The Platform (2019) User Reviews (1,253)

My interpretation of the movie

[zaferdc · 8/10 · 22 March 2020]

I think rather than focusing on a plot, the movie depicts different edges and human profiles in life. The platform is our world, and the administration are the governments, and the levels are the social classes that are created. The administration (government) works with care, but due to flaws in the capitalist system, there are people suffering/dying.

The main character Goreng has norms. However, it doesn't take too much until he loses his mind in a corrupt world. He wakes up in the platform with an old man, who is completely aware about the system, and has already completely adapted. When he is up, he eats as much as he can and abuses it. When he's down, he does everything needed to stay alive. The woman that formerly worked for the administration regrets her earlier duties of sending people in to the platform, as she 'didn't know' - depicting similar people that work for governments nowadays. She regrets it, hence sends herself in and tries to change the system by speaking up to the lower level everyday. However, the tone of her message is not enough in the cruel world; Goreng's tone that includes threatening seems to work though.

Goreng tries to change the entire system with Baharat. I think, that ultimately they failed, and that starting from some part of going down (I am not sure from where), Goreng starts to hallucinate. Initially, they are trying to send a message to the administration by sending back untouched clean food - which is normally impossible in their system. They fail in this, but Goreng, imagines a bigger message: in the lower levels, no one is interested in food from the table anyways; they are eating each other. A child that survives the bottom floor would serve as a bigger message, as she is a metaphor to our social norms and ties. Baharat tried to go up several times, but going up does not have anything to do with willingness. There are always people that are going to stop you. It is a matter of luck, just like in the movie. One day you wake up in a horrific situation, the other day you are happier. When you are happy (or of higher class), you seem to forget about the bad days and lose your emphaty as a human being and exaggerate in every act that you do.

The woman that worked for the administration thought that there were 200 levels. The movie describes that there is always worse and way more people suffering than they seem to observe - so bad that the world and the governments (the woman) do not realize (or tend to ignore) while being part of the system.

Overall, I think it was a great movie. I like open endings so that I can draw one myself.

What the movie really is about (interpretation and explanation)

[gkranasioannis · 8/10 · 27 March 2020]

The movie is easy to follow, and presented with a simple premise.That everyone is trying to survive in a dystopian system where some people have it good while others have it really bad, for seemingly no reason other than pure luck. A prison split in levels (we learn in the end it is 333 levels), and a platform of a gluttonous, exquisite buffet travelling from from top to bottom, stopping for 2 minutes at every level. During that time, the level's 2 prisoners can eat all they want from that buffet. As they eat more than they need, the buffet deteriorates rapidly and by the time it reaches lower levels, there's no food left and people are starving and dying.

But everything is a metaphor.

The "Administration" is capitalism, the "Hole" is society. The Administration enables the people on top to have an extravagant meal, at the expense of starving people at the bottom, just like in society people on top grab all resources (money, real estate, natural resources), leaving the bottom with nothing, and capitalism enables that. The cooks prepare an exquisite meal but only people on the top level really enjoy it to the fullest, to the extent you could say the cooks only work for the people on level 1. As you could say capitalism only works for the 1% (or 0.3% if we go by the Hole's 333 levels).

Goreng is the common man. He's brought into a system, and questions the rules that don't make sense, suggesting common logic. But he's beaten into submission by the old guy (a seasoned veteran of the Hole), as well as the Hole's rules. Goreng is the idealistic youth that starts with good intentions but are beaten into submitting to the system by old men and their rules (parents, teachers, society as a whole).

Goreng wants to start a protest and bring change but soon realises that he can only influence the levels under him but not the ones above him, he doesn't have any power over them. They don't care about his message as it doesn't make *their* lives better, they couldn't care less about the lives of those in lower levels. Like in society, say in a business hierarchy, you can only command your underlings but not your superiors. And the people above you rarely care about your needs. So Goreng decides to start his protest from the bottom and using violence when needed. A metaphor how successful revolutions (like the October revolution) started bottom up (and not top down), and used violence when necessary.

The old woman that worked for the Administration, represents an old "retired" 1%er. She thought there are only 200 levels. She worked for the system, contributed to it and and enjoyed its benefits, but at the end of her life (she has cancer), she tries to instigate change but in a really inefficient way. She is an allegory for an old, ultra-rich person who retires to focus on philanthropy (bringing change) at the end of their lives. But they manages very little due to how the system works. Also that person has a distorted view of how extreme the level of poverty and suffering can be.

Baharat (the black guy) is a driven, hardworking person, determined to make it all the way up. He has all the tools: rope, strength, determination. But, no matter how much he tries, since he started low he can only go up to a point. People above him will - literally - defecate on his face and stop his progress. That's an experience that many talented, driven people in the real world who started from a low place, can empathise with.

