MovieChat Forums > Cheap Thrills (2014) Discussion > A revelation I had while watching... *SP...

A revelation I had while watching... *SPOILER WARNING*


*SPOILER WARNING*
*SPOILER WARNING*
*SPOILER WARNING*

Towards the end of the movie when the Game-makers, Colin and Violet, show sincere appreciation for the mayhem they are witnessing, I realized something...

The Audience is the mysterious protagonist!

I'm not saying this movie was intended to be a social commentary on how movie-goers and the like are so sadistic that they enjoy people hurting themselves or others, but it is definitely present in this movie.

Let me explain...
Through most of the movie, I'm sitting there thinking "WHY THE HELL AREN'T THESE GUYS CURIOUS ABOUT WHYYYYY THEY ARE BEING ASKED TO DO THIS?" I mean sure, it's "Violet's Birthday" and all, but don't you think it's kind of SADISTIC that two people would be goading people into doing these terrible things?

Moment's later, as Craig is eating his own finger and I'm laughing out loud, I realize... I'm enjoying his desperation. I'm enjoying his demise.

Sure, I felt sick at myself a little, but that's just it. It was exciting. It was interesting, and hell, even though I wouldn't do it in real life, I would pay money to see a movie where I'm seeing it done.

The big-screen may as well be a mirror, sometimes.

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Funny Games moment at the end.

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"attemped" funny games moment at the end!

thank you, i knew at the end that they stole this from somewhere, but i just could not point my finger to it.

i think "big bad wolves" also borrowed from the funny games ending.

"laugh and the world laughs with you. Weep and you weep alone." - Dae-su Oh

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I've been putting it off. Maybe I need to watch funny games.

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funny game (original) is fantastic. gave it a 10/10. the remake (same director/writer) is pretty neat as well. gave it a 8/10. the original is way more intense though.

"laugh and the world laughs with you. Weep and you weep alone." - Dae-su Oh

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sorry, but you're over-thinking things, bro.....you have taken one too many (and far too few) cinema, literature and/or philosophy classes......and likely could have done with one less bong-rip.

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haha!
Wow, when you hear that from a guy with 420 in their name, you know you need to tap the breaks on your philosophizing.
In all seriousness, you're probably right. I'm not sure the director ever intended the audience to have that thought. I usually just look for deeper meaning to keep myself entertained.

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I mean you're right in the sense that the viewer is parallel with the couple, but the couple in the film are acting out their own desires, they're crazy *beep* with too much money.

Watch Black Mirror, you'd enjoy it

We shant be telling mother about this shant we?

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I'm not so sure that the point is that we are all the idiots who sell ourselves for measly dollars.

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I didn't laugh once. I was appalled, actually, at what desperate people are reduced to considering in a class society.

False: all conservatives are stupid people;
True: most stupid people are conservative

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But that goes without saying. We may well be the reason any movie is carried out at all. you just made that connection with this movie.

From dream to dream....we have always been, like an ever flowing stream....

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> Through most of the movie, I'm sitting there thinking "WHY THE HELL AREN'T THESE GUYS CURIOUS ABOUT WHYYYYY THEY ARE BEING ASKED TO DO THIS?" I mean sure, it's "Violet's Birthday" and all, but don't you think it's kind of SADISTIC that two people would be goading people into doing these terrible things?

That was made clear in the scene after the attempted robbery. As you note, it was Violet's birthday. She wanted to see a real-life game show in her living room and the two guys were the contestants. Colin explained that he would offer cash for the winner of various challenges and that either could quit at any time by walking out.

Sounds pretty straight-forward to me.

What the guys didn't catch onto was that the pot of money was $250k and they were only being offered $300 to hold their breath, hang up the phone, and so on. Had they been a little more sober, they should have realized that very big challenges were coming up later.

> even though I wouldn't do it in real life, I would pay money to see a movie where I'm seeing it done.

Are you really sure you wouldn't do it in real life if you really needed the money? At first, Colin was buying drinks and offering $50 to the person that could down a shot first. You wouldn't do that?

Then he offered money to hold your breath the longest. Easy money.

You wouldn't do anything like that?

--
What Would Jesus Do For A Klondike Bar (WWJDFAKB)?

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