The Film
What is really the most shocking part of The Experiment is that it stars two Best Actor Oscar winners, and somehow neither Adrien Brody nor Forest Whitaker realized that their careers would effectively be doing hard time for making this film. The "plot" of this one has a group of extremely desperate men sign up to take part in a social experiment where two thirds are forced to play the role of prisoner whilst the other third take the role of guards. This sounds sort of like a really bad reality series, and it is pure torture to watch.
No doubt this was one of those ideas that sounded good as a concept but the film is filled with numerous plot holes, stereotypical characters and a rather stiff acting. Perhaps Brody and Whitaker wanted to escape the production as quickly as possible, as this certainly shows in their far from Oscar-worthy performances. The high concept story reaches new lows by the end and even in 96 minutes this one makes the viewer feel like they're doing hard time.
The Picture
The image looks truly beautiful at the end when the characters make it back to the "real world." The rest of this film, presented in 1080p, 2.40:1 aspect ratio, is filled with mostly shades of gray. Maybe that's the message of the film - after all there is the whole thing about no definitive black and white. That said, the colors that are present look pretty good here. Tattoos play a big role in the film, and these can be seen in crystal clarity - suggesting that maybe some of that ink is either real or extremely good make-up. Visually, this is a hard film to watch, and unfortunately the actual visual presentation brings little to get excited about.
There are moments of intensity in The Experiment and these are meant to be shocking and jarring, but most of the film is more subdued. As much of it takes place in a warehouse turned simulated prison there is an echo that resounds from the hard concrete and steel construction. This certainly helps draw the viewer in, but the DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack is way too hot in some moments, and the dialog feels muddled at times - Whitaker tends to mumble some lines for effect but it can downright difficult to make out what he's saying. In all the sound feels as trapped as the characters... and the audience.
The Extras
The bonus material must be in solitary because other than a few previews and a generic BD-Live link, there is nothing to see here. Move along.
Final Thoughts
Would 24 volunteers in a social study really become so drawn into their roles as prisoner and guard that the events mirror those of this film? That's no doubt what the filmmakers were hoping people would ask, but the problem is that this stilted story, poor acting and predictable outcome just feels like "enhanced punishment." The middling picture and sound will also likely have you wanting an early release.
Product Details
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