Benny's Video

Benny's Video

I haven't watched all films of Michael Haneke but those I've, are decidedly unique in its structure, tempo and story telling. Besides "Benny's Video", I'd highly recommend "Funny Games" (the original version) and "The White Ribbon". Regardless of how many other movies you have watches, the ones from Haneke will stay in your mind and provoke different feelings for certain.

The first scene summarizes the film perfectly; we see the video tape of a pig being slain. It is then rewinded, and slowed down, making us sit through it again. It set the mood for me, and in a strange way, tickles my curiosity. It's not my first Haneke Film, thus I knew what I was going into. I really enjoyed the "Mise en Abime" aspect of the film, as to say: it show violence on TV which de-sensibilities Benny. Realising then that I, too, am watching violence on screen, which, after each Haneke film, could bring me nearer to the state of Benny.

Although this is one of the early Haneke movies it gives the viewer a strong impression on what is to be expected in the later works such as "Funny games". Some might regard it as too long and not enough action in it but this is a central element which appears even clearer in "71 Fragmente". The pretty young Arno Frisch shows his growing talent later to be seen with even more fabulous performances in "Funny Games". If you watched John McNaughton's "Henry" before, "Benny's Video" will disturb you as no other movie did before! There's not that much explicit violence in "Benny's Video" but the true horror comes from the devilish appearance of the boy that lets Damien look like Bugs Bunny. Stone stole the idea with Mickey's shaved head in NBK from Haneke's Benny!

This is a depiction of pure evil. Benny really has no reasons for what he's doing. He is just the way he is. Really liked how the reality and the depiction of the reality are all mixed up and how powerful Benny is in creating that depiction. He even made his parents part of it. They stopped living in the reality and started living in the depiction of it as benny envisioned it. The act of killing itself is not important here. Benny has his own reality to create. He's like god. And he succeed. My second favorite Haneke movie after Funny Games.

Benny's Video was the fifth Haneke's creation I watched after "The piano teacher", "Funny games", "The hour of the wolf" and "Cache". It is strong,allegorical,cynical and plain.With an actor's expression or line it offers you many thoughts and directions.This movie made me understand why Haneke refuses to comment on the meaning of his films.You have to try and play his game.To decode his pictures and words which isn't so hard, trust me.The ending is also powerful and summarizes the whole picture.It was one of the best films I have ever seen.It is amazingly coordinated with our times even though it was filmed about 15 years ago. You should definitely try to find it!

Every Haneke film is thouroughly captivating. This gem from 1992 features commanding performances from the three lead actors (Benny and his parents), plus challenging subject matter we've come to expect from this controversial director. Full marks.

Don't believe the hype. I did, and got a snooze fest as a result. This is nothing near the caliber of Haneke's Funny Games, nor is it a comparison to the disturbing We Need to Talk About Kevin. This is just a long, dull, boring (good acting though) flick that spends 90% of its running time on long takes with nothing happening. Who was the rando sister? What was the purpose of that Pilot game? Who cares? Time to just move past this and forget it exists.

I never have seen a scene like the senseless death of the young girl, which happens in this movie; Haneke almost shows nothing but it is the most heart-breakening situation I've ever watched in a movie although I'm really not inexperienced in touching as well as violence presenting movies! Nothing for tender-hearted characters!!!