I saw funny games without seeing the original, and without hearing anything about it. i went into the theatre expecting a quasi-good thriller, what i got was so much more. The movie is fantastic, because it works on so many levels. As far as a thriller, it goes against everything you would usually see in a clilche thriller movie. They make a concious choice not to show certain things that most thrillers depend on to keep the audience interested, but Funny Games still manages to keep you on the edge of your seat. the movie reminded me of A Clockwork Orange, with the killers being blaise care-free teens. The true nature of the movie however, is a satire, the film tells the story of a family being tortured and murdered, but tha is not the point. the point is why they are being tortured, and why are you (the audience) paying to see it.
The killers often look at the camera and ask the audience questions like "is this enough?" or "you do want plausible plot development don't you?". they do this because the movie is about the bloodlust not of the killers, but of our culture, we want to be entertained with the death of olthers. The title of the film comes from how many people think of violence. nothing but a funny game, this film corrects that perception. the film never directly shows violence, they do this so that no one will say, o that looked cool or wow great special effects, because that isn't the point, instead they spend alot of time watching the pain after the killings,showing that violence isn't cool, it isn't funny, it is horrible.
Most of the negative reviews that i've seen about this movie i think missed the point. People were talking about how this is just another mediocre thriller, i have two problems with this:
1) the thriller genre has never had a film like this. it doesn't try to fit the mold of what most thrillers strive for, cheap scares, you are always legitemately scared, no pseudo-scares here.
2) it is a satire!! don't keep telling me that it would never happen like this or that and that it is so cliche that the family was listening to classical music and that they were so removed from reality, i know!!! thats the point! it is supposed to have the victims be the most absurdly ridicolous rich victims.