Films Seen: In 2007

It´s the first Haneke I´ve seen and I already see why people loves his films; this in particular seems hypocritical at first, then becomes a joke, and finally reveals its nasty mechanics. It´s clever, but too calculated for my taste; it wants an active spectator but I think there are other, less vile ways to reach that level of intensity in films. I think every major change in the plot tries to subvert the modus operandi of psycho-thrillers, going too far as to imply all the film would be a dark comedy. And that was the more disturbing element in the film. I am referring to moments like when the wife says "What?" after a pause when the bad boys communicate their decision of killing all the family. And also the 10 minute sequence after the kid death; Haneke uses hyperrealism to justify himself in its anti-violence attitude, but all goes too long in its self-reflexiveness and artfulness that all could be a dark joke. And i´m afraid that´s it. In conclusion, this is a contradictory but powerful film for contradictory viewers like myself. But don´t expect I´ll be loving that film. Just admire it and think about it, which is no small feat.

it´s a very free retelling of Poe´s The Black Cat where the plot seems very complex until the unnatural twists are revealed. Some passages of the story are used to good effect, others are fit into the story without a thoughtful reflexion.