Several years ago, I saw a German film called Das Experiment. It was based on a novel by Mario Giordano which, itself was based on an infamous behavioral experiment conducted at Stanford in 1971. There has been an American remake that was apparently too graphic and disturbing for American screens. This was only released theatrically in Asia and parts of Europe, and it was (unfortunately) relegated to the Direct-to-Video bin. Called simply The Experiment, it diverts in several disappointing ways from the German original, but is very close in its twisted spirit. Essentially, the titular experiment involved getting a group of completely random men together, randomly separate them into two groups "Guards," who have "authority" and the tools to back it up, and "Inmates," who have no rights, but outnumber the "Guards" at a 2/1 ratio. They were put into a secure location, locked in for fourteen days, and watched by the scientists. The original experiment only lasted five days. FIVE DAYS. That's how quickly things went Lord of the Flies in real life. This is a harrowing movie, not for the faint of heart. It is a brutal look at human nature.
It stars Adrien Brody, in yet another role where he suffers inhuman treatment at the hands of others. He is great in a role I wouldn't wish on someone of lesser talent. Forest Whittaker is the main antagonist, bringing a raw insanity to his part. The acting as a whole is great and there are no weak performances here.
The original German version is much better as a story, but this version presents the actual experiment in its most raw, and unadulterated form. This movie will shred your nerves and make you wonder about how humanity got this far, but it is a hell of a ride. To put it in perspective: it is several thousand degrees less brutal than A Serbian Movie, but makes Se7en feel like a trip through Disneyland. Watch at your own risk, and definitely not for the kids. 7.75/10
See you tomorrow, and GO WATCH A MOVIE!!
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