The child represents the young generation. The child is the "message" just like the next young generation will be the one bringing change. Goreng want to stay with the child on the platform and go together up, bringing the message and changing things. But he is not needed for the message to arrive, he needs to step down for the platform to move. He steps down, content that he fulfilled his role. Here the allegory is, the old generation might need to step down, to make room for the young one to rise and bring change in society. The old generation might want to partake in this changed, better new world, but they might not live to see it, just as Goreng will probably not leave to see the effect of the "message" being delivered. In this case, the last verse of Bob Dylan's song, "The times they're a-changin'" rings true:

Come mothers and fathers throughout the land And don't criticise what you can't understand Your sons and your daughters are beyond your command Your old road is rapidly aging Please get outta' the new one if you can't lend your hand For the times they are a-changin'

Engrossing thriller, darkly comical and with a solid commentary on the social fabric.

[Fella_shibby · 8/10 · 18 August 2021]

I liked this movie and found the acting of all the actors very noteworthy.

Fans of Snowpiercer n Cube will definitely enjoy this.

One of the best part is that the director made sure that the camera doesn't linger much on the gory aspects n even the unpleasant stuff is fast paced.

Read My Review after you saw this movie ( Spanish B+ Movie) My Ratings 7/10

[THE-BEACON-OF-MOVIES-RAFA · 7/10 · 17 April 2020]

Every day the cooks supply with little but enough food so that everyone in the hole can survive. The problem is how people share the food. It is easy to blame a leader or a system (capitalist, communist, etc.) but in reality it is the attitude of each one that counts.

• Entering the hole represents seeking a reward in a short time, and everything bad that happens there is what we do to get it. (maybe we are all in the hole already)

• The first cellmate has a knife and tells him that each time he uses it he sharpens more, without a doubt reflects the experience in betrayal to survive the stab wounds he has given people to achieve his goal is his best weapon. When the situation gets complicated he does not hesitate to eat his partner to survive and he says, I do it because I only have 2 months left to go out and I have to eat well, and you are young you have a lot of time left .. this reflects that the Lord thinking about his retirement needs more money and more resources than a young person.

• The cold and heat that you feel if you keep some food, represents the consequences of taking too much (that includes social deterioration but also climate change)

• The second companion is a vegetarian environmentalist, her dog represents that she is an animal friend and protects you. With a soft voice she tries to convince others to ration the food they eat, but nobody listens to her, she enters the hole because her ambition is to want to change the system.

• The third partner reflects a person who has struggled to get to the top, makes it clear when he tells the protagonist that he wants to give food to the other two people because they helped him up.

• The search to send a message to ground zero is like Don Quixote's fight, a noble but imaginary fight. we all have to change, be generous with others (perhaps it is impossible because it is not our nature).

• The hole is deeper than the protagonist imagined. (poverty is worse than we suppose)

• When the protagonist reaches the last floor 333 (this number is associated with good luck, which is what one is looking for)

• The girl represents prisoner 666, a number we already know who represents: she does not smile, does not speak, does not cry. The spirit of the first partner of salde tells the protagonist that she is the message, that they have a gift that he cannot see, that the message does not need a bearer.

The girl reflects the bad, the disease, the viruses of excesses, which nobody sees by being in the hole.

• The girl really was an hallucination of the dying protagonist.

• The girl's mother, which it really isn't, she was simply contaminated with what the girl represents.

• What really got to the top was the panacota (dessert), and the chef when he saw the panacota does not understand the message and thinks that they did not eat it because it had a hair. This scene is really the end, even if it is not the end.

Great idea - Shame about the ending..

[jayezrecordings · 7/10 · 24 March 2020]

Yet again the spanish come out with another great watch on Netflix!

The Platform does a great job to explain life as we know it today. We have those in power pulling all the strings while the classes fight amongst them selves for everthing that is good in life. Think of The platform as lifes "Pyramid" system to which we all play a role in. The few at the top looking down and the many below.

Its not just about food, its about ethics, politics, education and religion!

Throughout our lives we are constantly indoctrinated about all these subjects above - What we take on then plays on our subconscious mind and mold us into a particular way of thinking.

Politics: The entire film is built around a political structure. The administration (The government) each level of the platform (Social Classes) If you disobey the rules the government turn up the heat! As in life, those at the bottom get "hand me downs"or the "Left overs" form those above. In the platform the punishments appear to be temperature / climate related which again could imply the same in the real world with climate changing technologies such as HAARP (which im sure has been down sized these days)

Ethics: In a situation like this your ethics WOULD go out the window! its about surviving - Humans wil always rely this primordial trait. As they said in the movie "There are only three types of people: Those at the top, those at the bottom, and those who fall" With your ethics could you bring yourself to eat another human to survive or would you "fall"??

Education: This was meantioned many times throught the film. In fact the main character voluntarily entered The Platform in order to get s "Diploma" Again this stinks of life! Today students have to live on next to nothing in order to learn and get "indoctrinated" by the system! The cost of which is ridiculously high so much so those that commit to it end up in debt for many many years after. Everything comes at a price!

