Das Experiment Reviews

A Fascinating and Disturbing Film

Based on a real psychological experiment at Stanford University in 1971, using a group of male students, the mood of this film captures the sense of disorientation and loss of reality that was experienced by the original volunteers. Acts of humiliation present a violent and effective method for stripping individuality and asserting power over prisoners. The psychological transformations into masochistic and submissive roles are fascinating when you consider that that the only real distinguishable difference between the characters, is that by a random selection process, some are labelled ‘wardens’ and others are labelled ‘prisoners’. The levels of violence, brutality and humiliation in the film seem extreme but in the original experiment, humiliation tactics were also extreme – prisoners were also made to wear chains round their ankles and stockings on their heads at all times! The film’s conclusion is carefully constructed and appears to bear an implicit reference to the real prison riot of San Quentin (which occurred the day after the Stanford experiment was prematurely halted), in which guards and informant prisoners were tortured and murdered during the prisoners’ escape attempt. This film is a sensitive study into power relationships within an altered reality and is masterfully crafted to build tension and invite the viewer to question the character’s morality and ethical codes. Far more relevant and interesting than the bland reality TV shows we are plagued by these days…highly recommended!

A Truly Excellent Film

Big Brother + Prison + Experiment = Scary

I've seen some messed up films in my time from the pointless, unimpressive pathetic attempt of social commentary that is The Driller Killer to the disturbing and truly chilling Ring. But nothing prepared me for the shock that was The Experiment. I knew that it was pretty dark, and pulled no punches, but woah!

The film is based on a real life experiment, but made a little (okay, a lot) more extreme. The experiment was basically to analyse human nature and power roles. Volunteers were put into a prison scenario as either guards or prisoners, filmed, and then told to act it out seriously. In the actual real life experiment, it was aborted due to the 'guards' getting too brutal, and actually attacking the 'prisoners'. The experiment in the film explores this, and what might have happened had it been allowed to continue.

I actually came out of that film feeling like I'd been in the actual experiment myself: it was so gripping that you really felt like a part of it. I kinda felt like I'd been punched in the stomach: it literally took my breathe away! The film was so dark and tense that it drew you in like the bisto kids or something!

Now this is what I would call a real horror film. We're not talking blood, guts and gore: we're talking the horrific, brutal, shocking and downright scary potential of human nature. Now to me, that is real horror! Of course, there is extreme violence and some absolutely gut churning horrible moments (catching a knife strike and then pulling the knife out - all on camera - made me squirm somewhat), but that only adds to the psychological horror. The extreme violence is as a result of the psychological horror, and not the actual reason for the film being a horror. No schlock could have anything like the effect on me that The Experiment did!

With all the reality TV influenced films out there of varying quality (Kolobos and Series 7: The Contenders being two of the more superior ones), it's possible to overlook this little gem as another 'reality style' film. But this film is much more than that. This is a very important film and challenges human nature and it's potential for evil. It shows just what can happen when people get power and want power. From rape, to beating the defenceless to torture to humiliation, it pulls no punches whatsoever. Neither does it pull punches in it's brutal depiction of these horrors, but in my opinion that particularly adds to the reality and horror of what it portrays.

I would definitely recommend this film: it certainly makes you think. But if you're after something to brighten up your day, steer very clear.

[Highly rated reviewer]

Bring on the nightmares!

Oh sweet jesus. This is the best film i've seen in AGES. it's just so.... unsettling. it rolls along, gathering momentum, and you've no idea just how far it's going to go; utterly compelling. It's a shame Big Brother on telly isn't more like this. actually, big brother would be better being more like Battle Royale. Each housemate should be given out differing weapons, sub-machine guns and chainsaws, last housemate standing wins. Now that'd be kickarse reality telly. Anyway, I digress. Not many films have gotten under my skin like this one. Highly, hugely, recommended.

