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Laurent Lucas, Sergi López, Mathilde Seigner, Liliane Rovere, Sophie Guillemin ... see more see more... , Dominique Rozan , Michel Fau , Laurie Caminata , Lorena Caminata , Victoire de Koster

Dominik Moll directs this black comedy about a family outing gone to hell. The film opens with Michel (Laurent Lucas) and Claire (Mathilde Seigner) on the edge of a nervous breakdown in a cramped hot ... read more read more...car with three screaming children. At a roadside rest stop, Michel meets Harry (Sergi Lopez) who, after some encouragement, recalls that they went to high school together. Harry and his girlfriend Plum (Sophie Guillemin) weasel their way into Michel and Claire's life, and soon the two are following the haggard family to their tumbledown summer cottage. Though he seems friendly enough, Michel and Claire start to notice that something is not quite right with their newfound friend -- he recites from memory a poem Michel wrote 20 years ago, he suddenly buys them an expensive new Jeep when their old car dies, and he has a tendency to kill people who get on his nerves. This film was screened in competition at the 2000 Cannes Film Festival. ~ Jonathan Crow, Rovi

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73% liked it

4,072 ratings

Critics

96% liked it

89 critics

R, 1 hr. 57 min.

Directed by: Dominik Moll, Dominik Mol

Release Date: April 20, 2001

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DVD Release Date: October 26, 2001

Stats: 188 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (188)

  • DrZeek
    January 28, 2007
    DrZeek
    A french thriller that takes a number of cues from Hitchcock.

    A man encounters another man and his family, claiming to be an old school friend of his. Hoping to rekindle the friendship, they share some time together. He seems like a nice man, but something lies beneath the surf... read moreace. It's a good movie that builds its tension slowly.
  • fb1144932598
    April 22, 2010
    fb1144932598
    Fascinating study of a man whose obsession with a former schoolmate is disguised as an overabundant willingness to "help". We are never quite sure what fuels this dark psychosis, but we know things aren't right almost from the beginning. The tension quietly builds to a violent cl... read moreimax and leaves the intended victim victorious. The action takes place mainly at the young couple's country chateau. The scenery is pretty, but somewhat nondescript. The script is subtle and drops clues but never fully reveals its destination until the very end. There is a sexual tension that hangs heavily over the story, but it is never blatant or explicitly brought out into the open. Just a general unease in Marcel (Laurent Lucas) and Claire (Mathilde Segnier) triggered by the presence of Harry (Sergi Lopez) and his earthy girlfriend, Prune (translated as Plum, and played by Sophie Guillemin). Well done effort by director Dominik Moll and one that kept this viewer intrigued for nearly two hours.
  • DrStrangeblog
    October 30, 2010
    DrStrangeblog
    Slow moving, low-key, low return French thriller (of sorts) follows rich playboy Harry's peculiar obsession with the long-dormant writing talents of a former schoolmate as he infiltrates his current family life. While I was modestly intrigued about where the paths would lead, th... read moree final half hour finds the characters reacting implausibly and the payoff is minimal, which is ironically suitable for this minimalist approach, and therefore the resulting disappointment precludes a recommendation. I have no doubt the dubbed version I saw was a hindrance as the voice acting, particularly for Harry's schoolmate, was hollow, but on the other hand I can't see any instances where there should've been fireworks.
  • jim222001us
    June 2, 2009
    jim222001us
    With A Friend Like Harry is about a family man named Michael who bumps into a man named Harry who claims he knew him in High School . Michael and his family are on their way to their summer cottage and Michael invites Harry to stay. Michael doesn't remember Harry but Harry remem... read morebers enough about Michael make him think that he just has a bad memory. Harry also can repeat word for word stories that Michael wrote in High School. He takes them very seriously and thinks Michael should finish a story that he started.

    However, Harry is nuts and wants to eliminate any stress in his life so he can focus on writing again. It starts out simple when he buys Michael a new truck since the family car has no air and breaks down. Michael doesn't like that since he likes to solve his own problems. While Harry also starts to think he needs to eliminate any person that is in Michael's way of being a writer, in Harry's opinion anyway.

