An ad is sent out by scientist for people who are willing to take part in an experiment. They have i take part in a simulated prison. The group of people are divided into guards and inmates. At first many take this as a joke and an easy way of making money, but this all turns around on them.
The guards start to take the experiment to serious; but they don't feel so. They have a set of rules they must enforce, so they feel they are doing their jobs, and they can't use violence. But they find ways around this. They start attacking inmates psychologically; humiliating, and degrading the inmates, making them strip naked, blasting them with fire extinguishers, and above all taunting them. The inmates start to feel the pressure and they start to lose it.
This is a great view on insanity, megalomania and degradation. Though the people were given roles to play, when does it reach the point of going to far. Its basic human nature that people don't like being humiliated and degraded, but all people are stubborn, and this can over-ride common sense. When one inmate starts to taunt one guard, the guard retaliates, inmate fights back, guards fights back. Megolmania can be a very blinding emotion. Once people feel it, they will fight to keep it.
Oliver Hirschbiegel directed The Experiment, and when i heard he was the director i knew this was going to be good. Oliver also directed the movie Downfall. Just like downfall, the experiment is dark, disturbing, and totally engaging. This is a twisted movie. The steely grays make a suffocating atmosphere, and the music score, or lack there of, enhances the mood too.
What I find interesting is that this actually happened in 1971. It's kinda hard to think this all happened. You wonder how did it all just get out of hand.
This was a great watch, I'm very glad i watched it. You wont be disappointed.
The guards start to take the experiment to serious; but they don't feel so. They have a set of rules they must enforce, so they feel they are doing their jobs, and they can't use violence. But they find ways around this. They start attacking inmates psychologically; humiliating, and degrading the inmates, making them strip naked, blasting them with fire extinguishers, and above all taunting them. The inmates start to feel the pressure and they start to lose it.
This is a great view on insanity, megalomania and degradation. Though the people were given roles to play, when does it reach the point of going to far. Its basic human nature that people don't like being humiliated and degraded, but all people are stubborn, and this can over-ride common sense. When one inmate starts to taunt one guard, the guard retaliates, inmate fights back, guards fights back. Megolmania can be a very blinding emotion. Once people feel it, they will fight to keep it.
Oliver Hirschbiegel directed The Experiment, and when i heard he was the director i knew this was going to be good. Oliver also directed the movie Downfall. Just like downfall, the experiment is dark, disturbing, and totally engaging. This is a twisted movie. The steely grays make a suffocating atmosphere, and the music score, or lack there of, enhances the mood too.
What I find interesting is that this actually happened in 1971. It's kinda hard to think this all happened. You wonder how did it all just get out of hand.
This was a great watch, I'm very glad i watched it. You wont be disappointed.