Review of Funny Games (1997) by Ryan R — 07 Apr 2008
Just got finished doing a double screening of "Funny Games", first the original, and then the shot-by-shot American remake, and here are some thoughts.
The film is effective not because it's scary or graphic, but because the events on the screen are events you don't want to happen. It's not a horror movie, but it is a good example of how to create an air of suspense and just keep it going for almost two hours. The film is tense, and there were times when I squirmed in my seat just because I didn't want to watch the events proceeding.
Violence is left mostly up to the imagination, and there are moments when a character break sthe fourth wall to speaks with the audience. A lot of people say this took them out of the movie, but I found it did the opposite, and I found myself drawn in more just because I didn't want this character to be involving me in the proceedings.
The film also has a somewhat self-righteous "moral" at the end, about how by watching the movie you've proved that people are drawn to see suffering in media for entertainment, but it strikes me as a little off. However, this is a great thriller and a truly uncomfortable movie to watch without having to resort to splattering blood.
This review of Funny Games (1997) was written by Ryan R on 07 Apr 2008.
Funny Games has generally received positive reviews.
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