Funny Games (1997)
Haneke really knows how to make the viewer feel unconformable. This has the same level of relentless unpleasantness as Martyrs, showing you don’t need gratuitous visual violence to instill dread and terror. The gradual switch from just slightly annoying neighbors to terror is masterfully done. There is something a bit off from the beginning, but through their good manners and subtle guilt tripping, the fear comes sneaking in. Haneke plays with our expectations forces us to think why we keep watching. Backed up by terrifyingly convincing performances from the husband and wife. Especially that one long take showing the messiness of ultimate grief is the best (and worst) I have ever seen. Not a pleasant film to watch after you have just tucked the kids in for the night.
Hanekes message about violence in film is simple enough - and always completely relevant. Like many other teenagers I loved violent movies, especially from Tarantino, and I have had my fair share of a period where nothing could get violent enough. And to quote Tarantino, it is just so much fun. But also quite disconcerting. I have in recent years been less interested in the violence for entertainment type of movies, but instead been drawn to films that literally causes knots in my stomach. Like Martyrs, Irreversible, Come and see, Utøya: July 22 and now this. Include another Haneke in that list as well, Das Weise Band. Of course it is great to be able to feel something from a film, but why are we drawn to the horrible? I don’t have the answer, but it is usually the really unpleasant movies that have the most impact.
Rating: 5