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Funny Games on DVD (1997)

Funny Games cover art
Average rating: (70%)
1214511122069
3.5
 
Starring: Susanne Lothar | Ulrich Muhe | Frank Giering | Arno Frisch
Director: Michael Haneke
Studio: TARTAN VIDEO
Run time: 104 mins
Certificate: 18
User collections: Best. Horror. Ever. | Almost a Five Star !!! | Dark films about death, life and our eternal pessimism. | truelly great films | Cut the crap/don't believe the hype - the real best films. | I like these, you might too! | My All-Time Favourite Foreign Flicks
Genres: Thriller | World Cinema
Languages: German
Subtitles: English
Released: 19/02/2001

Brief synopsis of Funny Games

A powerfully graphic film (even though no violence is ever shown on the screen itself) about an Austrian family who goes on a country vacation and become the victims of two cold-blooded psychopaths who are out to torture them with their "funny games." Haneke's point, that fictional violence is as real as the real world's, is presented chillingly in this extremely well-acted, yet potentially offensive effort. Weak of stomach, beware.

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Critics Reviews

Rating of 3 stars out of 5 Radio Times

This controversial, cautionary tale from Austrian director Michael Haneke is lauded in some circles for being an uncompromising study of on-screen violence and, in others, as the worst type of exploitation that panders to the same base instincts it purports to lay bare. It follows two young men who inveigle their way into the holiday home of a middle-class family and subject them to degrading torture and sickening humiliation. Haneke's deconstruction of matter-of-fact terror is radical and thought-provoking, but also too clever by half. Setting out to appal the senses with a catalogue of true horror, Haneke succeeds in his aim with a powerful “shockumentary“ that's hard to watch — deliberately. It's definitely not for the faint-hearted.

Rating of 3 
	  stars out of 4 Halliwell's Film Guide

A disturbing film, intended as a polemic against film-makers and audiences who enjoy gratuitous violence; the violence here is presented in a way to make it seem painful rather than thrilling.

New York Times

"...[A] beautifully acted and paced German variant of CAPE FEAR..."

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Members Reviews

Reviews Voted Most Helpful

Rated - 1 starsUtter rubbish! Avoid!!

wikkidsmyle from Newmarket , 27/07/2006

This film has no redeeming qualities at all - I wouldn't want to waste any more of my life even trying to begin to explain how bad this film is - it was like watching a rusty nail descending through a jar of honey - totally pointless. I only gave it one star because there's no option to give no stars.

  30 out of 32 people found this review helpful
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Rated - 5 starsAnti-Hollywood at its finest

stuart lomas from Sunny Exmouth , 02/03/2005

As Haneke said : Some people leave before the end of my films and thats fine, they obviously didnt need it, its those who see it through that not only need it but will ultimately understand my work.

I feel sorry for those in the former catagory, for Haneke offers so much more than the dreary, big budget, happily ever after Spielberg style that we have become bogged down with. This is the antithesis of the sickly, schmultzy Hollywood crap which we are becoming more and more tired of. This is quite simply a great film and my advice is simple. Watch it, its good to be shocked, thats how boundaries are pushed and Haneke is most certainly doing that (even if you agree with nothing else).

  14 out of 15 people found this review helpful
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Rated - 2 stars 2 stars for disturbing 5 for shock value

Scully from Rochford, Essex , 09/04/2005

Always watch a film first without reading or knowing of any hype surrounding it and you always get your freshest opinion... well, I certainly did in this case. I was genuinely uncomfortable viewing this as I realise you are supposed to (if not, then you should be in a cell of the padded kind). Every family's nightmare of the harshest invasion to your home and loved ones. Mental and physical cruelty abound as the two glove wearing intruders torture a family in their holiday home. I appreciated this film certainly more AFTER watching it rather than during!!

  11 out of 11 people found this review helpful
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Rated - 5 starsDisturbing, controversial and very interesting.

SimonANDSara from London , 27/01/2004

The lack of explicit violence does not make this film any less disturbing, but adds to the eerie atmosphere of the film, and consequently makes the film even more subversive. Directly after I’ve watched this film I felt appalled and considered “Funny Games” to be the worst film I’ve ever seen. But it didn’t take long before I realise that this is the effect the director tries to achieve, and even though disturbing seems to be Haneke’s trademark, this film is so original and heart wrenching that I would sincerely recommend it to anyone interested in extremely subversive cinema (I am aware of the pretentiousness of that phrase, but don’t let that stop you from hiring this film). Even though the film is quite horrific, and perhaps not for the faint hearted, its high level of realism and emotional tension involve the reader more personally than most other films manage to do.

  11 out of 12 people found this review helpful
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Most Recent Reviews

Rated - 3 starsWhy all the fuss?

large from London , 29/08/2008

Not sure why everyone has been getting so upset by this film. There's barely any violence (real or imagined), no graphic sex - In fact, not much of anything to cause an uproar. Maybe you all read the Daily Mail.

It's a good, engaging film though - just don't expect graphic scenes of torture, violence etc that everyone is getting over excited about...

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Rated - 4 starsFunny Games - My Review

DaddyTank DaddyTank from Ulan Bator , 03/09/2008

From the opening music (John Zorn's Naked City) this film does everything it can to make you hate it. One of the most effective horror films you'll ever see and one of the most intelligent. Will leave you feeling twitchy and drained but slightly wiser.

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