This document provides an analysis of the opening scenes of the film "Funny Games" by Michael Haneke. It summarizes that the film subverts thriller conventions by taking place during the day in a family home. It also notes that the potential murderers are shown wearing white clothes rather than dark colors. The opening credits use red text on a black background to convey violence. Golf clubs are prominently featured, suggesting they may be used as weapons. The soundtrack establishes moods of domination and agony. A variety of shots are used to introduce the setting and characters.

1. FUNNY GAMES - 2007MICHAEL HANEKEUK RELEASE DATE: 4TH APRIL 2008

2. CONVENTIONSUnlike many of the other thriller films I have watched, ‘Funny Games’ completely subverts original conventions. Usually, most of the murders in a thriller or horror film happen in the night and when the weather is at its worst (use of pathetic fallacy).

3. However, in ‘Funny Games’ Haneke has set the main ideas of the film throughout the day and in a family home abroad (being sunny and hot).- Furthermore, in typical thriller films, the murderers tend to be in dark clothes to suggest the danger they carry and to make the audience aware of the danger they have. In the opening of ‘Funny Games’ we are presented with two characters who pursue and odd nature. Cleverly, it can be suggested that these two particular characters, who unlike conventional ideas are wearing a majority of white clothing, could possibly be interpreted as the murderers within the film. This image could be perceived as one of them is wearing an extremely dark coloured pair of shorts which contrasts dramatically to the image that they first give off.

4. USE OF TITLESThe use of titles in ‘Funny Games’ is extremely similar to that of the other films studied. The use of colour, alike ‘Misery’, is red and black which reveals connotations of murder, blood, evil and corruption. This automatically suggests that there will be a series of brutality within the film and conveys the idea that it will consist of a violent nature.The titles, being in red, are also presented on the opening scene of the film when we acknowledge a family driving. This suggests that the blood and pain will be inflicted on them.The opening credits are also quite small in comparison to black background but seem to get bigger when viewed over the family driving. This develops the above point further as it continues to reveal that the connotations associated with the colour red will be illustrated throughout the film on this particular family.

5. MISE EN SCENEWithin the first few minutes of ‘Funny Games’ the mise en scene used does not overtly reveal the main plot of the film . However, it is suggested that the murderers in the film may not use the conventional weapons such as knives to harm their victims, but golf clubs instead. This idea is portrayed as when entering the family home, the family pass a few men practising golf. Secondly, when entering the house, we acknowledge the father from the family placing golf clubs on to a white fabricated material. The clubs themselves are all black and by placing them on white reveals the danger consisted within them. Furthermore, the idea that they were placed against fabric and not a wall suggests that they will be used to hit or harm something a lot weaker than the material they are made from.

6. SOUNDThe use of sound throughout the opening of ‘Funny Games’ reveals a lot about the plot and storyline of the film. When the credits begin, there is no sound at all and in contrast to the colours previously spoken about, it conveys the idea that the victims will be completely dominated and not able to voice themselves. When the opening shot is displayed on the screen, opera music through the form of non-diagetic sound begins to play which suggests that the murderer/(s) will be extremely dominating and powerful and in some ways may seem quite mentally twisted. Opera music is also predominately very loud, which also portrays the idea that the killer/(s) will go about harming and murdering their victims openly and not try to hide or be secretive about it.When the main title of the film is presented on the screen, the music changes to rock/heavy metal which is again depicted through non-diagetic sound. Throughout this music, sounds of weakness and pain are presented alongside shouting and intense screaming . The screams and shouts which the music reveals are noises of terror and agony conveying a vicious and harsh reality of the film.