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IMDbPro

Deadly Friend

  • 19861986
  • RR
  • 1h 31m
IMDb RATING
5.5/10
7.8K
YOUR RATING
Kristy Swanson in Deadly Friend (1986)
Official Trailer
Play trailer1:22
1 Video
99+ Photos
  • Drama
  • Horror
  • Sci-Fi
After his friend is killed by her abusive father, the new kid in town attempts to save her by implanting a robotic microchip into her brain.After his friend is killed by her abusive father, the new kid in town attempts to save her by implanting a robotic microchip into her brain.After his friend is killed by her abusive father, the new kid in town attempts to save her by implanting a robotic microchip into her brain.
IMDb RATING
5.5/10
7.8K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Wes Craven
  • Writers
    • Diana Henstell(based on the novel "Friend" by)
    • Bruce Joel Rubin(screenplay by)
  • Stars
    • Matthew Labyorteaux
    • Kristy Swanson
    • Michael Sharrett
Top credits
  • Director
    • Wes Craven
  • Writers
    • Diana Henstell(based on the novel "Friend" by)
    • Bruce Joel Rubin(screenplay by)
  • Stars
    • Matthew Labyorteaux
    • Kristy Swanson
    • Michael Sharrett
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 89User reviews
    • 76Critic reviews
    • 44Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 4 nominations

    Videos1

    Deadly Friend
    Trailer 1:22
    Deadly Friend

    Photos105

    Kristy Swanson in Deadly Friend (1986)
    From Beyond the Grave (1974)
    Anne Twomey in Deadly Friend (1986)
    Kristy Swanson in Deadly Friend (1986)
    Matthew Labyorteaux and Anne Twomey in Deadly Friend (1986)
    Kristy Swanson in Deadly Friend (1986)
    Kristy Swanson in Deadly Friend (1986)
    Kristy Swanson in Deadly Friend (1986)
    Anne Ramsey in Deadly Friend (1986)
    Deadly Friend (1986)
    Deadly Friend (1986)
    Deadly Friend (1986)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Matthew Labyorteaux
    Matthew Labyorteaux
    • Paulas Paul
    • (as Matthew Laborteaux)
    Kristy Swanson
    Kristy Swanson
    • Samanthaas Samantha
    Michael Sharrett
    Michael Sharrett
    • Tomas Tom
    Anne Twomey
    • Jeannieas Jeannie
    Anne Ramsey
    Anne Ramsey
    • Elviraas Elvira
    Richard Marcus
    Richard Marcus
    • Harryas Harry
    Russ Marin
    Russ Marin
    • Dr. Johansonas Dr. Johanson
    Lee Paul
    Lee Paul
    • Sgt. Volchekas Sgt. Volchek
    Andrew Roperto
    • Carlas Carl
    Charles Fleischer
    Charles Fleischer
    • BBas BB
    • (voice)
    Robin Nuyen
    Robin Nuyen
    • Thiefas Thief
    Frank Cavestani
    Frank Cavestani
    • Angry Residentas Angry Resident
    Merritt Olsen
    • CAT Scan Technicianas CAT Scan Technician
    William H. Faeth
    • Doctor in Sam's Roomas Doctor in Sam's Room
    • (as William H. Faeth M.D.)
    Joel Hile
    Joel Hile
    • Deputyas Deputy
    Tom Spratley
    Tom Spratley
    • Neighboras Neighbor
    Jim Ishida
    Jim Ishida
    • Coroneras Coroner
    Nancy E. Barr
    Nancy E. Barr
    • Robotas Robot
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Wes Craven
    • Writers
      • Diana Henstell(based on the novel "Friend" by)
      • Bruce Joel Rubin(screenplay by)
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Director Wes Craven and screenwriter Bruce Joel Rubin's original vision for the film was a PG-rated supernatural science fiction thriller, with the primary focus being on the macabre love story between Paul and Samantha, as well as a secondary focus on the adults around them and how they are truly monsters inside themselves. Craven filmed this version of the film and Warner Bros. decided to screen it to a test audience mostly consisting of Craven's fans. The response from fans was negative, criticizing the lack of violence and gore seen in Craven's previous films. The studio eventually discovered Craven's popularity as a horror film director. The president of Warner Bros. at the time, Mark Canton, demanded Rubin write six additional gore scenes into his script, each bloodier than the last. Rubin worked very hard with Craven to create a very deep and heartfelt movie out of it. Unfortunately, added gore scenes, re-shoots and post production re-editing of the movie heavily changed the original story. Craven and Rubin expressed strong anger at the studio and thus disowned the film.
    • Goofs
      Sam would have had her head shaved prior to her brain surgery.
    • Quotes

