The Experiment (2001)

For two weeks, 20 male participants are hired to play prisoners and guards in a prison. The "prisoners" have to follow seemingly mild rules, and the "guards" are told to retain order without using physical violence.

Director:

Oliver Hirschbiegel

Writers:

Mario Giordano (novel), Mario Giordano (screenplay)

Stars:

Moritz Bleibtreu, Christian Berkel, Oliver Stokowski

14 wins & 13 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Moritz Bleibtreu	...	Tarek Fahd - Häftling Nr. 77 / Prisoner #77
Christian Berkel	...	Robert Steinhoff Nr. 38
Oliver Stokowski	...	Günther Schütte Nr. 82
Wotan Wilke Möhring	...	Joe Maier Nr. 69
Stephan Szasz	...	Häftling Nr. 53
Polat Dal	...	Häftling Nr. 40
Danny Richter	...	Häftling Nr. 21
Ralf Müller	...	Häftling Nr. 15
Markus Rudolf	...	Häftling Nr. 74
Peter Fieseler	...	Häftling Nr. 11
Thorsten Dersch	...	Häftling Nr. 86 (as Thorsten J.H. Dersch)
Sven Grefer	...	Häftling Nr. 94
Justus von Dohnányi	...	Berus - Strafvollzugsbeamter / Guard (as Justus von Dohnànyi)
Nicki von Tempelhoff	...	Kamps - Strafvollzugsbeamter / Guard
Timo Dierkes	...	Eckert - Strafvollzugsbeamter / Guard

Storyline

The movie is based on the infamous "Stanford Prison Experiment" conducted in 1971. A makeshift prison is set up in a research lab, complete with cells, bars and surveillance cameras. For two weeks 20 male participants are hired to play prisoners and guards. The 'prisoners' are locked up and have to follow seemingly mild rules, and the 'guards' are told simply to retain order without using physical violence. Everybody is free to quit at any time, thereby forfeiting payment. In the beginning the mood between both groups is insecure and rather emphatic. But soon quarrels arise and the wardens employ ever more drastic sanctions to confirm their authority.

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Plot Keywords:

male objectification | behaviorism | beaten to death | guard | prisoner | 

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Taglines:

20 Männer. Zwei Gruppen. Eine Erfahrung, die du nie vergisst.

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Genres:

Drama | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for strong violence, disturbing situations, language, sexuality and nudity

Details

Country:

Germany

Language:

German English

Release Date:

8 March 2001 (Germany)

Also Known As:

The Experiment

Filming Locations:

University of Wuppertal, Wuppertal, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$19,857, 22 September 2002, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$141,072, 27 October 2002

Company Credits

Production Co:

Typhoon, Fanes Film, Senator Film Produktion

Technical Specs

Runtime:

114 min (DVD) 109 min (cut) 120 min (uncut)

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Based on a true story, Professor Philip Zimbardo's "Stanford Prison Experiment".

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Goofs

As the prisoners escape, they lock the door to the cell block and break off the key, forcing the guards to go another way. However when Doctor Thon returns the door is wide open.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Tarek Fahd, Häftling Nr. 77: [voiceover, reading newspaper ad] Test subjects wanted. Earn 4000 marks for a 14-day experiment in a simulated prison.

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Alternate Versions

The first cinema version had an insert in the beginning of the movie which stated "This is based on the Stanford Prison Experiment". Since Prof. Philip Zimbardo wasn't asked by the filmmakers - and the movie doesn't really show the true experiment, but an exaggeration, the insert was changed to say "This movie is based on the novel Black Box"

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Connections

Referenced in The Holiday (2006)

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Soundtracks

Wouldn't It Be Nice
Written by Brian Wilson, Tony Asher and Mike Love
(C) 1966 by Sea of Tunes Publishing Co. Inc., USA
The Beach Boys
Mit freundlicher Genehmigung der
EMI Music Publishing Germany GmbH
und der EMI Electrola GmbH

User Reviews

A true experience

Now this is the kind of movie Hollywood should make!

Movie about an experiment gone all out of hand, with 20 men posing to be guards and prisoners for a period of 2 weeks. We follow the events mainly through the eyes of reporter/taxidriver Tarek, a 'prisoner', who thinks there's a good story to tell.

But things go all wrong when the guards really feel like they're God and things only get worse from that moment on. There's an amazing scene with Tarek in a 'black box', that scene is as scary as I have ever seen on screen.

Surely a movie you won't forget too soon. Terrifying, exciting, horrific, brilliant!

9/10.