THE PLATFORM (R)
Movie Review:
“The Platform” is a provocative allegory for strange times
No matter your political views, “The Platform” is so well crafted, it’s likely to get under your skin in a big way. No easy fete for a first-time feature director and a modestly budgeted film making its debut on Netflix. With themes that echo Bong Joon-ho’s “Snowpiercer” and “Parasite,” a single location with a visual pallet reminiscent of “Cube,” and a disturbing set of game-like situations that recall “Saw” (albeit it should be noted that this is not a torture porn display), “The Platform” reveals its true self little by little as it makes its way towards a somewhat ambiguous and undeniably thought-provoking finale.
As “The Platform” opens, Goreng (Ivan Massague) awakens to find himself trapped with a creepy cellmate, Trimagasi (Zorion Eguileor), within the confines of a small dingy room that just so happens to be a tinier piece of a massive vertical prison-like structure. Each level of this structure contains one cell with two inhabitants. In the center of the floor and ceiling of each cell are openings that allow inhabitants to observe their fellow prisoners, above and below. Additionally, it is through these openings that each floor of this multiple-leveled structure is delivered a daily meal. The catch is, this limited daily feast starts at the top of the structure feeding countless prisoners for two minutes at a time on its way to the bottom, and by the time this elevating platform of edibles reaches the lower levels, there’s no telling how much food, if any, might be left for those residing in the cells below.
As seconds turn to minutes, minutes turn to hours, and hours turn to days, an increasingly hungry Goreng attempts to adapt to the way things function in this horrible place, and through it all, there are no easy answers to his numerous questions, the big one being; “How many levels are there in this place?!” Adding insult to injury, Trimangasi’s somewhat cryptic responses to many of Goreng’s questions don’t do much to help matters.
It shouldn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out that Goerng, Trimagasi, and the many inhabitants of this structure are part of some sick and twisted experiments. But what is the point of this experiment? That is at the very heart of this fiendishly clever, disturbing, provocative, and oddly timely allegory from Spanish director, Galder Gaztely-Urrutia. From a technical standpoint, this modestly budgeted film hits every mark, particularly when it comes to the outstanding production design and exceptional sound design.
The screenplay by David Desola and Pedro Rivero offers up a deft balance of character and ambiguity. There’s also a real grasp of tone here. “The Platform” is grim, grisly, and dirty, and while the themes on display aren’t exactly subtle, this movie is undeniably thought-provoking and earns big-time props for refusing to spell everything out making for an often unnerving descent into hell.
Massague is outstanding in the lead. This role had to be challenging on both an emotional and physical level and this dedicated actor clearly commits. “The Platform” is filtered through his eyes and we feel his confusion, fear, and discoveries every step of the way. Likewise, Eguileor is wonderfully off-kilter as the relentlessly creepy and eerily calm Trimagasi. Further props to supporting player Emilio Buale who brings energy and charisma to the table as determined structure resident, Baharat.
Given the strange times we’re currently living in, “The Platform” isn’t an easy watch. It’s a dark, ugly, and often cynical look at the world, but truth be told, there is light at the end of the tunnel. The film does offer up hope. All of these attributes aid in making “The Platform” a sci-fi/horror show well worth watching. You’re just likely to want to take a shower after it’s over.
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