I picked up The Experiment on a whim. Typically, this is when I get maximum enjoyment from films. These days it's becoming increasingly difficult to be truly surprised, especially by things associated with media. I didn't even know The Experiment was written, directed, and produced by Germans.

In the interest of full disclosure, I could be considered partially German due to spending almost the first 21 years of my life there as a U.S. Army brat. This upbringing has definitely created an understanding/soft spot in my heart for Germany, her people, and their systematic/logical approach to life. Their efficiency is unmatched in my estimation. Many could also argue however, that, as with Mr. Spock, a lack of groove can sometimes be detrimental.

The first thing that jumped out at me about The Experiment were the subtitles. On my 4:3 aspect ratio TV, they sat like book titles, perfectly placed on a spine but in this case, it was that black border along the top and bottom of the screen. Being that they are fat and yellow made them thankfully easy to read. On an interesting side note: When you rewind or fast forward a DVD, the subtitles do not appear. I guess they must not be directly connected to the pictures???

This movie is supremely stylized/ish. The modern, green fluorescent type lighting adds an eerie feeling that is complemented by the set construction which is very much like he inside of the Paperhaus. The picture is crisp and precise. I liken it to a well produced musical piece where each part is audibly separated with little or no bleed. The shots and scenes are calculated and unobtrusive. I especially liked that the main character, a taxi driver who tooled around in a late eighties Mercedes 300d, reminding me not only of childhood but the longevity of those magnificent machines.

The plot is loosely based on an actual experiment conducted at Stanford. In the movie, an ad, placed in the local newspaper, gets volunteers for a 14 day experiment. They are each to receive 4000 Deutsch marks for their troubles (which today equal approximately $2100). Most of the candidates are enticed by the dough and are working class males. The idea is that they will be put into a simulated prison, some being guards, some being prisoners. The researchers will then study their behavior without interfering.

There are various subplots which I thought worked well to enhance the intrigue of the movie. Basically, the viewer is shuffled from the prisoners world, to the guards world, to their combined world, to the researchers world, and finally to the accidental love interest of the main characters world. All of these play a vital role in building the story and tension in it. Everything starts out innocently enough but slowly, through a series of circumstances and the reactions individual personalities, the tension builds. These reactions form the main narrative of the movie. Is this how the human mind really works on a basic level? Although the theme isn’t new, it becomes compelling in The Experiment.

There are some believability issues in the movie. The main character for instance is rational one minute and thoroughly irrational the next. I felt myself doubting his authenticity at times but thank goodness those were the exception, rather than the rule. The creators made sure to capture all the stereotypical personalities: The tragic figure, the Hitler, the bad boy, the patsy, the researcher who loses site of the small picture, and even the nosey love interest. This is not necessarily a bad thing, simply predictable.

This is where I ask the question: Do German directors lack groove?

The answer is yes and no. I have the utmost respect for logic. That is my nature. I have groove but not in abundant quantities. The Experiment, while brimming with intensity, stylishness, and technical savvy, may lack some groove. The thought of robots comes to mind, and though this is a generalization, I feel it isn’t unwarranted. I was not completely able to feel the characters. Each seemed to be only about 70% rounded.

Another example of this stoic realism in German/Austrian film is the movie Funny Games. Both movies left me intrigued but cold, impressed but flat, energized but disturbed. Funny, but it’s a place that I don’t mind being. More than likely that is because I feel so attached to the spirit from which it comes.

Recommended:
Yes

Viewing Format: DVD
Video Occasion: None of the Above
Suitability For Children: Suitable for Children Age 13 and Older