Hello, Group! The film I've chosen is the 2001 German movie Das Experiment (The Experiment).
https://moviechat.org/tt0250258/The-Experiment
I've seen it twice, and enjoyed it greatly both times.
The last time I checked it was on Youtube.
If you've seen both this and the remake (of course there is one), what did you make of the differences? Also, are there elements of the film that you think date it, or are unnecessary?
Happy watching!
Mina,
An excellent choice! I wanted to see that, but could not find it anywhere. So I watched the reportedly inferior 2010 American remake. If the original is on You Tube, I will have to watch it.
Even though it's reportedly not as good as the original, the remake was still chilling. It's amazing what human beings can and will do to each other.
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The remake goes a bit overboard IMO. I still kinda liked it, but for different reasons. And the basic premise is still chilling enough in and of itself. What scares me most is that I don't know that if I'm on the side of the guards, how that power would affect me. It sends your mind wondering.
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Yes, it is difficult to consider. As Lord Acton said "Power corrupts, and absolute power tends to corrupt absolutely."
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Great movie. I just finished watching it for the first time. I thought it was an entertaining, provocative look at human nature and the capacity for brutality among those in power. I haven't seen the remake. I don't think there is anything that dates the film in a negative way, but there may have been some parts that were necessary. The film felt a little long and dragged in the middle, at times. I thought the actors did a good job. I don't think this is as good as the film Downfall, which was by the same director, but is much better than Invasion (also by the same director). I would rate this film an 8/10.
shareI'm glad you liked it Allaby! It's scary how these were ordinary men, that were capable of such actions because of the power they were given (a limited one at that), and also the perceived responsibilities of their positions. It's astonishing how quickly they fell into their given roles and forgot that it was all pretend. As I said to MovieMan, it's one of those things that makes you wonder how you'd reach in a situation like this. And it's all done in such an entertaining way.
The romance element felt a little out of place for me. Or it was developed strangely, idk. But it did come back to serve a purpose.
The film is based on The Stanford prison experiment, and what happened there is as crazy as what happened in the film.
It might be time for me to finally see Downfall (I've only seen that scene that's been turned into a meme). The Invasion I might have seen, but I'm not sure. It's was a remake of Invasion of the Body Snatchers, right?
Downfall is fantastic and a must see. The Invasion is a remake of Invasion of the Body Snatchers but isn't very good. I found it rather forgettable.
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I didn't know that both of those films were by the same director. We have all, of course, seen the pivotal scene of Downfall as a meme repeatedly, and it's hilarious imho. Despite its source I never get tired of it.
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I didn't know either. If I like a film I look up the director's other work on IMDb, but this time I guess I missed that.
That meme is always funny. It's different every time.
Did you have the time to watch the movie MovieMan? I can PM you the link to it, if you're having a hard time finding it on YouTube :)
Yes it is.
Not yet. A link would be nice, thanks. I'll be out of town for the next two days, so I will not be able to get to it until the weekend.
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Get to it when you have the time, we're in no hurry :) I'm still trying to locate the previous pick.
Okay thanks.
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Movieman you said you keep me up to date, LOL. What movie are we on?
shareI think we're on the 7th already, but you posted in several threads, so I don't think you've missed many of the picks.
Just jump in, there's no time limit on the discussions. I think you'd like this one, and I'd be glad to read your thoughts on it :)
(Sorry I'm responding, instead of MovieMan)
Watched this last night. German film based on the Stanford Experiment which shows how low humans can sink when power and control go to their heads. Need for money also prevents some who do not agree with the deteriorating methods used to say nothing much and carry on regardless.
Two participants in particular are placed in the opposite positions of guard and prisoner for the purpose of seeing how they will control the situation, after taking the psych tests. This becomes the main struggle of the story, with prisoners provoking guards, guards exacting punishments (meant to be non-violent).
Things take a turn for the worse when a misunderstanding leads to the main guard believing that certain unrelated events are part of the experiment, and he decides to take matters further. The experiment spirals out of control and into sadistic violence, which isn't stopped by the remaining present staff, much to their detriment.
Not sure the 'love' element was really necessary to the story
An interesting and thought-provoking film on how easily led people can be, and some who can do such horrors without question, because they are following their orders. It takes so much more courage to stand up against this behavior than go along with it but sadly, the original experiment showed that only one person out of more than 50 people involved did. Something to think about.
Great review, keybored! This film gives you plenty of food for though, and maybe self-examination. I wonder what the reception of it was in Germany, in view of their history.
My feelings are the same, regarding the "romance". It just felt out of place.
If you're interested, there was a film made about the The Stanford prison experiment itself a couple of years ago. Maybe a bit redundant at this point, with the books, and documentaries, and fictionalised movies, but it was still an interesting insight, with a great young cast (from my view at least).
This experiment and the Milgram one really shed a light on how easily people are influenced to do bad things to others, and still feel the responsibility for these actions isn't on them, but someone else. Fascinating, and terrifying, stuff.
I thought to mention Germany and it's history, but thought the fact it was a German film spoke for itself.
Yes, the Milgram Experiment was also a good example of how soon people can do bad things to another person without thought or conscience. Luckily in that particular study, the 'victim' of the electric shocks (who was in on it the whole time) reacted as if in various levels of pain when a light went on (caused by the volunteer administering the 'electric shocks' to increasing levels).