      Sam: [Samantha has a nosebleed] Do you have some ice?

      Jeannie Conway: Oh my God. Come on in. Sit down. Paul, get some ice.

      [to Samantha]

      Jeannie Conway: Hold your head back, back.

      [to Paul]

      Jeannie Conway: Hurry.

      [to Samantha]

      Jeannie Conway: What happened?

      Sam: Nothing. I just get them sometimes.

      Paul Conway: Here you go.

      Jeannie Conway: Listen, sweetheart, this may be butting in where I don't belong, but don't you think someone should say something?

      Sam: For what, a nosebleed? Come on, I've had them since I was a kid. Ice will take care of it. I just forgot to fill the tray.

      Jeannie Conway: Oh, Sam, I don't like this.

      Sam: I hate them.

      Jeannie Conway: C'mon you know what I mean. It's criminal. He could go to jail.

      Sam: He's my father. Sometimes I want to roll a truck over his face but he's still my father.

    • Alternate versions
      The original release of the movie contained cuts which were implemented by the MPAA in order to prevent an X rating. Scenes for which movie kept getting X rating were all the gore scenes which were re-shot by studio orders. Movie was submitted to the MPAA 13 times before it finally got an R rating. Uncut scenes have been restored on the DVD release from the Twisted Terror Collection released by Warner Bros. on Sept. 25th, 2007. These scenes are:
      • When Samantha is dreaming about her father coming into her bedroom and she breaks a vase and stabs him with it, close-ups of Sam's face getting hosed with blood are present.
      • After Samantha murders her father in the basement boiler, Paul comes in and pulls the upper half of his body from the boiler and you get several more seconds and close-ups of his charred skeletal face.
      • The infamous 'basketball' scene in which Samantha kills Elvira with a basketball is extended to show more of Elvira's head exploding all over the wall and her headless body walking directly from the wall instead of cutting back to Samantha's face and then showing the body walking around as in the VHS release.
    • Connections
      Featured in The Directors: The Films of Wes Craven (1999)

    User reviews89

    Review
    Top review
    6/10
    OK horror from Craven.
    A few people have said that it's an undiscovered treasure, more people have stated that it's possibly Wes Craven's worst movie (haven't they seen "Shocker"?); I simply found it to be an OK, average horror offering that merely helps you kill two hours. The first half plays almost like a well-observed drama, but after Swanson has been "resurrected" the film becomes just too silly to work. The "infamous" basketball scene, however, is undeniably great; you'll have to rewind the tape multiple times to get the full effect of it! (**1/2)
    helpful•9
    6
    • gridoon
    • Mar 30, 2002

    FAQ2

    • Is there a book?
    • What are the differences between the British VHS Version and the Uncensored Version?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • October 10, 1986 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • A.I.
    • Filming locations
      • Midwest Street, Warner Brothers Burbank Studios - 4000 Warner Boulevard, Burbank, California, USA
    • Production companies
      • Warner Bros.
      • Pan Arts
      • Layton
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $8,988,731
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $3,804,429
      • Oct 13, 1986
    • Gross worldwide
      • $8,988,731
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 31 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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