See, usually, when American violence in media is critiqued, it’s usually through analytic studies or overly exaggerated lectures stirring moral panic. Instead of doing this, however, auteur Michael Haneke decided to surpass the crime genre, playing with the form and emotions in Funny Games. It’s terrifying, not because it immediately delves into the violence, but because it starts off with an ordinary, innocuous visit, that gradually escalates into an unpredictable home invasion where two teenagers inflict needless violence in such a scary yet spectacular way, even involving the viewer into their shenanigans. Ironically, this led to Haneke creating a shot-for-shot American remake of this same story, but Funny Games’ break in form made Haneke a director to remember, as he started to film outside his native Austria after the standout thriller.
Synopsis
Two psychotic young men take a mother, father, and son hostage in their vacation cabin and force them to play sadistic "games" with one another for their own amusement.
Storyline
After the well-off Schober family settle in their holiday home, two psychotic young men take them hostage and force them to a series of sadistic games.
TLDR
In hindsight, it was rather silly of me to expect not to feel bad after this film. This is Haneke, after all.
What stands out
You know how Deadpool cheekily breaks the fourth wall for comedic effect? Yeah, I prefer that over the winks from the two strangers here. Terrifying!
