The Platform (El hoyo): Movie Review

"The Platform" is gruesome in a lot of ways. The most obvious would be its unrelenting gore but the film is more than the physical shock it will implore. Beyond that, the biggest catch for "The Platform" are the themes it unabashedly explores and the dog eat dog world society we live in daily.

Goreng wakes up in a concrete cell marked with the number 48. With him is Trimagasi who reminds him that they are in a tower-style prison in which food is delivered via a platform that travels from the top to bottom. Those on top get first pickings and the ones below them are only able to eat what they leave behind. Each month, they are randomly moved to another level. Can Goreng survive the prison he finds himself in and find the truth about it along the process?

There are few films that will leave you with a mark - "The Platform" is one of those films. Overall, it was surprisingly well-made and well-acted. The effects and scenes were shot well making the whole film feel claustrophobic. Our favorite actor was certainly Zorion Eguileor who plays Trimagasi. He is lovable, delightful, and sinister all at the same time. If you're the type who loves gore and anything that will leave you squirming in disgust, then "The Platform" certainly won't disappoint. It doesn't hold anything back and had us literally "shooked" countless times. As a political and psychological film, it had a lot to say about how society has been designed and how people treat each other - not only the rich but everyone in particular. Given our current global crisis, the film is as timely and relevant as it ever could be. Let's just say that this film will make you question on how you treat other people around you. As a sci-fi experience, it's premise and concept is well thought out but we have to admit this is where the film had some issues. First, the film fails to really explain anything. We just know the tower is a prison but we never really understand what is its purpose or why some can voluntarily enter it for example. Second, the ending is sudden and quite open for interpretation. For those looking for a clear-cut explanation to everything, "The Platform" won't give any of its secrets away.

Rating: 4 reels





Why you should watch it:
- very deep and satisfying experience

Why you shouldn't watch it:
- if you're one who expects answers then this will leave you unsatisfied