    The movie was a good idea for a thriller but it can be silly and a bit slow. Sergi Lopez is very creepy though as Harry even the stories he's obsessed with are pretty goofy. I mean, he's obsessed with Michael finishing a sci-fi story about flying monkeys. We also get a strange dream sequence where Michael is even dreaming about a flying monkey. While the end is just simple with no big confrontation like an American film probably would have had. It's refreshing but anti-climatic, it still worked though I think since it didn't really need a big confrontation. The violence is kind of done in a dark comedy sort of way that I haven't seen since a Psycho film and I liked that about the movie .
  • alanjayh
    September 21, 2008
    alanjayh
    Smartly done French thriller, well acted with an intriguing yet simple plot. This movie will make you think the deeper you become involved watching it, but has a rewarding pay-off. Definitely a creepy, sinister, pychological
    experience!
  • Turfseer
    May 6, 2010
    Turfseer
    Serial killer's victim selection process remains unexplained

    *** This review may contain spoilers ***

    'Harry' is a story about an ordinary middle-class couple, Michel and Claire and their three young children. They're on their way to visit Michel's parents when they pull ov... read moreer at a rest stop. While Michel is in the bathroom, he's approached by Harry who identifies himself as a long lost high school acquaintance. Harry alludes to a poem that Michel wrote in high school along with a sci-fi novel as well as pointing to an incident in which Michel chipped his tooth while rough-housing during a soccer match.

    The problem is that Michel is unable to recognize Harry and this crucial plot point doesn't really ring true. It's unlikely that Michel would forget about Harry completely especially when we later learn that Michel's dentist father did some bridge work for him and Michel's brother Eric also can recall who he is. Somehow, the film's scenarists implausibly suggest that Michel has become emotionally stunted to the point where he's lost some of his basic memories.

    Harry is traveling with his bimbo girlfriend, Plum, and manage to get themselves invited back to Michel and Claire's summer house (the trip to Michel's parents is cancelled when one of their daughters develops a fever). Before you know it, Harry and Plum are sleeping over. Harry is positively creepy as a good number of his conversations involve one kind of sexual innuendo or another. Claire is a bit suspicious but Michel passively allows Harry to insinuate himself into their lives. It becomes obvious that Harry is totally obsessed with Michel, especially when he keeps encouraging him to start writing again?an avocation Michel dispensed with early on during high school.

    At first it appears that Michel will become the target of Harry's creepy obsession. But soon we see that it's Michel's parents Harry has it in for. He ends up showing up at their apartment late at night pretending that Michel is in trouble and coaxes the parents to follow him in his car to Michel and Claire's. On the way, Harry maneuvers his car behind the parents' car and manages to push them off the road, down a cliff. While the parents are killed, we never learn why. The only clue that's offered is that Harry was upset over some poor dental work that Michel's father was responsible for in the distant past.

    The death of the parents puts Michel into a tailspin. He closets himself away in the bathroom and begins obsessing about trying to finish his 'Flying Monkey' short story which he began in high school. Claire pays a visit to Harry at a hotel where Plum and he are now staying. She mentions to Harry that Michel is trying to write again and crazy Harry thinks that's a good thing. But Claire also makes it clear that Harry's no longer welcome back at the house. Meanwhile, Michel's brother Eric has shown up for the parents' funeral and Harry ends up doing him in too.

    The denouement makes little sense. Harry returns to Michel and Claire's summer house and kills Plum after she tells him she wants to start a family. Instead of hiding the body himself, he asks Michel to help him dispose of it by throwing it down a well in the front yard. After Michel helps Harry to dispose of Plum, Harry then simply asks Michel to help him slaughter Claire and the kids. Did you ever hear of a serial killer who becomes obsessed with one family member but wants to kill everyone else? In real life, serial killers end up killing everybody but not here! Michel comes to his senses and stabs Harry with a knife; he then throws him down the well and then shovels dirt so that the bodies will not be found.

    All's well that ends well when Claire asks Michel what happened to Harry and Plum and he tells them they had to leave but left "sending their love". The upside is that Harry stoked Michel's creative fires after all. He begins writing a new novel entitled "The Eggs" (Harry earlier had spoken approvingly of eating an egg every morning to help with virility). Claire tells Michel she read his new story and thinks it great that he's begun writing again.