Religion: The main character is considered as Jesus - In the end he sacrifices himself to try and save everyone not just the little girl. The little girl could represent a possible change to the system - being the next genaration!

The Bottom Line: One man can only change the thought process of that of a child. The more people behind the change the greater the change happens.

Change only happens with solidarity and not by pooping in the face of those below!

bravo to the makers!

rushed ending

[lappaina · 6/10 · 23 March 2020]

Very promising until the last scenes, rushed ending and many questions left unanswered. Reminded me of CUBE, loved that movie.

Many people misunderstood the role of Miharu! My analysis of the movie.

[TheKing87 · 9/10 · 8 April 2020]

I think this movie was very interesting and full of interesting symbolism. I definitely recommend watching this movie.

I have read a lot of different understandings of this movie, but I think that a lot of people maybe misunderstood the role of Miharu. So this is my analysis of the movie:

In general, the facility represents society. The levels represent society classes and hierarchies. The protagonist, Goreng, represents a resistance movement who is ready to use threats and violence to secure that there is enough food for everybody. The old man, Trimagasi, represents a supporter of the system. The woman from the administration, Imoguiri, represents a peaceful movement that wants change but is unable to do so. Miharu who rides down the platform actually represents the upper class (se explanation further below).

The cellmates believe that the change of levels each month is random. However, the administration does not randomly choose the levels for all prisoners each month. The administration choses if each prisoner should go up or down the levels each month based on whether they have eaten their cellmates or not. If a prisoner is willing to kill his or her cellmate and eat of them then he or she is secured a higher level the next month. This is evidenced a couple of times in the movie: At first Goreng starts on level 48 with Trimagasi and they live peacefully. Then they move down to level 171 the following month where Goreng ends up killing Trimagasi and eats of him to survive. Then Goreng moves up to level 33 the next month where he meets Imoguiri and they live peacefully. Then they move down to level 202 where Goreng is forced to eat of Imoguiri who has killed herself. Then Goreng finally moves up to level 6 where he meets Baharat.

The woman Miharu who rides down the platform actually represents the upper class of society because she knows how to exploit the system. Notice that she always rides down the platform and comes from the top floors and she is always bloodied and emotionless. That is because she always makes sure to kill and eat her cellmates every month, and that's why she always ends on the top floors. Miharu rides down the platform to make sure that there is food for the little girl (which we assume is her daughter) on the bottom floor. The girl is always on the bottom floor month after month, because she has never killed and eaten her cellmate. Miharu rides down the platform once a month so she has to make sure that there is enough food for the girl because she cannot get up again until the month is over (the platform only travels back up to level zero, which prisoners presumably are not allowed to enter). That's why she killed so many prisoners on her way down. Miharu must have a good reason to ride down the platform every month and that was to take care of the little girl. Miharu has managed to stay on top and alive for long because she knows the system. However, even she succumbs to the system when she is killed in a fight with the prisoners.

Notice that we learn from Imoguiri that she selected Miharu to enter the facility 10 months ago, that she entered alone, and that nobody under 16 years is allowed in the facility. However, we cannot trust Imoguiri's information because she also said that there are 200 levels, which turned out to be false, and the prohibition against under 16 year olds to enter the facility also turned out to be false. So the question of how the little girl ended in the facility remains unanswered. Perhaps the little girl was born in the facility or she was thrown in there with her mother.

The movie hints that there is actually enough food for everybody on all floors because the administration puts every prisoner's requested food on the table. This is evidenced when the protagonist is interviewed by the administration official about his favorite food (snails) and that it will be served while he is imprisoned. We also see that the protagonist sees his requested food for the first time when he is on floor no. 6 because none from the upper floors has touched it yet (but he doesn't eat it). He did not get to see his requested food before because those on the upper floors always ate it before it arrived to him. If every prisoner in the facility kept his or her requested food when it arrived at his or her floor, the floor will not turn hot or cold. This is evidenced by one of the last scenes when the protagonist keeps the Panna Cotta when he is at the girl's floor, which must be the favorite food of the girl. All the prisoners had to do was to take their requested food, and not eat the others' food, so the food would be equally distributed all the way to floor no. 333. However, the prisoners from the upper floors greedily ate more than their favorite food leaving less to the ones on the lower levels. So the main message of the movie is that people are very greedy and are ready to take more than they need, and not so much that the system is flawed. We see that the alternative system that the protagonist tries to enforce by distributing little food to everybody also leads to violence and deaths and is not much better.

The end of the movie is quite vague, but it does have a meaning. At the end, we don't see what happens to the protagonist, but it is hinted that the protagonist probably dies. Notice that he was heavily injured and barely got on the platform with the girl, when they reached the bottom, then he suddenly he gets off and walks normally when he sees the ghost of Trimagasi. The girl transports upwards to the top floor at the end of the movie. The protagonist is trying to send a message to the administration by transporting the girl to the top. Perhaps the message is to show that despite that most people are greedy, there are also some people who are willing to show benevolence and generosity to save others.

