This film follows the story of a psychologist who wants to conduct an experiment involving students. This experiment includes individuals who volunteer to be either a prisoner or a guard in a simulated prison constructed in classrooms in the university. In the end, the students will be compensated for their time and they will be free to continue on with their lives like normal, or so they thought. This film is based on a true story of an experiment that was conducted in 1971. It stars Ezra Miller, Tye Sheridan, Logan Miller and more.
Movie Stats:
Length of film: 2hr 2min
Rating: R
Release date: July 17, 2015
Click here to watch the Trailer.
Movie Talk:
I came across this film on Netflix and started to watch it because I thought Adam Driver was in it. Then I realized it was Ezra Miller, so I continued watching. I was surprised when I could not move away from the TV. Somehow this film kept me engaged for the whole 2 hours. I was literally walking up to the TV eager to find out what would happen next.
The film follows the “guards” and the “prisoners” for 6 days. This experiment went on for only 6 days,when it was supposed to go on for 2 weeks. Some may say that 6 days was too short, but for others, that time frame may have been too long.
Different characters react to the prison situation differently. Some character do not seem to mind at first being locked in a “cell“, while others joke because they know this is “only an experiment”. As the movie progresses, character’s opinions, emotions and actions change. Some people transform into someone else completely. Characters work together, then are torn apart, some can deal with whatever is thrown at them, and others simply cannot.
This movie gives you an insight on an experience you may have never thought about. It makes you wonder what you would have done if you were in the experiment. How long would you have lasted? Was the experiment cruel? How can we use this experiment’s results to help people in real life?
Some things to think about…
After watching this film, there are many things you can take away from it. It certainly gave me a new perspective on power and authority. One of the most memorable statements from this film is the idea that the only thing that separates the guards from the prisoners is a “flip of a coin”. Think about that.
If you have not watched the film yet, watch it with this phrase in mind. The movie makes important points and challenges the viewer to change their perspective throughout the film. Enjoy!
Watch this film:
Check it out on: Netflix , Amazon , IMDb and the movie website . Click the name of the platform for the link.
Aloha Arianna 