DVDs:

	Das Experiment [Region 2] Moritz Bleibtreu, Christian Berkel average customer review:based on 49 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

With a terrific display of ensemble acting and unforced use of the popular claustrophobic semi-documentary look, Hirschbiegel's movie takes its time to get underway, with apparently irrelevant cutaways to Fahd's outside girlfriend (Maren Eggert), but works up to a powerful second half that delivers a sustained symphony of psychological and physical anguish. --Kim Newman

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WHO ARE YOU? REALLY?

THE EXPERIMENT is a German film that is based on the "infamous Stanford Prison Experiment" preformed in 1971. I had never heard of this, but I will definitely look for information about this after viewing THE EXPERIMENT.

The plot goes like this--20 men answered an ad asking for volunteers for a mock prison experiment with a payment at the end of 14 days of 4000 marks. The men were divided up into 12 prison guards and 8 prisoners. The first day, the division goes rather smoothly, with joking and laughter easing the tension. However, one of the prisoners, Tarek, is going to sell his experience to a newspaper and he tries to shake things up a bit with one of the guards. The use of violence isn't permitted, but humilation is, so the prisoners are stripped of their bed frames, their mattresses, their lights, and their smocks. I found it utterly chilling watching those grown men huddled in the dark stripped naked while the prison guards watched on the monitors, laughing about how they had regained their control. But as chilling as this was, things only get worse...

Much worse.

THE EXPERIMENT was completely shocking, horrifying and I suppose what made it even more compelling for myself was the question the film presented--does the potential for absolute corruption exist in all of us given the right circumstances? I can't shake that opening scene of the movie when all 20 of the men first meet and they're laughing and being friendly with each other and then in my mind I flash forward to the last ten minutes....

THE EXPERIMENT is riveting, you can't take your eyes off the screen, even when you wish you could. The images will stay with you for a long time. Check out THE EXPERIMENT only if you dare to... for this is serious horror my friends, made so by the secret beast that just might live in all of us.

THE EXPERIMENT. YOU WON'T FORGET IT.

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Amazing film

Based on a real experiment held in 1971, The Experiment follows the plight of 20 men who all volunteer of their own volition in order to gain the promised money at the end of their stay. They are placed inside a mock prison facility held in the basement of the Stanford psychology building where the group is divided, with eight men playing the guards and the remaining twelve, the inmates, who are watched by cameras so that the researchers can study their behavior. Let's just say that things get out of hand...

That is all I will say plotwise. I will add though that the original experiment, The Stanford Prison Experiment, held in 1971 lasted no longer than six days out of the initally hoped fourteen due to the arising tension and actions of the people involved.

The Experiment, based on that singular event, takes it much further, incorporating some things that actually happened, and also, an invented, very different ending, a what if type scenario: if the experiment had gone on, would this be the ultimate result? The scariest thing about this film is that, while watching it, I felt it could be true. (Of course, leaving out the fact that some of the events are factual) I would expect people to act in the way they did in the film, and it is terrifying to realize that; to realize that even when participating in a kind of fantasy/reality and put in a position of power or in subjection to those in power, people take things too far.

If I say any more, I'll probably give away too much, but I will add that this movie is so shocking and believable and horrible, it still feels true. And along with that are the amazing characters to make this film a powerful look at what might have happened had the experiment gone on any longer.

My only complaints are about a certain scene that disgusted me involving the main female character (No further detail...) and that the violance reaches far beyond what was needed. It was graphic and more horrible than a lot of horror movies; not quite, but almost up there with how I felt when watching Pan's Labyrinth; just very emotionally disturbing and devastating...This will serve as the warning.

Overall: An intriguing film that delves into that fateful question: what if?-and serves to show the viewer and the characters involved in the story a harsh view of power and human behavior.

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OLIVER HIRSCHBIEGEL, OPUS 1

***** 2001. Directed by Oliver Hirschbiegel. Four German Film Academy awards and three nominations for the European Film awards. Scientists hire twelve volunteers and lock them up in the basement of the building. Six men will play the prisoners and the others the wardens. Soon, the experiment becomes out of control. This fascinating movie will please those of you who liked Peter Brooks' Lord of the Flies - Criterion Collection. Masterpiece.


Disturbing, Gripping microcosm of innate Human Nature.

Das Experiment is without a doubt a must see film for those whom are not too sensitive to violence mixed with suspense.
It is a German Movie and subtitles can always be distracting, but it is in essence a phenomenal piece of work for all lovers of metaphysical understanding.
To exemplify here the whole story it would be rendering the suspense to oblivion: it's best to let the viewer make up his/her own vision without guidance; be it objective or subjective.
I truly enjoyed it and so did my wife: our recommendations have been gratified with many thanks.

Watch it and tell us what you thought.
This is psychology, sociology and omnipresent politics at it's best.

Fernando

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What men can do

A truly scary reflection of the way a small amount of power, in this case being made a Prison Guard, can change normal people into monsters - or so it would seem. However what I gathered from the film was that the experimenters knew that the two leading protaganists would end up at each others throats. Perhaps not literally but they were chosen with that in mind.

Obviously there has been quite a bit of spicing up of the original Stanford case and the addition/distraction of the gorgeous girlfriend seemed a little out of place as well. However the film is very well directed and equally well acted. After the initial setup the tension is gradually racked up until in the second half of the movie you realise that things are spiralling out of control.

So its a riveting watch, but not a film I will want to see again quickly as it is a sad reflection on our humanity (or lack of it).

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reviews: page 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

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