I think this movie was very interesting. The movie is open to interpretation, and this is of course my point of view and I hope you found this helpful.

Reminds me to snowpiercer from Bong Joon Ho

[izr · 7/10 · 22 March 2020]

I am giving it a solid 7. Good movie. Reminds me to snowpiercer from Bong Joon Ho but in this case the prision is vertical and not horizontal (train) but challenges the human behavior in a similar way. Good movie!

Just stick to your favourite food

[danielconstantinescu · 9/10 · 25 March 2020]

First of all, I would have never expect to enjoy this movie as much as I did. It starts slow, with some basic (and easy to guess) details. A prison, food every day, don't starve. The characters were not very complex and it will not be until, but are the little things the one that will truly play with your feelings.

The movie begins with a very strong social statement. 'They are above you, they won't listen to you.' and 'They are below you, don't talk to them.'

First of all, with every new floor you will pity them more and more. First you hear a number...132 (and most people will try to guess that there are only 150 floors). But then they are taken to 171 and so on until they reach the very end.

The second thing that made me wonder was the fact that the protagonist never discovered the truth. The kid was not the message, the cake was not the message...the message was hidden in the question most of them received...What is your favorite food? The main character try to avoid this question but the woman insisted upon an answer. He said "Snails"...what does he see on the table? Snails. The feast was composed from all the favorite foods of everyone locked in there. If each prisoner would have eat only his favorite food, he would have survived and the food would have been enough for everyone. But is the human greed and the savage feeling of hunger that made them eat everything.

Brutal

[terrencepatrix · 7/10 · 21 March 2020]

Let me get this right from the get go...this movie is not a 7 in the broad scheme of movies, not at all. It is a 7 in a very bizarre genre where ethics, morals, and poor taste are enclosed within a small space.

This movie is disgusting, violent, somewhat graphic, and hard to watch at times. It also just plain doesn't make any dang sense throughout much of it. But I do think it was a fantastic watch!

The synopsis explains the basics of the film so I won't bother and waste time. This is a film about how whoever is at top abuses those below them and how that dynamic can shift at any time. And while logic tells us we should adjust our behavior to make things better over time....we really don't. We just repeat the abuse and send it back down over and over never learning our lesson. This is an extreme literal interpretation of our behavior as a society and it is delivered with depravity, blood, and violence.

There is an overall message of hope at it's core, but it is literally insulated in blood and viscera. Minds are warped and broken, people die by the scores, everyone is a monster, and yet there is a message of hope at the very end. This movie lays bare how ugly we really are at our core as a people and society, and not in a subtle way. It's pretty brutal and often gross.

I enjoyed it. I don't know if you will.

My analysis and interpretation of each character and the overall meaning

[spphr · 10/10 · 28 February 2021]

Writers: David Desola and Pedro Rivero Director: Galder Gaztelu-Urrutia

The Platform is a reflection of human nature in an everchanging individualistic society. It is a thought provoking story filled with gore, violence, and greed. A great film everyone should watch if they can stomach the gore. Some will blame capitalism failing to recognize the system changed to socialism which shows the fallacy of both systems with the humans in the condition of the platform.

Galder Gaztelu-Urrutia said, "There may be criticism of capitalism from the beginning, but we do show that as soon as Goreng and Baharat try out socialism to convince the other prisoners to willingly share their food, they end up killing half of the people they set out to help."

So what does it mean? My analysis...

The platform can only go up or down and has rules to prevent hoarding. The rules of overeating or taking advantage from the top can only be prevented by the people. The people create a cruel or kind system by either overindulging or refraining from gluttony. The platform is a reflection of how human beings and their nature are dependent on their environment. It also shows the limited cohesiveness and isolation of people, preventing a genuine discourse. The separation breeds apathy for those below.

Additionally it has multiple layers that show how people who have more privileges will take advantage of the system. It also reflect the subjectivity of what is good or evil. In addition to displaying how some people change with respect to their status in society.

The film is a raw and open wound showing you the malleability and darkness of humans and human nature. People inevitable resort to inhumane behaviors to survive starvation. In times of prosperity, they will be kind, social, and caring. What are we? We are creatures that adapt to varying circumstances and we are most often good and evil, with the level of evilness increasing or decreasing depending on our situation and/ belief system. We are also people that can all benefit by uniting and making sacrifices as a group.

Goreng (protagonist) is an idealist. He encapsulate Don Quixote an idealist trying to bring back chivalry. Goreng just like Don Quixote never learns his behavior caused more harm than good and he didn't fix anything. He represents the compassionate that recognize the people can make a bad situation better by having a singular mission of solidarity. While ignoring the reality that despair, hunger, and the need to survive overrides rationality. Also, failing to recognize he lacks the knowledge to understand the depts of depravity and if it can be fixed.

