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DAS EXPERIMENT screenwriter Mario Giordano works with writer/director Paul Scheuring to craft this remake based on the notorious Stanford Prison Experiment. A team of scientists are conducting a psychological experiment that requires the participation of 20 subjects. The rules are simple: one group of subjects will be assigned the role of prison guards while the others will be assigned the role of inmates. Though the guards are specifically instructed to maintain order without the use of force no one is prepared for what happens when mutiny erupts and civility erodes. Adrian Brody and Forest Whittaker helm a fantastic cast.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
The Experiment features Adrien Brody (Splice) and Forest Whitaker (Panic Room) as two of 24 participants in a psychological trial. The trial is simple; they will spend two weeks locked in a building acting out their randomly assigned permanent roles as six guards or one of eighteen prisoners. There are 5 rules and they must be enforced upon the prisoners by the guards or the experiment is over and nobody gets paid. After an initially amicable friendship during the induction, Brody and Whitaker find themselves on opposite sides of the wire and becomes nemeses pitted against each other as the leaders of their respective clans. Behaviour soon deteriorates as the prisoners reject the rules and the guards enforce them in more and more depraved ways until things start to get out of hand...
Based on the Zimbardo Stanford experiment in 1971; the premise for this film is grounded in fact, this scenario did in fact play out at one time which makes it all the more chilling when you consider what the candidates must have gone through. The film makes no bones about the psychological nature, with Whitaker's character realising early on that despite not being able to physically harm the inmates, they can remove their sense of self-worth & dignity, further reinforcing the internalisation of the 'prisoner' role.
The acting is very credible with both the leads giving stellar performances as they realise that they are becoming the very stereotype they have been recruited to be, not only taking on the character, but relishing in it. It is this aspect that intrigued me the most about this film, the candidates were all civil to each other when placed on a level field, but given the right set of circumstances, they became sadistic and inhuman. The set the whole thing plays out in is minimalistic (a generic prison) and shot almost entirely through a blue-filter once inside. The score is generic and really not worth much of a mention.
Aside from a few Sony previews there is no extra content to this disc!!
All in all, a solid prison movie with a psychological twist to it, a bit thin on story and feels like it was wrapped up all too hastily, but very interesting nonetheless.
Based on the Zimbardo Stanford experiment in 1971; the premise for this film is grounded in fact, this scenario did in fact play out at one time which makes it all the more chilling when you consider what the candidates must have gone through. The film makes no bones about the psychological nature, with Whitaker's character realising early on that despite not being able to physically harm the inmates, they can remove their sense of self-worth & dignity, further reinforcing the internalisation of the 'prisoner' role.
The acting is very credible with both the leads giving stellar performances as they realise that they are becoming the very stereotype they have been recruited to be, not only taking on the character, but relishing in it. It is this aspect that intrigued me the most about this film, the candidates were all civil to each other when placed on a level field, but given the right set of circumstances, they became sadistic and inhuman. The set the whole thing plays out in is minimalistic (a generic prison) and shot almost entirely through a blue-filter once inside. The score is generic and really not worth much of a mention.
Aside from a few Sony previews there is no extra content to this disc!!
All in all, a solid prison movie with a psychological twist to it, a bit thin on story and feels like it was wrapped up all too hastily, but very interesting nonetheless.
11 of 13 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
'The Experiment' is a fact-based psychological thriller that released Direct-to-DVD in 2010 to positive reviews. It's a remake of the critically acclaimed 2001 German film, 'Das Experiment', which was directed by Oliver Hirschbiegel.
The movie is based on the controversial Stanford prison experiment (resembled in Mario Giordano's novel, 'Black Box'), which was a study of the psychological effects of becoming a prisoner or prison guard. The experiment was carried out in 1971 by a team of researchers led by psychology professor, Philip Zimbardo at Stanford University in the United States. The goal of the experiment was to understand abusive prison situations. 24 male participants were recruited and took part in an intended two-week prison simulation, which ended up getting out-of-hand.
The movie tells the story of 26 men who partake in the experiment, which will earn them $14,000 each, if they abide by the set rules and complete 2 weeks. The participants are situated in a prison setting and are either given the role of a prisoner (Adrien Brody & Clifton Collins Jr.) or a guard (Forest Whitaker). The movie thereafter concentrates on the deteriorating relationship between the prisoners & the guards and the escalating situations.
The movie has a settling start introducing the characters. You then witness the pace accelerating with each tension filled scene, right until the end. The movie progresses with gripping emotional drama and a flurry of unsettling/disturbing situations, which leave a lasting effect. The climax is acceptable but doesn't provide a closure, which is unfortunate.
