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The Platform
★★★
Directed by: #GalderGaztelu-Urrutia
Written by: #DavidDesola #PedroRivero
The human race finds itself in the grips of a global pandemic, forcing everyday people to adapt to a new way of living. The COVID-19 outbreak has led to nationwide cinema closures and the cancellation of film festivals, delaying the releases of prominent movies such as No Time To Die and A Quiet Place: Part II. Major streaming services such as Netflix, NOWTV, and Amazon Prime Video have stepped up to the plate to provide cinephiles with a vast assortment of online content. Those with a Netflix subscription can enjoy an array of television series and films available on the streaming service.
The Platform is a Spanish dystopian horror directed by Galder Gaztelu-Urrutia, who illustrates this unique story as a commentary on the terrors of a capitalist society. Netflix recently released the film on its streaming platform, after it first premiered at Toronto International Film Festival in 2019. The film is set in a concrete facility resembling a tower, where patients are fed by means of a descending slab filled with extravagant dishes. Each month, the patients are switched to random levels, which means that the patients on the top floor have the opportunity to eat as much as possible in a set period, leaving very little for those below.
This captivating story serves as a nuanced guilt trip for viewers stockpiling and raiding their local supermarkets. The Platform is a dark yet poignant reminder of the importance of collective solidarity - a message that is desperately needed during these uncertain times. Dripping with bloody nastiness, this horror movie has something to say, weaponising the drastic ramifications as a warning to what could be.
The story follows the perspective of Goreng (Iván Massagué), who enters Level 47 with naive optimism and romantic expectations of the months ahead. He soon realises that greed rules above all else in this world. The audience watches on as Goreng undergoes a dramatic moral shift as he learns how to survive this hellscape. Zorion Eguileor plays Trimagasi, Goreng's chills-inducing roommate, serving viewers with a delightfully terrifying performance familiar to that of Hannibal Lecter.
The descent towards the lower levels aligns with the increasing intensity of gore and horror. This bleak movie moves at a fierce pace, gluing us to our screens as our eyes widen in anxiety-riddled anticipation. However, the final scene leaves an anticlimactic aftertaste, as this uneasy ride grinds to a disappointing halt. 'Is that it?!' is a phrase I recall uttering while throwing up my arms in frustrated confusion. Despite the unsatisfying ending, this ruthless yet compelling story is hard to shake.
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