The Platform (2019)

Everything in Meander (2021) is dark and claustrophobic. Director Mathieu Turi is capable of creating an oppressive ambience by playing his cards right. Like other modern horror movies of this kind, such as Cube (1998), Buried (2010), the recent Spanish movie The Platform (2019), or the well-known saga Saw, Meander succeeds in causing an unpleasant effect upon the spectator. The characteristic feeling of carrying a burden, being under pressure, or having a knot in your stomach is magnificently achieved by Turi’s film.

The French director depicts a horrific situation where a young mother, Lisa (Gaia Weiss), who has lost her nine years old daughter, experiences a traumatic episode with Adam (Peter Franzén) and wakes up in a strange place full of tubes and pipelines. There, she will have to pass several tests in order to fight for her life.

Aesthetics also contribute to increasing the claustrophobic sensation. After Lisa is dropped into the tube scenario, the only source of light that she has is her bracelet. On this device she can also check how much time is left for her to pass different tests. When that countdown is over, she must take shelter if she wants to survive.

Gore plays an important role in creating this fearful environment. As the main character advances through the tubes, disgusting scenes happen one after another. Mutilations, decomposing corpses, and blood will fill the screen at certain moments. By doing that, the director makes us to put ourselves in Lisa’s place, sharing her desire to escape from that hideous place.

While we’re trapped and hoarding toilet paper, I thought it would be appropriate to review a movie about being trapped and hoarding. Unfortunately, it’s not about hoarding toilet paper, but that would be hilarious. No, no, this is a horror film and it’s not for the faint of heart.

The Platform is a Spanish horror/thriller and science fiction film. It was directed by Galder Gaztelu-Urrutia and released in 2019, but Netflix found the best time to give it to us. But don’t worry, this film is much, much more drastic than what’s going on today. It is simply a movie after all, albeit a terrifying one.

The film takes place in a tower-like prison called "the Pit", and it’s filled with many levels. There are two inmates per level, and in the center of each level is a giant hole. A platform filled with food descends the hole, and the inmates only have two minutes to eat as much as they can. Unfortunately, those on the upper levels are able to take more food, while those at the bottom only get what’s left…or nothing at all. It’s usually the latter, but the inmates can do nothing about it.

Each month, the inmates are randomly assigned a different floor. So it’s pure luck if they’re able to get to an upper level, but it’s a terrible one if they get a lower. While contained in these cells, they’re able to bring one item with them. One character brings their dog, while another brings some rope.

The film stars Iván Massagué Horta, who plays a man named Goreng. He brings along the book, Don Quixote, in which some of the themes, such as chivalry, play out in the film. Goreng shows signs of chivalry, a contrast to other characters who show nothing more but ignorance as they fend for themselves.