Funny Games is a meticulous horror film that builds tension from the second credits roll to the last frame. The movie is a remake, but the same writer and director, Michael Haneke, did this version of the film so that it would be in English rather than German. The original Funny Games has become something of a cult classic, and it’s easy to see why - the nihilistic and twisted premise is enjoyable and painful, all at the same time.

Naomi Watts and Tim Roth play Ann and George, a wealthy couple with a young son who are staying at their vacation home for a week of sailing and golf with their other wealthy friends. When they arrive, they’re surprised to see a few new faces in the neighborhood. Paul and Peter (Michael Pitt and Brady Corbet) are staying with their golf partners, and their awkward presence puts a strain on them from the beginning. Peter comes over to ask Ann for some eggs, which she gladly gives him. He drops the eggs in the foyer, and she begrudgingly gives him four more, but he “accidentally” knocks her cell phone into a sink full of water in the process. Then once Peter finally leaves, he’s “attacked” by the family’s dog, and those eggs beak too. Paul shows up and the three of them argue over whether or not this guy deserves her last four eggs.

When George and his son hear something strange going on, they go up to the house to investigate and he asks the boys to leave. When they threaten him, he slaps Paul and they break his leg with a golf club. The family is trapped and the game begins. The family dog is dead, their cell phone is soaked, and now the father’s leg is broken. These guys basically tell the family that they have 12 hours to try and survive, and they play sadistic and horribly twisted games with every single one of them. Apparently, the family next door has been killed and these guys do this for fun. No motive other than pure entertainment. It’s a chilling concept, but the fact that Peter and Paul are kind of charming and intelligent in a strange way makes it a little easier to digest.

It’s a simple premise and an even simpler production. There are only two or three songs on the soundtrack, most of which are classical and one of which is the most hilarious death metal screaming song I’ve ever heard. There are no frills, but there are also no visible mistakes. The only really unrealistic part of the production itself is that Michael Pitt’s character occasionally speaks directly to the audience, which not only makes you feel involved somehow, but makes the film a little more unsettling.

A movie like this is definitely not for the faint of heart, and it takes someone of a particularly strange character to be able to sit through something as horrifying as Funny Games. This really is a horror flick for adults. There’s no teenage sex scene or nudity at all, and there’s not a huge amount of gore. It’s an evenly paced, realistic thriller. Not a shoot-em-up blood and guts flick. I personally loved the writing and the acting was superb. Naomi Watts always plays very realistic and gritty roles, and she does a fantastic job of trying to be strong, but also appearing traumatized throughout the entire film. Tim Roth was underused unfortunately, but Pitt and Corbet have a great chemistry with each other and really steer the direction of the entire film.