Funny Games is almost a word-for-word English language remake of the terrifying 1997 Austrian film. Although the movie is manipulative and the director/writer Michael Haneke seems to have nothing but contempt for the blood-lust of modern viewing audiences, it is still as gripping and disturbing an experience as the original.
It is difficult to understand why Haneke (Caché) felt compelled to recreate his original film for an American audience. Although probably intent on showing his vision and indictment on modern cinema to a wider number of people, it doesn’t really add anything to the original.
The films deals with a vacationing couple, Naomi Watts and Tim Roth, and the hellish and torturous nightmare that ensues thanks to some unwelcomed visitors. Upon arriving at their upper-middle class holiday home, they are paid a visit by a seemingly friendly young stranger and his friend, played to chilling and distressing perfection by Michael Pitt and Brady Corbet. What ensues is 112 minutes of pure tension and both fascination and utter repulsion at the unfolding events.
It is a very difficult film to watch and therefore hard to recommend. As the humiliating and torturous games unfold it is the audiences’ appetite for violence that is placed under the microscope. There are key moments where the fourth wall is broken to remind you of your complicity in this horribly violent and sadistic event. As opposed to the recent torture-porn phenomenon, which includes films such as
Hostel and
Saw,
Funny Games has very little gore but proves to be more upsetting than either of the aforementioned films.
With movies like
Caché, Haneke has proven to be incredibly talented at creating suspense and this film is no exception. The cast is uniformly excellent, in particular Naomi Watts in what is possibly her most physically and emotionally demanding role to date. Michael Pitt is frighteningly creepy as the remorseless and strangely polite visitor.
Funny Games is a motion picture experience that leaves the spectator feeling deeply disturbed and somewhat manipulated. This is by no means an entertaining experience, but more reminiscent of a dreadful nightmare. You will be relieved when it is finally over.
- Review by Sebastian Cordoba
Funny Games will be released in Australian cinemas on September 11.
You can view the trailer here on TheVine.