Based on a real life experiment

This German film is based upon the real life experiment at Stanford University, USA in 1971. The film closely adheres to the real events but also goes beyond fact for dramatic purposes as the film progresses. The film highlights the ugly side of human nature when certain situations arise. The performances are excellent.

This has got to be the best film I've seen in a long time. Highly recommended

What a disappointment

Did I really just sit through the same film that all these other reviewers have been raving about? I find that difficult to believe, as the film I watched contained none of the complelling elements that have been described in the other reviews. I was not 'gripped' at any point, there was nothing shocking here, just run of the mill, predictable fare. How anyone can claim that this film is 'deeply disturbing' is just utterly beyond me.

As I always try and get my money's worth from this rental service, I generally try and see all films through to the end regardless of their quality, but this is the first one I've hired that I actually turned off prematurely, it really was that dull. If you're looking for a dark, gripping and challenging foreign film that WILL actually shock you, try Gaspar Noe's 'Irreversible'. This is more likely to send you to sleep.

B+ for psychology 101

The Stanford Prison Experiments of 1971 provide a pretty compelling basis for this fictionalized reconstruction. All the more so because this exploration of the effects of power and authority upon the actions of everyday men was created in a Germany acutely aware of the implication of these themes for the understanding of its own past.

Many of the characters from Das Experiment are closely based upon their Stanford archetypes, and the plot recalls many of the key events of the original experiment. The narrative is broken up by the addition of a bizarre love story, and brought to an artificially neat conclusion, but the world of the film is recognizably that of the original experiment.

A more serious weakness though, is the emotional focus of the movie. The most important implications of the original experiment focused upon the dehumanizing effects of authority upon the guards who wielded it, as well as upon the rapid submission of the prisoners to this arbitrary power. By making the focus of their movie a prisoner, the filmmakers seem to have missed a trick.

We empathise with prisoner 77, and fume against the injustices that the guards mete out, but a more provocative approach would have been to follow this sympathetic character as he became de-humanized by the role into which he was thrust. Instead, we leave feeling that all airline workers are crypto-fascists, and all Elvis impersonators shouldn’t be trusted – valuable life-lessons, to be sure, but disappointing from a premise that promised rather more.

Brilliantly Constructed

This German film sees a group of volunteers split into two groups of Prison Gaurds and Inmates and spending two weeks playing out their vairous roles. This is the Experiment.

Brilliamtly contrusted characters and situations that tap in to the basic human needs of survival drive this well paced film all the way to the brutal and surprising conclusion. This film represent realistic peolpe in extreme enviorment and you can really experince the psychological pressures portrayed by both sides.

Reminds me of similar extreme survival films like Cube and Battle Royale. The only difference is that this is shocklingly real beacuse its based on a true story.

Prisoner or Guard

Based on the true experiment that every 1st year Psychology student has considered. The experiment where a bunch of volunteers elected to be Prison Guards and some Prisoners and then they fell into “Being” their role. This German film takes the experiment further and develops tension and aggression to a new yet realistic level.

The conclusion is completely over the top but you have bought into the premise by then and are willing to go with it! ( Think it’s called suspending your disbelief) Anyway we get into a “Die Hard” kinda ending but the basic concept is good and the film has been put together for not a lot of dosh so you have to admire what they deliver. Good central performances, decent production quality (Although sound and camera work could be much better) and worthy delivery.

One of the best scenes in the film comes when the main protagonist (a claustrophobic) is sealed in a small box. The fear is palpable. Your heart will race and your pulse will quiver but don’t listen to me, rent it and see!

Das Experiment

This film was recomemded by a friend. The story is dynamic and the psichological profile of the characters are very interesting. It makes you question the morality of experiments involving people and it's consequences. We discussed about the film many times after seeing it.

The Experiment

This movie is based on the experiments carried out at Stafford University after the close of the Second World War. It takes several twists and turns, with a dramatic use of photophraphy. Surely a film not to be missed.