10 Movie Characters Destroyed By The Fourth Wall

9. Ann & George - Funny Games

Funny Games US Naomi Watts
Warner Independent Pictures

Michael Haneke's Funny Games movies - both the 1997 Austrian original and 2007 "Hollywood" remake - feature one of the most jarring and controversial fourth wall breaks in cinema history.

The films revolve around a pair of home invaders (in the U.S. version, Michael Pitt and Brady Corbet) who take a family hostage in their cabin.

At one point, captive Ann (Naomi Watts) notices that Paul (Pitt) has left his shotgun unguarded, after which she grabs it and murders Peter (Corbet).

Bizarrely, this simply prompts Paul to grab a nearby remote control and literally rewind the movie. This time, when Ann reaches for the shotgun, he grabs it and stops her attempt dead in its tracks.

Ultimately, this meta flourish condemns not only Ann to her eventual fate, of being drowned in the ocean in the film's final scene, but also her husband George (Tim Roth), who is killed moments earlier. Brutal.

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Stay at home dad who spends as much time teaching his kids the merits of Martin Scorsese as possible (against the missus' wishes). General video game, TV and film nut. Occasional sports fan. Full time loon.