The Platform

It's a weird, weird world we live in at the moment. Among those oddities is that I haven't seen a movie in theaters for weeks - something that feels "off" now but will feel increasingly disturbing as we enter into the later spring/summer months. 

On a minor bright side, at least this didn't happen last year and delay Endgame. While I'm excited for a new James Bond, Mulan, and various others, I was realizing the other day that I'm not sure my heart could have taken it if Endgame would've been pushed indefinitely.

Also, yes, I get there are worse tragedies out there at the moment...tons of them...but regardless, it was a thought that crossed my mind. 

Anyways, (can you tell quarantine brain is kicking in?) I'll be keeping most of my quarantine reviews short because I'm going to try and crank out several during this time. Most will be Retro Reviews but today we have a new review. Whaaaat?!?

The Platform is currently the buzziest thing on Netflix that isn't Tiger King or Love is Blind (seriously though, Tiger King is wild) and it's a high-concept Spanish foreign film. For those who don't enjoy subtitles, I actually watched it dubbed (that's the default setting) and the dub voiceover isn't bad so I'd recommend it. Almost immediately, The Platform reminded me of a vertical Snowpiercer. That comparison is partially fair, but you begin to learn the rules of the game and within 10-20 minutes it's clear that it's uniquely different. 

Hundreds of people are trapped in this "prison", two to a floor. There are an unknown number of floors but they suspect somewhere in the hundreds. Each floor is directly above the other and in the center is a massive hole, vertigo-inducing if you look down it toward the levels below you. Once a day, a platform full of food begins at floor 0 and cascades down, floor-by-floor through said hole. The higher up floors get to eat first (and as much as they'd like) while the lower floors are left with scraps or nothing. Every month, you're randomly placed on a different floor - could be higher, could be lower. To say that this concept is immediately intriguing and thought-provoking would be an understatement. It's such a simple, yet well thought out idea that I honestly didn't pay much attention to the beginning of the film because my mind was racing with ideas of my own where they could have taken it. 

How we're all looking on Day Whatever of quarantine right now

Yep. Think we all know this
feeling right about now

And there in lies the rub of The Platform. It is a good film and it gets points for being original and creative, but how much you enjoy it could depend on what ideas you have of your own. Will you see a massive missed opportunity? Or will it go further than you thought and impress you? Personally, I lie somewhere in the middle. No spoilers, but I found it to be invigorating, exciting, and mysterious (where's it going to go next?!?) right up until the final 10 minutes. Its abrupt ending doesn't feel entirely out of left field, but it also feels like one of ten endings that they couldn't figure out exactly how to end it so they picked the "best". To me it felt like a cop out for a film that had been earning good will along the way and I was ready for some mind-blowing finale. It shouldn't deter you from watching it and, given all the time we have on our hands these days, make up your own ending! As it relates to Snowpiercer - a film that 110% stuck its landing - The Platform stumbles in this regard.

It's also not an easy watch and earns its TV-MA (basically hard R) rating. It believes heavily in this metaphor for our society - even if I found it a little misguided at times - and it focuses on the worst in humanity. What do you think the humans on the lower levels eat if there's no more food left? It's gory throughout, rather intense during a few moments, and for God's sake, someone gets s**t on at one point (it fits somewhat better in the context of the film). So it's definitely not for the faint of heart but I also never felt like it overdid it to the point where it was removing me from the film. It's balanced horror, but horror nonetheless. 

The Platform can fill that Black Mirror itch you may be having or just fits as something that can challenge you and make you think, even if it doesn't know quite how to end itself. That said, it's also a hard recommendation during these times because of how bleak it is and while I found it invigorating to think about, you may not want the added stress/challenge in a world where we're being tested daily at the moment. 

CONS

• Ending feels abrupt and odd. I wasn't a fan
• Starts to get a tad repetitive in the middle
• It's metaphor for society is solely based on the heartlessness of mankind which feels unbalanced

PROS

• Incredible concept and nearly as impressive execution. It's an exciting film to wonder where it will go next
• Will stay with you after you watch it
• Appropriately R-rated, though not overdone
• Good performances by most
• Well made. Some striking cinematography, decent original score, and apt special effects
• For about 90% of the film, it's something you won't be able to stop watching as the mystery continuously unfolds

Rath's Review Score | 8/10