Cheap Funny Games (DVD) (Susanne Lothar, Ulrich Mühe, Arno Frisch, Frank Giering) (Michael Haneke) Price

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Customer Reviews of Funny Games

It takes place in a forested lake area, where it seems people have their vacation homes. A family, the Schobers have just moved in for the summer, Anna, George and George jr. On their first day there, a young man shows up claiming to work for the family next door, asking to borrow some eggs. His behaviour first annoys the mother, Anna. Then, he's joined by his partner, Paul, who seems to be in charge. They take the family hostage and cruelly toy with them. It becomes quickly apparent that Anna is the strongest of the family. Whatever the young men tell about themselves is questionable, even their names, since its obvious they're just lying to have fun. So you're left not knowing anything about where they came from or what they're about. Eventually it's revealed the Schobers are not their first victims...and probably not their last.

Again it's not for all tastes, probably just a few. I didn't like what they did to the dog, though I was happy they did it off screen. But, all the violence to the humans happens in front of the camera. The two young men are brutal, seemingly cold blooded. But, nonetheless I found them engaging, particularly Paul (Arno Frisch). I found myself taken by the captors, then moved by the family, and then back again. Susanne Lothar, who plays Anna, gives a startling and moving performance.

Clever, effective and disturbing
It is a good idea to know something about this film before watching it.

On the surface it is that familiar thriller where strangers terrorize a family.

But really it is about how you, the viewer, are complicit in on-screen violence. This is the film's priority and it is not afraid to abandon its original, more traditional plot line - however bizarrely - whenever it feels right to emphasize this.

Remember. All these horrible things are happening because you won't switch off. Overly violent films only get made because people keep paying to go and see them.

The skill of the director of Funny Games is that he makes his point without resorting to hardly any on screen violence, unlike many of the films he parodying.

I strongly recommend this film but be warned - it is not a "date movie". See it on your own because it is impossible to know how people will react to it. If you like this film your friends may think you are SICK. You are not. But Funny Games brings home to you just how many films are.

You people must be cinematically sheltered
Looking over these reviews, a curious viewer may feel inclined to prepare him/herself for the most harrowing cinematic experiance of our time. I assure you, there is no need. The film, though entertaining in its sociopathic wit, is not nearly so disturbing as these reviews imply. "Watch it if you Dare"? More like "Watch it if you Care" I'd say.

A few things you should know before you invest your time
1) This movie bends many of the basic axioms of film-making, including the breaking of the fourth wall.
2) Every twist of fate, luck or misfortune favors these omnipotent Bad guys.
3) The ending is not "happy", but you won't lose sleep over it. 4)From the begining this movie is winking at you. Don't take it so seriously. I don't really think we are meant to care about this family of moronic suburbonites, anyway.
The inclusion of the audience, in the activity appears to have been incorporated for comic effect. This movie is more of a black comedy cum social commentary than anything else. Keep that in mind, and it will all make sense.

I find it odd that we are more disturbed by Funny Games (which is purely ficticious and hypothetical) than by a film like Fargo, which makes a rather insensitive comedy out of a true, gruesome kidnapping/murder.