Funny Games (Michael Haneke, 2008)

[Dylan]

When this trailer played in front of "I'm Not There," literally half of the theatre (at once) groaned at the end of it, followed by several people saying (also at once) "I'll skip that."

[Cde.]

Mission failed then, I guess.

They should have gone with a much more obvious Hollywood-thriller type campaign, complete with a Mr. Voice.

[toiletduck!]

I'm not so sure... I also had a few groaners when I saw it before No Country, but isn't that the 'proper' response nowadays? "Oh, more mindless horror crap, torture porn, and blah, blah, blah... I won't be seeing that and supporting the destruction of America's moral fiber." Yet, sure enough, come opening night butts are in seats.

The proof'll be in the pudding. I'll be there opening night, and god I hope it's a packed house.

-Toilet Dcuk

[flyonthewall2983]

I think in both cases, most everyone probably recognized that it was a rip-off of the Clockwork trailer. I'd like to think so, anyway.

[Magic Hate Ball]

I think in both cases, most everyone probably recognized that it was a rip-off of the Clockwork trailer. I'd like to think so, anyway.

Ahahahahaha, it's nice to to think so, isn't it?

[flyonthewall2983]

I think so

[Nothing]

The difference between this and Psycho is the quality of the original. Also, I doubt Haneke has inserted any cows into this one. #-o

[domino harvey]

The difference between this and Psycho is the quality of the original. Also, I doubt Haneke has inserted any cows into this one. #-o

You really think the original Funny Games is better than the original Psycho, or are you saying the original Funny Games wasn't very good to begin with? Because I'm with you if it's the second thing.

[Magic Hate Ball]

I just finished the original. Really terrific, never have I been so angry at a movie. Loved it.

I'll be there opening night, and god I hope it's a packed house.

Oh god, me too. I expect at least one "AH WHAT THE FUCK" or something similar.

[Antoine Doinel]

New poster.

[Cde.]

They're definitely not going after the mainstream with this one.

[miless]

"Rated R for Terror"
I bet every horror film wishes they could put that.

I love that new poster, I only wish that more interesting posters, like that one, came out.

[Cde.]

I agree that it's a great poster, but it doesn't seem like it's going to be hanging in your local multiplex.

If it did, it would be pretty striking.

[domino harvey]

How did the MPAA approve that? That's gotta be some kinda promotional thing that's not going into theaters

[Marcel Gioberti]

They're definitely not going after the mainstream with this one.

I thought you were being sarcastic. That poster is ridiculous.

Saw V: Jigsaw Takes Palm Springs

[Magic Hate Ball]

I like how they had to desaturate the blood so the MPAA would let them put the poster up. A crying woman who looks as if she is in the middle of a violent rape is ok but a drip of blood is horrible.

[Antoine Doinel]

Are we really that surprised? Look what Lionsgate got away with for Hostel II.

[domino harvey]

...that poster doesn't have an MPAA rating on it

[Antoine Doinel]

It was pretty widely used as a teaser/theatrical one sheet. Also, just because there isn't an MPAA logo on it, doesn't mean it ain't being slapped up in theaters across the land. Many teaser posters (see The Dark Knight, Indiana etc) don't carry the MPAA rating.

[The Fanciful Norwegian]

The Hostel II poster was approved, which caused a bit of controversy at the time. Meanwhile, this goes unapproved because it has a guy with a hood.

[Cold Bishop]

The Hostel II poster was approved, which caused a bit of controversy at the time. Meanwhile, this goes unapproved because it has a guy with a hood.

It's indecent I tell you... You know how dark it is in one of those things. We don't want to scare children.

[miless]

The Hostel II poster was approved, which caused a bit of controversy at the time. Meanwhile, this goes unapproved because it has a guy with a hood.

they were probably more offended that the "terrorist's" shadow is part of the American flag.

[Cde.]

They're definitely not going after the mainstream with this one.

I thought you were being sarcastic. That poster is ridiculous.

Saw V: Jigsaw Takes Palm Springs

The black and white minimalist style makes it obvious they were aiming for an 'arty' poster, just like the last one.

[Robotron]

I recently saw the original because of the publicity for the remake, and I'm curious as to how this is anymore sophisticated then, say, Scream. The horror genre has always been one of the most consistently self-reflexive, and aside from an overtness that is usually present in big budget Hollywood films with a sense of humor that this film lacked, I don't see anything unique about it.

[Cold Bishop]

I recently saw the original because of the publicity for the remake, and I'm curious as to how this is anymore sophisticated then, say, Scream. The horror genre has always been one of the most consistently self-reflexive, and aside from an overtness that is usually present in big budget Hollywood films with a sense of humor that this film lacked, I don't see anything unique about it.

For starters, the complete contempt for its target audience. Scream played for teenagers and horror fans who like a good- and to judge by the sequels and other successful horror films, not-so-good - bloody slasher film (And as far as the self-reflexivity goes, I never felt it rose above the level of just being clever). Funny Games plays to the same people, but wants them ultimately to feel ashamed about wanting to see this type of movie by the time it is over. To some degrees, its a satire in the fullest sense of the word, right down to the intent of reaching the very audience its satirizing (Where most satires fail, usually due to the distribution, and it appears that Sony may be doing the same here).

I guess your patience for the film depends on how successful you feel such a method is, and how valid you feel "attacking" your audience is. Personally, in the age of the SAW franchises, even if such a method doesn't work, and it just ends with people walking out of the theater pissed-off, completely missing the point of the film, and feeling it was just some "arty" or "pretentious (IMDB for anything difficult) b.s. (and I suspect we will see many IMDB comments like that) I still feel the target audience deserves the lashing.