Das Experiment (DVD)

The film revolves around a man called Tarek, who is a taxi driver and he comes across an experimental study ad in the newspapers. He initially joins the scientific trial for the massive 4000 marks given out on the completion of the study but then realises he could use this to his advantage to get his job back as a journalist. Other 19 men from all walks of life are also doing the study for the money. They must stay 14 days in an isolated environment with no basic human rights and they must not use violence at all. There are two groups: the prisoners and the guards. What happens during the film, you'd expect the prisoners to put their heads down and quiet for 14 days but ...  Read the complete review

If you've ever studied Psychology from A-Level standard or above, you're probably aware of the Stanford prison experiment, in which a false prison was created in which the experimenters had participants play either prisoners or guards. However, the participants, particularly the guards, began to play to their roles, enforcing the prison rules with cruelty, and if necessary, force. What's more, the guards were kitted out with things like reflective glasses which made personage quite difficult to discern. The experiment had to ultimately be stopped due to the suffering and mental scarring inflicted on the inmates, and it's an extremely important experiment with regard to ...  Read the complete review

Few can claim to be uninterested in the human mind, particularly the dark side. The now infamous Stanford prison experiment has caused some controversy and has been criticised as unethical and non-scientific, however, it is certainly interesting. The film is based upon a novel inspired by the 1971 experiment, following the plight of the participants throughout their ordeal. The principal character, Tarek, is freelance reporter who believes the experiment will afford him an excellent opportunity to earn money. Participants are paid and he can sell his story to the tabloid newspapers for a tidy profit. Potential participants are shown being vetted, with each ...  Read the complete review

"Das Experiment" (The Experiment) is clearly inspired by the 1971 Stanford Prison Experiment. This was an experiment to determine how institutions, such as prisons, affect human behaviour. A group of predominately white middleclass volunteers were made prisoners and another group were made guards. The experiment was cancelled after only six days. Apparently the inmates had been increasingly humiliated and brutalized by the guards. "Das Experiment" dramatically took the whole matter to extremes and emphasized the point that brutality was bred by such conditions. The Stanford Experiment has been heavily criticized in academic scientific circles, as it ...  Read the complete review