Review of Benny's Video (1992) by Paul Z — 26 Jul 2008

Anyone who ignores the whole idea of Haneke authentically slaughtering animals for his films because they think that someone who complains about it doesn't care about the humans that are killed is being absurd. THE HUMANS AREN'T DYING FOR REAL! THE ANIMALS ARE! Why is that so hard to fathom? The pig in Benny's Video that was squealing for its life and then impaled through the head? REAL. The horse that gets stabbed in the throat in Time of the Wolf? REAL. He's also killed actual animals in two or three of his other movies. What the hell does this man really think of animals? I'm sure he doesn't have any pets, unless he strangles or tortures them for his amusement. When a friend or host's dog approaches him, what does he do? Kick it?

I don't think it's necessary at all in his movies for the animals to die, because it never serves any real purpose for the plot. It's interchangeable with something else or nothing at all. I also don't think it is EVER even close to being within the same ballpark of necessary or considerable to kill anything or anybody for real for a movie. Anybody who thinks I'm wrong, I would love for you to respond in kind. I cannot wait to hear why in the world it would be necessary!