The Platform (2019)

7.0TV-MA94 minDirector: Galder Gaztelu-Urrutia

2019 film by Galder Gaztelu-Urrutia

The Platform (Spanish: El hoyo, lit.'The Hole') is a 2019 Spanish dystopian thriller film directed by Galder Gaztelu-Urrutia. The film is set in a large, industrial tower named the "Vertical Self-Management Center." Residents of the tower are imprisoned in the center as punishment for committing crimes. Every month, prisoners switch between the tower's many floors and are fed by a vertically moving platform with food on it. The platform is initially filled with lots of food, and gradually descends through the tower's levels, stopping for a fixed amount of time on each floor. Since the residents of each floor tend to eat as much food as they can, those on the lower floors are unable to eat as much food as those at the top, leading to conflict.

The film's cast includes Iván Massagué, Antonia San Juan, Zorion Eguileor, Emilio Buale Coka and Alexandra Masangkay. It premiered at the 2019 Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), where it won the People's Choice Award for Midnight Madness. At TIFF, the film also secured a worldwide streaming deal with Netflix. It was released theatrically in Spain on 8 November 2019 by Festival Films. It received generally positive reviews from critics.

Plot summary adapted from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.

FAQ

What is The Platform about?
The Platform (2019) — A mysterious place, an indescribable prison, a deep hole. An unknown number of levels. Two inmates living on each level. A descending platform containing food for all of them. An inhuman fight for survival, but also an opportunity for solidarity.
Is The Platform based on a true story?
See the production background and source material details on the official Wikipedia article.
Is The Platform scary?
Content rating: TV-MA. See the reviews tab for parental guidance and tone notes.