Funny Games

A few good ideas and an appropriately chilling premise, both carefully walled in by self-indulgence. Unexpected winks at the viewer are not a bad idea, but they destroy the built-up atmosphere of unpredictability and absolute fear. And is it satire? So why does Haneke present disturbing scenes and make the heroes suffer physically and mentally in several-minute shots? This unbearably artificial "depth" is just a self-absorbed means to attract attention. Attention from a decent portion of viewers who will enthusiastically talk about the psychologically tense thriller, which it is not at all. I don't question anyone's taste, but a film that can literally destroy its story with a bizarre trick involving a remote control and a desperately mundane ending is not worth closer attention from me. (09/02/2009)

Michael Haneke made a good film and he knew it had to be a good film. There's excellent psychological play here; it's immensely depressing, and the scene with the remote control enhances the feeling that there's no escape. This is the strongest aspect of the film. But it's also just a rehash of what he's already done. And with the new version, it didn't add anything extra to it. He just got it overseas to a wider audience. (16/06/2017)

Masterfully arranged psychological terror without music, with a static camera and a minimum of editing. Disturbing, cheeky, ruthless, haughty, scary, unpleasant. Michael Haneke is a directing genius and maybe a bit of a devil. I was glued to my seat from the first minute to the last. The only things that somewhat spoiled my overall impression of the film were the “remote control” scene and winking at the camera, as the director too ostentatiously and, above all unnecessarily, emphasizes the know-how on which he based his work. Why disrupt an intense and original thriller with the “film experiment” label? Nevertheless, Funny Games remains a rebellious, brilliantly cast masterpiece, which, after composing my thoughts, I’m giving a full five-star rating. (24/08/2008)

My second Michael Haneke film after The White Ribbon. I find it unnecessary to rate or comment further on the script and direction, as both are on such a monumental and professional level that any rating I give would be insufficient. :) What I am able to somewhat describe are the feelings I had while watching this film. I think what struck me the most was both the physical and mental degradation of Naomi Watts’ character (when I think of how she looked at the beginning and compare it to the final half hour, it still makes my heart sink). From the very first moment the plot begins to focus on those two monsters and their, to me personally, incomprehensible and unimaginably disgusting practices, I had a very hard time stomaching it. But what amazed me the most was the dialogue between "those two", which occasionally made me laugh for reasons I am unable to discern (maybe pity, absurdity, or despair over the future fate of the family, I don't know...). In any case, Michael Haneke has my deepest admiration for this work, and I have been a fool to ignore him and thus his work until now. The choice of actors is impeccable. (13/03/2010)

I don't have the slightest interest in seeing the original German version, and that's kind of uncharacteristic for someone of my background. In the end, this disinterest in comparison indicates a slight contempt. I don't see anything attractive, interesting, or alarming about Funny Games. I was made to watch an entire Kubrick film in the past, and if he dealt with the unaddressed violence in A Clockwork Orange, he at least gave himself a job to do with the other motifs that are missing here, replaced only by an uninteresting loop from which there is seemingly no escape. Of course, Michael Pitt is not a bad actor, but I've seen his brash youthful style that shies away from nothing capitalized on much better. Finally, Naomi Watts is also a name that resonates in certain circles, as she is often sought after by popular directors, but as it happens, if you want to surprise with a strong female character, it's a classic joke to wrap that strength in the non-conflicted package of a petite blonde. (15/06/2017)