The film "Funny Games" serves as the most obvious evidence as to why Haneke is oftentimes characterized as sick and twisted. While many may find "Funny Games" difficult to stomach, there seems to be an equally large crowd that just can't get enough of this unwarranted kill fest. I am definitely part of the latter. As someone who was probably introduced to Michael Myers a little prematurely (Halloween night 3rd grade), I have since--like a crackhead-- consumed horror movies with an insatiable desire to experience that pinnacle of fear; however, most films were unsuccessful. All "horror" films seemed to consist of the same formula, always leaving room for a similarly formulated sequel. I grew tired of these films but didn't give up on my need and want for a film that actually made me quiver.
In middle school, my spirits were lifted with the release of "The Blair Witch Project." While I can't say that I reached the same kind of high that I felt when I first saw Jamie Lee Curtis scampering around her autumn tinted town, Blair Witch evoked a different kind of fear, a more realistic fear. While I was petrified of Michael Myers, the fear was more along the lines of vampires or werewolves; I was scared, but in the back of my mind, I knew those creatures weren't real. "The Blair Witch Project" on the other hand, presented not only a different aesthetic but also a situation that could seemingly happen to me. I became obsessed; part of this obsession probably stemmed from the fact that I initially thought the film was truly a documentary. I admired these students' strong dedication to their art, a dedication that gave them the courage to venture into a patch of Maryland forest famously touted to be haunted. While I was slightly disappointed when the fact was revealed that Heather, Josh, and Mike were actors, this added a new layer to the film. Because I had been so convinced that this fictional story was a reality--something no other horror film had offered me--my obsession surged. I think my love for "The Blair Witch Project" most profoundly manifests itself in a video project made with 2 of my middle school classmates. Our version basically offers the same storyline; however, it glaringly possessed a much lower grade of acting, weak camera work, a lack of editing, and exactly zero believability. The video that held what I, at the time, considered a masterpiece has since been lost and I cannot indulge you nor myself in shudders of pubescent embarrassment. Despite the fact that my love for "The Blair Witch" project began before I started shaving my legs, I still have extreme respect for the film. I think it is brilliant in capturing the sense of reality that had previously been absent from the genre of horror films and has therefore spawned many copycats. (Tell me, on what conventions does "Paranormal Activity" rely?)
Since "The Blair Witch Project" there have been few other films that fascinated me on the same level. For a while I was intrigued by "Saw" but with the excessive amount of sequels, the idea lost its novelty and I lost interest. I also started intense love affairs with Hitchcock and M. Night Shyamalan. These were fierce but short lived amorous accounts; Shyamalan kept me intrigued until he put out "Lady in the Water." I gave him the benefit of the doubt and saw "The Happening" but ended up kicking myself, knowing that no other film would be tantamount to "Unbreakable." Hitchcock is amazing but I was less interested in his lesser known films; "Rear Window" kept me on the edge of my seat, but "Strangers on a Train" bored me.
Two years ago, when I attended Sundance for the first time, I was introduced to the work Michael Haneke. It was a midnight showing of the American remake of his own "Funny Games" and I literally had no expectations. All I knew was that it was supposed to be scary. Once the opening credits finished, I was in love. (If you've seen the film, you know what I'm talking about: the heavy contrast between the classical music and the hard metal death music that shockingly begins.) Since then, Haneke has been a director always on my radar. While I was not in love with "The White Ribbon," "Cache" captured my attention. Last night, I watched "The Piano Teacher" and I was not disappointed. It possesses the same sharp contrasts that exist in his other films (this time between the elegant and formal world of classical music and the seedy world of S&M). While I am hesitant to label "The Piano Teacher" a horror film, it is definitely a thriller and is right up there at the top of my list.
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