a new kid in town with a robot named "BB". He befriends Samantha and the three of them have a lot of good times together...

Plot Keywords:

Robot | Father | Abusive Father | Halloween | Neighbor

Awards:

3 nominations

Cast

Matthew Laborteaux	...	Paul Conway
Kristy Swanson	...	Samantha Pringle
Michael Sharrett	...	Tom 'Slime' Toomey
Anne Twomey	...	Jeannie Conway
Anne Ramsey	...	Elvira Parker
Richard Marcus	...	Harry Pringle
Russ Marin	...	Dr. Johanson
Lee Paul	...	Sergeant Volchek
Andrew Roperto	...	Carl
Charles Fleischer	...	BB (voice)
Robin Nuyen	...	Thief
Frank Cavestani	...	Angry resident
Merritt Olsen	...	CAT Scan Technician
William H. Faeth M.D.	...	Doctor in Sam's room
Joel Hile	...	Deputy

Also Known As:

A Maldição de Samantha (Brazil) [pt]
Amiga mortal (Spain) [es]
Der tödliche Freund (West Germany) [de]
Dovevi essere morta (Italy) [it]
Kauhu asuu naapurissa (Finland) [fi]
L'amie mortelle (France) [fr]
O Amigo Mortal (Portugal) [pt]
Obsesión fatal (Argentina) [es]
Przyjazn na smierc i zycie (Poland) [pl]
Skräcket som granne (Finland: Swedish title) [sv]
Thanasimos filos (Greece) [el]

Runtime:

91 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Iceland:16 | Germany:16 (re-rating) (2007) (uncut version) | West Germany:16 (original rating) (cut) | West Germany:18 (original rating) (uncut) | Netherlands:16 | Finland:K-16 (heavily cut) (1988) | Finland:K-18 (uncut) (2007) (self applied) | Argentina:18 | Australia:M | Finland:K-18 (cut) (1987) | France:-12 | Norway:15 | UK:18 | USA:R

Company:

Warner Bros. Pictures

Quotes:

Tom: Hey, she's dead? Hey, what the hell are you doing, you didn't say anything about a dead body, we were supposed to save her life!

Movie Connections:

Features A Summer Place (1959)

A clever, if dated take on Frankenstein

"Deadly Friend" is one of those horror films that came and went without a trace; but for a die hard horror fanatic like myself, it certainly had it's share of scares, humor, and yes, a surprising human touch.

Matthew Laborteaux (a "Little House on the Prairie" alum) plays Paul; an egghead teen with a robot pal named BB. In the course of the plot, he meets Samantha or "Sam" (Kristy Swanson), an abused, lonely girl who catches the eye of young Paul. Needlessly killed, by her drunk father, Paul vows to make wrongs right, by implanting BB's superchip into Sam's brain....and that my friends, is where the fun (or nightmares) begin.

Sam is confused about her new identity, and is naturally seen as a freak. She proceeds to take it out on the locals (including Anne Ramsey, of "Goonies" fame, with above all things; a basketball!!), who want this abomination to cease from existing. Wes Craven didn't quite score with this outing, even after the phenomenal success of "A Nightmare on Elm Street", but even a flop has it's own merits. Find this little gem, and be sure the lights aren't off!!

Grade: C+