The second flaw after the ending is that there are no actors (barring the start where Fisher Stevens makes a short appearance as a researcher) enacting a pivotal role of a researcher. This could've defined the purpose of the experiment further adding an extra dimension to the story.
Adrien Brody steals the show with a fantastic performance. Forest Whitaker performs a complex role with ease making his character crawl under your skin. The tension between Brody and Whitaker really gets you going. Clifton Collins Jr. also leaves a mark.
The direction provided by Paul Scheuring is impressive and realistic. Hats off to him for causing the lead actors to produce award winning performances.
One thing I can happily say after watching the movie, is that authority and power ain't for me.
One thing I don't understand is, why this feature didn't get a theatrical release, it sure did deserve it.
'The Experiment' is a compelling experience that will leave you in a state of unnerve. Final words, WATCH IT.
The movie is based on the controversial Stanford prison experiment (resembled in Mario Giordano's novel, 'Black Box'), which was a study of the psychological effects of becoming a prisoner or prison guard. The experiment was carried out in 1971 by a team of researchers led by psychology professor, Philip Zimbardo at Stanford University in the United States. The goal of the experiment was to understand abusive prison situations. 24 male participants were recruited and took part in an intended two-week prison simulation, which ended up getting out-of-hand.
The movie tells the story of 26 men who partake in the experiment, which will earn them $14,000 each, if they abide by the set rules and complete 2 weeks. The participants are situated in a prison setting and are either given the role of a prisoner (Adrien Brody & Clifton Collins Jr.) or a guard (Forest Whitaker). The movie thereafter concentrates on the deteriorating relationship between the prisoners & the guards and the escalating situations.
The movie has a settling start introducing the characters. You then witness the pace accelerating with each tension filled scene, right until the end. The movie progresses with gripping emotional drama and a flurry of unsettling/disturbing situations, which leave a lasting effect. The climax is acceptable but doesn't provide a closure, which is unfortunate.
The second flaw after the ending is that there are no actors (barring the start where Fisher Stevens makes a short appearance as a researcher) enacting a pivotal role of a researcher. This could've defined the purpose of the experiment further adding an extra dimension to the story.
Adrien Brody steals the show with a fantastic performance. Forest Whitaker performs a complex role with ease making his character crawl under your skin. The tension between Brody and Whitaker really gets you going. Clifton Collins Jr. also leaves a mark.
The direction provided by Paul Scheuring is impressive and realistic. Hats off to him for causing the lead actors to produce award winning performances.
One thing I can happily say after watching the movie, is that authority and power ain't for me.
One thing I don't understand is, why this feature didn't get a theatrical release, it sure did deserve it.
'The Experiment' is a compelling experience that will leave you in a state of unnerve. Final words, WATCH IT.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
Buy the original
I saw the original German-language film "Das Experiment" in the cinema during it's short run in 2001. Do yourself a favour, and pick that up instead. Read more
Published 7 months ago by Jram
Absolute power corrupts - absolutely.
I saw this film without knowing what to expect. I only knew it had two great actors in it (Whitaker and Brody) and Paul Scheurung, the creator of the hit series Prison Break. Read more
Published 8 months ago by Mr D.K Lind
Pointless waste of time
I've just sat through this film and have to say it is utter garbage. There is no point to the film at all. Read more
Published 11 months ago by C. Taylor
Ghastly remake!
This remake of the German version 'Das Experiment' is sickening, violent, unreasonable and unnecessary. Read more
Published 12 months ago by T M Strate
top dvd
this dvd although has scenes of violence it is spellbound for you to know the ending very good veiwing for anyone who enjoy fighting films
Published 14 months ago by Barbara
Not Good
Huge potential, but failed on near enough every area.
Forest Whitaker tried his best to play some sort of sociapath, but again failed miserably. Read more
Forest Whitaker tried his best to play some sort of sociapath, but again failed miserably. Read more
Published 14 months ago by Mark T M
Excellent
I watched this soon after the chillean miners were released - it made me think about how they coped with one another. Read more
Published 16 months ago by EKB
Fact based but lot of fact missing
This is a good film, with good actors. It makes a disturbing watch when you consider that it is based on the Zimbardo experiment. Read more
Published 17 months ago by nds
The Brody versus Whittaker Experiment, in this acceptable Prison style...
This is sort of a remake of Das Experiment, but also is totally new. It is a good, strong watch, held up by it's performers and the idea. Read more
Published 18 months ago by T. BROOKES
Makes me want to see the original
Haven't seen the original but will now probably hunt it out on the basis of reviews saying "the original was better". Read more
Published 18 months ago by Filmfan
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