Sofia Coppola Doesn't Recommend Watching This Horror Gem Unless You're Fully Prepared: "Evil"
This is a test where you either pass or give up within the first few minutes.
We've all been there, watching a movie and thinking we're brave enough to endure it, only to regret that initial burst of confidence before pressing play.
Sofia Coppola, the director of The Virgin Suicides and Marie Antoinette, whose films are often defined by female aesthetics and the world of adolescence, is no exception.
Sofia Coppola Says Michael Haneke's 'Funny Games' Is "Terrifying"
During a visit to the Criterion Closet, she revealed which movie traumatized her – and this is Michael Haneke's classic Funny Games. Coppola said:
“We're talking about this, but don't watch it unless you want to be terrified, it's really upsetting, it was just relentless. Evil. Yeah, that was terrifying.”
Released in 1997, Funny Games introduced the Austrian director to a wider audience. He was so dissatisfied with its lack of American exposure that, ten years later, he reshot it frame-by-frame in English with new actors.
What Is 'Funny Games' About?
A husband, his wife, and their ten-year-old son arrive at their picturesque lakeside country house. Suddenly, their relaxation is interrupted by two young men wearing white gloves. The men invite the family to participate in a deadly game of survival.
The director portrays the villains as having simple human nature, which often has no motive for crime – only the desire to gain dominance.
'Funny Games' Is a Brilliant Meta-Movie That Breaks the Fourth Wall
Funny Games is Michael Haneke's first undisputed masterpiece, in which he broke all the rules. Though it seems like the premise of a typical thriller, Haneke transforms it into a meta-cinema.
One teenager repeatedly breaks the fourth wall and addresses the audience, realizing they're in a movie, while the other recites the rules of the genre. They play with the viewers' expectations – clearly, the audience wants to save the innocent family.
But remember – this is "senseless cinema," as the director calls it. The teenagers torment people until their suffering fills a full-length film.
Michael Haneke admitted that he wanted to criticize the media's portrayal of cruelty and violence through a seemingly meaningless narrative.
What Did Critics & Viewers Think of 'Funny Games'?
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Funny Games has 73% from critics and 83% from viewers on Rotten Tomatoes.
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On IMDb, the movie has a score of 7.5/10.
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On Letterboxd, Funny Games scored 3.9/5.0.
Where to Watch 'Funny Games'?
Funny Games is available to buy or rent on Amazon Prime Video.