Trimagasi (old man) has learned how to survive in the system but doesn't exploit it or try to change it. He reflects the average person that knows the system is flawed but recognize we aren't in a position to fix it. He's wise and a survivor by any means.

Miharu (women riding down platform) represents those who exploit the system. She always comes from the top, she kills and fights riding down to feed the child on the bottom of the platform (if that child exists). The platform rewards her barbarism by keeping her on the top level. Eventually despite learning and exploiting the system, she still gets consumed by it. She may represent the social activists, or people who try to help the most vulnerable despite their own flaws. Or she may personify people who choose to self-flagellate, while benefiting from the system. I believe she epitomize a search for hope in a distressing environment.

Imoguiri (ex admin worker) represents the person who knows the system exist but unaware of the cruelty and extent of the decay. She was ill-advised it's only 200 floors and enough food for everyone. She encapsulates all citizens creating solutions without enough understanding to provide one that works. When she realizes the narrative she believed is false, she folds, unable to handle the depraved reality. She gave Goreng the idea about solidarity oblivious to the complexity of the environment. An idea he ran with because it sounded great in theory.

The meals prepared are everyone's favorite food. In theory, if everyone takes their favorite food only, everyone will have something to eat. The reality is portion is not enough and those who are starving or hungry will want more. Those who are in the position to take more, will do so because they can. People who are starving on the bottom will be angry and envious at the top eaters but never angry at those who created the system in the first place. Once the hungry are in the higher position, they too act the same way, with no remorse due to their own treatment on the bottom and due to hunger. This is a great representation for those wanting equality for all when they have nothing and then wanting it all when they have everything.

Ramesses II, Imoguiri's dog was eaten. He is named after a Pharaoh best known for creating the first peace treaty ever. He was a great leader and warrior. This represents the death of peace and the beginning of turmoil.

Baharat (later platform mate) is like Don Quixote's squire Sancho Panza. He sees the problem and is willing to join Goreng to fix them. He, like Sancho tries to help Goreng fulfill his fantasy of equality while ultimately failing alongside him. He represents those who join a cause they believe in, in hopes for a better circumstance. He and Goreng employ authoritarian and violent means to construct equality, which convinces no one to change.

The little girl has double meanings, she is the innocent and weak in the system, she is also hope. She represents the group that cannot survive without help. This can include young children, the disabled, sick, or elderly. Helping this group is altruistic, while also can be dangerous for the helper (at least in the platform). If she exists, then she stays at the bottom because only cannibals go to the top.

As hope she survives in the hearts of those who have it. As an illusion (hope), she stays at the bottom because hope barely exists in a system such as the one in the platform.

Goreng never makes it to the bottom, the director confirms, the bottom doesn't exist. What we see is a reflection of what he feels he needs to do. This explains why the 333 floor does not heat up or cool down and him walking as if he wasn't injured later. Keep in mind, floor 333 with 2 people on each platform is 666, a number aligned with the devil. It may be a representation of hell. It's possible no bottom exists and it's an infinite bottomless hell.

On level zero, The cooks are clueless as to what is going on while meticulously creating delicious meals. They represent the people who have more power, people outside the system that can mobilize change but completely clueless about what is going on because they are too far removed from the ails of society. They are doing their best to ensure the people get their divine food not knowing, the food isn't enough and will ultimately be trampled on, the lower it descends into the abyss. Are these people worker bees in the government? The elite behind their gated homes? Celebrities creating content? We can only guess. The only certainty is they are far removed from the suffering. When the panna cotta returned to the top uneaten, the head chef berates the others because he believes it's because of the hair in the panna cotta. Proof they don't understand the message behind the panna cotta being returned uneaten. This is a perfect example of how people on the outside have a perception far removed from the people adversely affected. While also exemplifying the non-communication between the people who can help and the people needing the help.

The system is created by an unknown group of people with no face or name. They know what's going on because they move the people. The motives are unknown. They are ignored because the story is about people in a system and not the system itself.

The ending is ambiguous, and Imoguiri is an unreliable source of information on purpose. By her not knowing about level 201+, we will not know if the system stayed firm with the rule of 16 and under or not. What we do know is, whether the child exists or not, we never saw her, we saw a reflection of her through Goreng who was already dead. We also know the child is not Miharu's child because she supposedly had a son.

The film brilliantly shows the wickedness of human beings whether for survival, selfishness, greed, or prosperity. Do you change the system or do you change the people? If the system cannot change, then how do you change the people to create fairness and prosperity without resorting to violence? The platform can be viewed as fair or unfair depending on your perspective. Everyone gets two minutes, no food can be stored, and everyone had their favorite food on the platform. The unfairness is the time to get your share. If everyone took only their favorite meal, then it is equal. At the same time, everyone would still be hungry due to the limited quantity. In an individualistic system, with limited resources, and where no one relies on the other, they have no incentive to be selfless.

