Funny Games (1997)
Horror and thrilled are only really effective if you immerse your audience in the dark and drab atmosphere, pulling them in by the hairs of their neck and exploring the dire ends of humanity. For an on point horror film, indeed I feel much more than the other genres, each element needs to work for the frights and the entertainment to truly work. You can be shocking but you need to expand on your idea and home your message into a coherent structure that translates well enough to keep people up at night. Michael Haneke's Funny Games (the 1997 original instead of the unnecessary English version) is a complex film to get into but does it deliver on goods?
Set in the beautiful countryside of Austria, Funny Games tells the story of a family, Anna, Georg and Georg Jr, heading to their holiday home for the summer. Though initially sparked by the somewhat distant nature of their once warm neighbours, they see no course for alarm when they are introduced to Paul and Tom, young lads who have come round for to borrow a couple of eggs. However, their intentions unravel to reveal something more sinister and soon the family find themselves embroiled in a horrific game of survival as they are bet, can you live until 9 a clock on the morning?
Funny Games is often credited in being one of extremity and violence but you'd actually be surprised by how little there is. Haneke's drama and the horror that follows is based solely on the voyeurism aspect of the film. With sly nods and even conversations with the viewer from Paul completely drags is ok to the debacle and game. As a comment to those who lap up horror movies as more entertainment than anything, Funny Games becomes almost a dare to us "do you want me to blow their heads of? Are you enjoying this spectacle? Don't you feel any empathy?" The alarm from us comes from our presence twisting into another character, we are invited to feel more or care less and then feel judges for doing so. It’s wonderful clever, adding another charge of chills to the proceedings.
And Haneke gloriously demonstrates that movies such as Funny Games needn't be doused in hefty violence and torture porn. He delicate shows restraint, acquiring more gasps from the sounds of a scene as the visuals focus on a mundane activity. He knows how to hold the atmosphere and let it simmer in distress. This pacing is truly remarkable, showing moments of slow stirring frights and kinetic action with similar passion. Allowing his actors room to showcase grief and gravitas on either side of the games makes Funny Games equal parts disturbing and alluring, really powering the visceral graphic nature of the film rather than the blood splatter (though there is some involved)
Please do not seek out Haneke's pointless remake. Though it does well to translate, it is ultimate lost in the rehash, boasting only a terrific performance from Michael Pitt in the role of Paul. It's this 1997 version that will etch into your skin long after your first encounter. It's powerful and petrifying all at the same time. A master lass in horror and human nature