The Platform

THE PLATFORM - NETFLIX

Confused and seemingly alone, Goreng (Ivan Massagué) wakes up in a prison cell but soon realises that there is more to the jail than meets the eye. It is a massive structure with multiple levels of cells above and below him. Food is sent down on an elevator and those on the higher levels eat like royalty. Those at the bottom, however, are forced to fight for the leftovers.

If you’re lucky enough to have seen Vincenzo Natali’s The Cube then you should have an idea of what to expect here. The similarities are obvious from the outset. This is not a criticism, though – there are worse films to take influence from. As with some of the best low-budget genre pieces, it is the premise that really carries the film; it is remarkably simple yet very effective. What starts out as pulpy sci-fi B movie opens up into a more overtly politically charged film. It will certainly have you asking questions about how you would and should behave in the same situation. There is a sharp satirical edge here and that is always a welcome addition to any sci-fi film.

 The film does not waste any time either. The taut direction throws you straight in at the deep end. The great use of a single location gives the film a tense and claustrophobic feel which really adds to the atmosphere. The sparse prison cells are grim and cleverly re-used as the characters are dragged further up and down the structure. It’s not just the location that builds the sparse atmosphere though, the soundtrack is suitably creepy and puts you on edge from beginning to end.

Minimal characters also work to the film’s advantage and even the smaller supporting characters all offer something of interest to the story. The filmmakers play with your expectations with some interesting twists and turns; not all the characters are who they initially seem to be and this further adds to the intrigue of the film.

Be warned though, this film is not for the faint-hearted. It has its fair share of violent and gory scenes but the director clearly understands how to use them to maximise their impact. Even during the film’s darkest depths, these moments never feel gratuitous.

If you can stomach the smattering of gore and deal with the unremitting bleakness, then The Platform is a thoroughly entertaining and well-made genre piece. It can certainly hold its head high on an otherwise crowded streaming platform.

THE PLATFORM is streaming exclusively on NETFLIX March 20th