Funny Games U.S

[treachery]

The original Funny Games was made in Austria 1997. This is the US version made by the same director and released 2007.

The plot is fairly easy: A family is spending some quality time in their idyllic cabin when two guys drops by to borrow eggs.

Edited by Goza: ***** spoiler*****


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The situation soon gets out of hand and the two guys tie the family up and make a bet with them: the family will be dead within twelve hours.

If you, like me, think you’re in for a classic horror movie, you’re wrong. The two guys are representing the audience; bored and looking for some funny violence. For example, when taking a break from the terror, they say stuff like “anyone wants something from the kitchen?”. There are alot of lines like this, suggesting that they are just like the audience; here to watch some blood and gore for no apparent reason except to be amused.

They also break alot of the conventional rules of movie making; when it looks like the family might escape, a remote control is used to rewind the tape and stop them from escaping. In a few scenes one of the guys looks directly into the camera and say stuff like “how do you think we should kill them?” Thus, definetely breaking the barrier between audience and actors.

The family has absolutely no chance. They are there to amuse us by dying for no reason. I felt kind of bad after watching it. The statement is pretty clear and almost like a kick in the face. I’m not against video violence at all but this one made me think about it from another perspective. I didn’t find the movie judgemental; i found it provocative.



It’s really hard to grade this movie. It was pretty dull at some points which im pretty sure is intentional; we’re bored just like the two guys in the movies. We rented this movie to see some Funny Games!

Anyway, I think it’s a very strong statement and that the movie is executed very, very good. It’s not entertaining though. Not at all.

8/10

[delling]

Sounds interesting!

I'll try to grab it, just because you use your semi-colons so well.

[Goza]

Gasp!

I put a spoiler warning into your post. This movie works mostly when you don't know what happens in it.

I saw the US version last week, it's basically a 1:1 scene to scene remake of the original. I found the German version slightly better thou due to the actors.

[treachery]

ok wont argue but i dont think i spoiled the movie :]