Human beings are born capable of terrible things. The carnage that mankind can inflict has been shown with numerous examples to point to; be it war, politics, or even just being in a position of authority over another. The Stanford Prison Experiment was one such example of how people in power can impose themselves upon those they command. The exercise which was conducted in 1971 got so out of hand that the experiment actually had to be halted, never to be concluded. The 2015 film The Stanford Prison Experiment provides an accurate portrayal of what occurred during its attempted run.
The Stanford Prison Experiment was one such example of how people in power can impose themselves upon those they command.
The experiment was supposed to be a scholarly study, a mock prison setting where volunteers would be split into posing as either guards or prisoners. Each would be paid a small fee per day, and contracts were signed by all of the participants with assurances that no one would be in harm’s way. The reality was not so simple. With each passing day, those who were categorized as guards eventually began to abuse their authority. It soon became far less like an experiment and much more like a prison as the ‘prisoners’ began to rebel and the guards felt the need to respond. The downward spiral of the experiment was more akin to a horror movie, though unfortunately, this was no fantasy land.
The tapes of the actual experiment aren’t hard to dig up. Anyone’s who seen them can for the most part come to conclusion that the film adaptation was as close to the real thing as it gets. Everything from the set, the actors, and the uneasy feeling that things would only get worse was mimicked to near perfection. Being that director Kyle Patrick Alvarez’s ambition seemed to be to get things as accurate as possible, this manifested in the acting and the dialogue. Ezra Miller and Michael Angarano each turn in fine performances, clearly having paid attention to the real tapes so as to portray their participants to the letter. Billy Crudup was also plausible as Dr. Philip Zimbardo, the head of the study. His performance begins as a man who is in search for truth, eventually switching to a man who has become obsessed with what he’s created. Moreover the essence of the real experiment was encapsulated with great authenticity by Alvarez. His direction lends credibility to the real occurrence, shaping the environment in such a manner that shows why this experiment is not to be revered but instead to be ethically questioned.
The Stanford Prison Experiment is an entertaining but crucial movie that demonstrates the dangers of power unchecked, even if said power is supposed to be administered within a controlled environment.
The Stanford Prison Experiment is an entertaining but crucial movie that demonstrates the dangers of power unchecked, even if said power is supposed to be administered within a controlled environment. Maybe it was something that never should’ve happened, as its findings are inconclusive and have largely been rejected by the academic community. Although, perhaps the situation as a whole provided unintended information that serves a higher benefit to society. The only way to know for sure, is to see the film and decide.