The definition of a 7 star rating

[sebastiantorrestodd · 7/10 · 24 March 2020]

The premise is very good and interesting, and the story captures you right away, the acting is solid and the movie overall is definitely worth the time.

It is also dark and bloody but it makes is point and leave you thinking about capitalism, survival and people being people.

However the ending doesn't match the expectations, plot holes are an issue (an issue that can be filled with interpretations) but still I think they could delivered better.

Good movie...until the final few scenes

[grantss · 5/10 · 22 March 2020]

Goreng awakes as a prisoner in The Hole, a vertical prison with two inmates per floor. The inmates are fed by a platform that travels from the top floor to the bottom. The survival of the people on the lower levels is thus dependent on how much the people above them eat. This is not ideal and results in prisoners on the lower levels starving to death, killing and eating each other or committing suicide. Goreng decides to change things for the better.

Novel plot that takes a while to gain momentum. The first 30 minutes or so just seemed like a gross-out horror movie. I was starting to lose interest when a twist massively changed the direction the movie was taking. From then on it became very intriguing.

It also develops into a decent social commentary. Not a perfect one: some of the aspects of The Hole can't be linked to everyday society. Still enough to make it interesting and thought-provoking though.

The plot develops in very exciting fashion from this point. The middle third or so is a riveting action-packed roller-coaster ride. Still not perfect: I hated Gorengs hallucinations, feeling they were just padding: they added nothing to the movie.

Everything was set up for a profound or at least satisfying ending when the plot took an obscure turn that derailed everything. The ending is pointless, a massive damp squib that ruins the movie.

Ultimately, very disappointing as this could have been great.

Such a Interesting Idea That Leaves You Hungry For More

[Neon_Gold · 7/10 · 24 May 2020]

I really enjoyed this movie particularly at the start. The first chunk is great when the lead and the first 'cell mate' are talking. The dialogue is great and really sharp.

This momentum carries in for most of the movie, how ever It did seem to grid to a holt somewhere in the third act and to be honest it was the tail end of the 3rd act.

It has lots of build up and mystery and come the third act they set it up like they are gonna get some answers and they are gonna make a change and then it's just like flat. You keep waiting for something to happen and then it doesn't. There is a plot twist? At the end but then it still just kinda limps on for another ten minutes till the credits roll.

The allegory is also very in your face but works for the most part. My interpretation is that it is an allegory for societal classes and rich vs poor. But it doesn't make much sense. They are, to me randomly assigned a floor each month so that isn't a class that is just ever changing. One mouth you are the rich and then next you are the poor. I do understand that in it's self is interesting as you never know where you will land so you need to treat everyone well. I guess I wish the actions determined where they landed but maybe that would be a different movie.

I also would have loved to explore the world more. This idea is so Intriguing, why was this facility made, who are the administration, does anyone ever leave alive? I feel like this movie could have delved deeper into the lore of this world and really fleshed it out and coloured it in a bit more.

So like I said I think the majority of this movie is great but there are just some points that kinda knock it down for me but they don't ruin the film so give it a watch

Half of a good idea that they couldn't quite stick the landing on

[MJC_42 · 7/10 · 19 April 2023]

Most of the movie was great. I feel as though they were going for some kind of grand allegory with the prison being a metaphor for society, especially with how the platform works and how the distribution of food works. However, I'm not clear on why inmates were moved each month and why they were moved to specific levels. It seems to be completely random that a person could be on a high level one month, a low level another, and a medium some other month. I don't think society is quite so random. In the real world, someone at the top and someone at the bottom are rarely going to shift around like that.

Another thing that they didn't really make clear was why the woman was looking for the child and why the child was there. Also, given how the platform moves, it would be very easy to get to the very bottom in a single day if one so chose, so shouldn't this woman have found the kid the very first time she went looking? Or was she waylaid every month and somehow couldn't get down there? And with the kid, was the kid always at the very bottom, or did she shift around? How did she survive? Was she magical, and she was just waiting for someone to choose to go to the very bottom and send her back up?

It felt to me like they had no idea how to end this movie, so they just kind of ended it. And if I was supposed to get some kind of meaningful message regarding this child (is she supposed to represent salvation or Christ or sin or what?), they didn't really do a good job making that message decipherable, and they ended it before providing any kind of resolution to what was going to happen to Goreng or the kid. Maybe they thought that leaving it to our imaginations would be best, but I feel as though they didn't really know what they wanted to do or say, so they used this as a cop-out.

All in all, a good movie that, unfortunately, doesn't have any sort of satisfying conclusion. It just ends.

Great idea, good movie

[pesaresigiovanni · 7/10 · 22 March 2020]

The idea behind the plot is interesting and the movie is effective and powerful but the end left me a bit confused and disappointed.

Humanity at its worst.