    One problem is left unexplored. What happened with the investigation into Eric's disappearance? Wouldn't the police start poking around after Eric's friends start asking about him? And wouldn't they look at Michel as a possible suspect, especially after the recent mysterious deaths of their parents? Some internet posters have offered the dubious theory that Harry is actually the altar ego of Michel and that he is the actual murderer. I don't have the space to debunk that theory here but plenty of well-informed postings refute the entire fanciful idea.

    'A Friend Like Harry' expects you to figure out Harry's motives in trying to kill Michel's family as well as his obsession with Michel without much evidence. Yes, there are a few tantalizing clues thrown out here and there but the antagonist's motivations are intentionally left quite vague. And the fact that Harry makes no effort to hide his murderous nature from Michel at the film's end is almost laughable.

    'Harry' is a bit slow-moving but basically keeps your interest until the climax. Sergi Lopez can do little in the part of the demented Harry since the script calls for a character that's not plausible. Equally implausible is the character of Michel who never seems to have a clue that Harry wants to do harm to his family until the very end. Director Dominik Moll is obviously aiming for some Hitchcock-like suspense but leaves us with characters that do not add up in the end.
  • AlaineB
    February 6, 2010
    AlaineB
    Interesting take on obsession and morals. A bit slow if you like your violence fast and furious. More creepy than scary. There's killing, though, so thirst for blood can be slaked. I doubt I'll watch this again, but it was worth my time.
  • Mello44
    August 6, 2009
    Mello44
    Exciting leisurly walk with a psychopath. This film moves at a slow steady pace and is not for fans of "slasher among us" quick fix. Reminds me of Hitchcock and his subliminal protrayal of characters that appear normal and just have that certain creepiness we the viewer cannot ... read morequite put our finger on.
  • msvertigo
    April 24, 2008
    msvertigo
    this French film flirts with evil as a mans friend may or may not be a murderer ... or something more sinister? Great acting builds quiet tension this well done film.
  • sleepykiss
    October 10, 2007
    sleepykiss
    Slow-paced, psychological thriller/black comedy done with a French twist. The ending is worth the wait... so wait. Enjoyable.

View All With A Friend Like Harry Reviews

Critic Reviews

Jay Boyar
August 24, 2001
Jay Boyar, Orlando Sentinel

It's Lopez's understated charm in the role that ultimately makes this film as creepy as it is.

Michael Rechtshaffen
May 12, 2001
Michael Rechtshaffen, Hollywood Reporter

An artfully entertaining psychological thriller.

Ray Conlogue
May 11, 2001
Ray Conlogue, Globe and Mail

A rocking good entertainment. Full Review

Steve Murray
May 7, 2001
Steve Murray, Atlanta Journal-Constitution

It's a dry, cool character study that's primarily an exercise in tonal control - neither very funny nor very scary, but unnerving in a slow-burn way. Full Review

Joe Baltake
May 7, 2001
Joe Baltake, Sacramento Bee

It's nothing new, terribly recognizable, but, familiarity notwithstanding, it gets the job done. Full Review

Eric Harrison
May 4, 2001
Eric Harrison, Houston Chronicle

Unfortunately, the groove it settles into is a lot less interesting than the possibilities suggested earlier. Full Review

Desmond Ryan
May 3, 2001
Desmond Ryan, Philadelphia Inquirer

Brooding and sardonic in tone and beautifully sustained in its tension.

Michael O'Sullivan
April 27, 2001
Michael O'Sullivan, Washington Post

Very funny, in that morbid sort of way that makes you laugh even as you shudder with horror. Full Review

Rita Kempley
April 27, 2001
Rita Kempley, Washington Post

All of the actors are persuasive. Full Review

Bob Graham
April 27, 2001
Bob Graham, San Francisco Chronicle

Anybody so inclined can connect the dots, and they lead not only to the weirdly seductive Robert Walker in Hitchcock's Strangers on a Train but to the sudden, luminous interiors of Kubrick's The Shini... Full Review

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