Netflix's dystopian thriller The Platform has viewers hooked, with many comparing it to The Twilight Zone and calling it a 'masterpiece' that demands to be seen. The 2019 Spanish-language film, directed by Galder Gaztelu-Urrutia, has sparked a mix of admiration and revulsion due to its extreme and unflinching storyline.
A Film That Sticks With You
Fans admit they frequently think about the film, yet some say they will 'never ever watch it again'. One reviewer warned: "The Platform leaves you craving more. A word of a warning: it's probably best to go into this film on an empty stomach." Another critic described it as: "A Twilight Zone-level mind-bender mixed with a dark psychological horror film full of pointed social commentary."
The film's synopsis reads: "In a prison where inmates are fed on a descending platform, those on the upper levels take more than their fair share while those below are left to starve on scraps and one man decides to change the system."
From TIFF to Netflix
The Platform premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) in 2019, where it won the People's Choice Award for Midnight Madness. It was there that Netflix secured a worldwide streaming deal. The film opened in Spanish cinemas on November 8, 2019, generating $1.1 million at the box office, before landing on Netflix on March 20, 2020, just as the world entered lockdown due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The cast includes Iván Massagué, Antonia San Juan, Zorion Eguileor, Emilio Buale Coka, and Alexandra Masangkay. Notably, the film was shot in chronological order, requiring lead actor Iván to lose 12 kg (26 lbs) over the six-week production to portray his character's physical decline. The stark concrete prison cells were built at a Red Cross facility in a port in Bilbao, northern Spain.
Audience and Critical Praise
Audiences have been equally captivated. One fan wrote: "AMAZINGLY DONE! Props to everybody the acting is so good it feels too real and this whole concept and story is just so touching, absolute gold." Another review reads: "The Platform is one of those movies that sticks with you long after the credits roll. It's not your typical horror flick, though it definitely has some gruesome moments. This isn't about jump scares, it's about a terrifying concept that's surprisingly relevant to our world."
One fan summed it up: "If you think you will see an empty sci-fi horror thing, better pass because you ruin the grade of the movie. This is a dystopian masterpiece. Next to the classics of all time." The Platform is available to stream on Netflix.