[Sleepin_Dragon · 9/10 · 28 March 2020]

It's a very clever and interesting premise, it came up as a horror recommendation, I would class it more in the suspenseful thriller bracket. It showcases mankind at its very worst, it basically sets out a message that you're alright at the top, and as you come down the social order, things just get worse and worse, with those above you doing slightly better.

Socially and ideologically this is a major triumph, it really does get you thinking, particularly in these days where has had such a terrible impact worldwide.

I thought the acting was superb, normally I dislike dubbed films, but in this instance I didn't even notice it, I enjoyed it that much.

Genuinely terrific acting. I would have liked to have seen a bit of those running the regime, but I guess they wanted ambiguity.

Quality, 9/10.

Experience without conclusion...

[redtiago · 6/10 · 27 March 2022]

A well-made film, with a very effective and bold aesthetic and cinematography. With good acting.

It is ambitious in its premise, an allegorical social experience of the stratification of society, where human behavior such as sharing, altruism and solidarity vs selfishness, alarvity and egocentrism should allow conclusions human nature.

Now it is precisely at this point that it fails, it is an experience without conclusion, it lacks an end. We are waiting for the whole movie which way the experience turns, and then nothing... An script that is too complex and ambitious, in which it is clear that the screenwriter was not prepared for it, he had no hands to guide it.

Leaving good cinematography, with tremendous visual impact, a good direction and acting orphaned of a good script to sustain them.

Still quite reasonable, which makes us think of human nature.

The real face of humanity

[Mork_the_Borg · 8/10 · 22 March 2020]

Wow, wow, and wow again! This movie is awesome in so many ways. The actors are fabulous, and the "message" is kind of out of this world. Of course, there's a deeper societal and spiritual undertone, and as such the movie isn't real horror - it simply shows humanity in its current "developed" form. Where the cube fails in so many ways, the platform does not. The plot is beautifully made, and makes you wonder quite a bit. Finally, a movie that isn't about special effects, but is all about the development of the story. So much more than horror. Thanks NetFlix for bringing this to us.

Something outside the box

[Leofwine_draca · 6/10 · 13 September 2020]

THE PLATFORM is a twist on the usual prison movie with imaginative sci-fi style ideas that make it feel a little like a CUBE revamp. Meanwhile, the whole societal exploration and allegory behind the film makes it feel a lot like SNOWPIERCER, but be warned, it's much more grisly than either of those films I've mentioned. It's less a movie than a collection of arresting ideas and many of them work well, although that doesn't make the film a complete success: the low budget is a little obvious at times and some of the psychological angles feel like padding. But the action, when it hits, is shocking. and the climax an exercise in sustained tension. Add in the usual assured performances you tend to find in Spanish cinema and you have a film well worth seeing for those who like something outside the box.

The Platform: A Film Analysis

[jaynuguid-63882 · 8/10 · 13 April 2020]

While it tries to cloak itself as a science fiction film, the real message of the movie slowly reveals itself as you watch it. You will discover who each of the characters in the film represent in our society. It just boggles my mind how the writer was able to tell a story and create characters that portray how our society functions in the modern era and yet was still able to deliver a viable movie plot that works on its own.

***SPOILER ALERT: Don't proceed if you haven't seen the movie yet. Watch the movie first, then read my analysis.***

This movie just sums it all up about how our society works in the present. There was no random character in this movie, everyone who appeared in the film represents a group of people in our society. In this analysis, I will focus on those characters starting with the main protagonist:

Goreng- He is an Idealist. He represents the people in our society who dreams of change, he is noble and kind. This is evident when he chose to bring a book (Don Quixote of La Mancha) to The Hole instead of a tool or a weapon. The book he brought was even a representation of himself in the movie... a noble knight.

The Butler in Level 0- He is the administration, the government. He represents the people in power, the world leaders. He is in control of everything. He meticulously inspects all the dishes being served in the platform, he will not allow any imperfection get away like the single strand of hair he found in the Panna Cotta. He is all about the food presentation, but he does not really care about how far out his dishes will serve the people in the lower levels. Is he even aware that only the people on the higher levels are benefiting from what he serves? Does he only serve the elite... the wealthy 1%?

Trimagasi- He is a seasoned veteran. He represents the people in our society who were hardened by the system, people who have already experienced it all and just want to survive day by day. These are the people who no longer desire change not because they never wanted it but because they have given up on all hope. He is the one who told Goreng, not to talk to the people below them because they're down below and also not to talk to the people above them because they will not answer him, "obviously".

Imoguiri- She is a part of the administration. She worked all her life for the system but she has not really experienced it first-hand. She thinks she knows how the system work but we found out in the movie that she was all wrong. She thought that the Hole has only 200 levels but there were 333 levels in total. She thought that the administration was not letting minors inside the Hole but we found out in the end that a child was in fact in level 333.

