A New York writer reels in the aftermath of the unexpected death of her lifelong mentor. In the midst of mourning him, she finds that she is the one left to deal with his complicated literary legacy, three ex-wives, and a massive Great Dane. A film by Scott McGehee & David Siegel, starring Naomi Watts, Bill Murray, Sarah Pidgeon, Carla Gugino, Constance Wu, Noma Dumezweni, Ann Dowd, Felix Solis, Owen Teague, Josh Pais, Tom McCarthy, Bruce Norris, and Bing.
The FRIEND
Scott McGehee • David Siegel
(2025)
During a dinner, acclaimed writer and college professor Walter (Bill Murray) recounts yet again the story of how he found his beloved dog Apollo. He tells his guests about a morning jog in Brooklyn Bridge Park where he stumbled upon a Great Dane sitting atop one of the hills directly beneath the bridge.
Currently collaborating with Walter’s daughter Val (Sarah Pidgeon) on a book called “The Letters,” his lifelong friend and protégé Iris (Naomi Watts) remains skeptical. Iris doesn’t believe his tale is authentic, suspecting he invented it merely to entertain his dinner guests. Walter, however, maintains that his story about meeting Apollo is absolutely true.
After learning of Walter’s sudden death, Iris finds herself replaying his voicemail messages, seeking comfort in the sound of his voice. There she finds a message from him asking her to come help him boot up his old computer, a bittersweet reminder of their connection now severed forever. At the wake, Iris meets Walter’s widow Barbara (Noma Dumezweni) along with his former wives Elaine (Carla Gugino) and Tuesday (Constance Wu).
She finds herself naturally connecting with Barbara and Elaine, while her interactions with Tuesday remain noticeably strained. Although Iris doesn’t have anything against Tuesday, she can’t help feeling that Tuesday doesn’t like her very much, and she often finds herself irritated by Tuesday’s behavior. Barbara asked Iris to stop by the house later because she needs to talk to her about something.
At Barbara’s house, she confides in Iris that Walter quitting teaching was a mistake since he loved it so much. She hints that Walter was forced to stop because of some misconduct, suggesting this might have contributed to his suicide. However, the real reason Barbara invited Iris over is that she wants Iris to take Apollo. When Iris tries to get out of it by saying her building doesn’t allow dogs, Barbara explains that Apollo can’t stay with her and needs a new home.
Barbara admits she never even liked dogs, revealing that she and Walter had a big fight about Apollo until Walter assured her that Iris was his backup plan if anything happened. Iris reluctantly gives in after Barbara insists she’s not making this up and reminds her that she was Walter’s best friend. Barbara promises Apollo is perfectly behaved: he knows all commands, doesn’t bark or destroy things, and most importantly, won’t jump on the bed.
Back at her apartment, after climbing several flights of stairs because Apollo flat-out refused to enter the elevator, Iris watches in disbelief as the dog immediately jumps onto her bed. She repeatedly tells Apollo to get off, but he just lies there, completely ignoring her commands. It’s such a hilarious moment when Iris realizes that Barbara lied to her about Apollo being obedient. She suspects everything else Barbara told her was probably just lies to get rid of the dog. With no other options, Iris ends up sleeping on the floor while Apollo sprawls comfortably across her bed.
Written and directed by American filmmaking duo Scott McGehee & David Siegel, The FRIEND is a dark comedy drama adapted from Sigrid Nunez’s 2018 novel of the same name.
Sigrid Nunez is an acclaimed American novelist and essayist, known for her thoughtful explorations of relationships, identity, and the complexities of modern life. Nunez’s work has appeared in major literary journals and she has received numerous honors, such as the Whiting Writer’s Award, the Berlin Prize Fellowship, and two awards from the American Academy of Arts and Letters. Her books have been translated into thirty languages, and she has taught at prestigious institutions including Columbia, Princeton, and Boston University. The Friend (2018) is one of Nunez’s most significant works, earning her the National Book Award for Fiction and critical acclaim internationally. The novel centers on an unnamed writer who, after the suicide of her lifelong friend and mentor, unexpectedly becomes the caretaker of his massive Great Dane, Apollo. The Friend was recognized as a New York Times bestseller and included in the New York Times list of the “100 Best Books of the 21st Century”.
For the most part, the film is quite endearing when it focuses on the relationship between Iris and Apollo. It feels like Apollo is the true center of the story, the star of the show, even though Iris narrates everything. I just can’t take my eyes off Apollo as he does whatever he pleases while remaining remarkably quiet and calm throughout.
Translating everything perfectly from book to film proves challenging. The narrative attempts dark comedy that never gets dark enough, while the dramatic moments lack sufficient emotional impact. Several supporting characters have interesting subplots that don’t lead anywhere, they simply appear for a scene or two before disappearing completely from the story.
I gave the movie three stars for the story, plus an extra star for the giant dog’s performance. I was so relieved he didn’t die at the end! That said, I hated how the filmmakers played with our emotions, tricking us into thinking he might.
The FRIEND premiered at the Telluride Film Festival on 30 August 2024. The film received a limited theatrical release in the United States on 4 April 2025, before expanding nationwide on 28 March by Bleecker Street.
