Review of Funny Games (1997) by Ed Fucking H — 16 Apr 2010

I saw the 2008 remake of this before I saw the original, and I don't really understand what possesed Haneke to remake his own film almost frame for frame, but with American actors and in English. EVERYTHING from the soundtrack, to the camera angles to the costumes is pretty much identical. That being said I loved the American version as well as the original Austrian version, and this is why.

It's the ultimate FUCK YOU to the audience. Horror fan's get off on seeing people torn limb from limb in gruesome fashion and Haneke feel's that is fucked up, so he decided to make a film that would simply fuck with the audience. This is never made more clear than when things start to go the victim's way and one of the killer's picks up a remote control and goes back about a minute to prepare himself for what he now know's is about to happen. Haneke is telling you he could give the people what they want to see, and takes it back. I thought this bit was brilliant. It also features the killers winking at the audience right before what would be key plot scene's, so as to ruin the surprise and suspense. I also really liked when the wife ask's "Why don't you just kill us and get it over with" and one of the killer's responds "you underestimate entertainment value. Plus we aren't at the feature length time mark yet!" The movie simply breaks all of the rules of the horror genre and gives no apologies.

While I have been a fan of horror movies since I was kid, I am also a fan of artist's who intentionally alienate their audience. Before I discovered this film, Black Flag had been the most shining example of this tactic that I was aware of and I respected them more for their post-damaged era albums, as it was clear that they didn't give a shit about gaining anybodies respect or acceptance. They were doing whatever they wanted to do, and they were doing it for themselves. FUCK YOU!!

Anyway's see this movie if you want a clever critique of violence in entertainment. If you want your usual, predicatable, boring slasher flick, I would advise you to skip this one.