Baharat- He is a hard-working citizen, the working class. These are the people who aspire for success their whole lives, they work so hard to reach the top of the social ladder but the people higher than them will never allow them to reach their goal because they pose as a threat to their own positions. This was shown in the film when Baharat begged the couple in level 5 to help him climb up; the couple made him believe they were going to help him but they defecated on his face instead.

Wise Man in a wheelchair- He is a teacher. He represents the people working in our education system. These are the people who prepare us on how to deal with society, they teach us to be civilized in the modern world. The wise man told Baharat to do a dialogue with the prisoners first before he shows them any aggression but he soon realizes that being aggressive works better.

Miharu- She is a parent. She represents the loving parents in our society who would do anything in order for their children to survive. She may appear vicious in the film, but she was only doing what was necessary for her child to survive.

Miharu's Daughter- She is the message. She is the message of hope that our society can still reach a sense of solidarity. Sadly, the goal of the Hole for its prisoners was not achieved in the movie, although Goreng and Baharat were able to send a message that there is still hope for the future.

It was not explained in the movie how the floor levels are being assigned at the beginning of each month to the prisoners, but I think when you are new in the Hole, they will put you in a level where food scraps will still reach you. Goreng was assigned in level 48 in his first month, Trimagasi's first cell was in level 72, and Imoguiri was placed in level 33 when she entered the Hole. I also don't believe that the cell levels are being assigned randomly to the prisoners in the following months. I think that if the prisoners do not eat or kill their cellmates, they will be assigned to the bottom levels. This is what happened to Goreng and Trimagasi when they went from level 48 down to level 171 the next, then Goreng ate Trimagasi and he went up to level 33. My theory was confirmed when Goreng and Imoguiri went from level 33 down to level 202, then Goreng ate Imoguiri and he was assigned in Level 6 the next month. For me, this represents that you will not be successful in this society unless you learn to be vicious; it's a dog eating dog world; eat or be eaten.

This is also the reason why Miharu was killing all her cellmates-- to make sure that she will always be assigned to a higher floor level every month, then she goes down along with the platform to ensure that some food will reach her daughter in level 333. She was not actually looking for her child, she knows exactly where her child is. She never taught her daughter to consume human flesh so she would always be assigned at the lowest level of The Hole. Miharu was doing all of those things to ensure that her daughter will survive.

Imoguiri said that the goal of the Hole was to create a spontaneous sense of solidarity, which is also what we need in our society. All the prisoners could have survived if only the people above would be considerate with the people below-- but greed and selfishness always get the best of us. Perhaps the solution was simple: if all the prisoners only stick on eating their favorite food then everyone will be able to eat. The Hole serves all of the prisoner's favorite dish, this was shown during the interview scene of Goreng and confirmed when he saw the Escargot on the platform for the first time when he was in level 33. It was also discovered by Goreng and Baharat at the ending of the film that they can actually keep their favorite food on their cell level without being burned or frozen to death. The Panna Cotta is the favorite food of Miharu's daughter, that's why she was able to eat it in level 333 even if the platform already went down. Goreng, who dreamed of a better society, tried his best to make the people understand how everyone can benefit if they just stop being selfish and greedy. He made the ultimate sacrifice-- he left the security and abundance of level 6 so he can show all the people how solidarity can save all of them from hunger. But greed and selfishness proved to be the stronger foe.

Tense

[iAmBeer · 7/10 · 4 April 2020]

The movie was really tense. I like the scenario. But I don't get why they made such a bad end for such a good movie.

Original story, terrible ending

[flapy_g · 4/10 · 29 March 2020]

I was surprised by such a original story. The movie catches your interest from the beginning and gets more exciting as time passes. It was all great until the end, it is just unfinished and seems to be forced. I felt disappointed to spend time with a story that just doesn't end.

It's good if you understand it

[symonf202 · 7/10 · 20 September 2020]

A lot of the negative views on here are purely from people who didn't understand the film. It's about capitalism and the class systems. It's about people at the top being greedy. It's about people at the top forgetting what it's like at the bottom and becoming greedy themselves once they reach the top. There is enough food for everyone so take only what you need and everyone will have the food. You all have to do your part to work towards the common goal.

The child represents that only change can come from the untainted youth.

Incredible movie!

[ladymacbethian · 21 April 2020]

I don't get the people giving lower than a 7-star rating and nagging about plot holes and the ending.

It's a movie that requires a lot of thought since EVERYTHING represents something. I even saw one review that said "how did they know that the platform is not reaching the ceiling at the top floor -it could kill them-" Well, OF COURSE the platform cant bang on the ceiling since someone has to place the buffet there. What's the point of a platform banging on the freaking ceiling?! After that, it s a REPRESENTATION. You can't interpret this movie literally. Everything is an Allegory! Please, read some reviews here that have the interpretation of every character and scene. You will immediately think.. wow! It will be really helpful.

I wish it was a serie that I could watch everyday. Really interesting movie, definitely recommending it!