The Plaftorm (2019)

original title: El hoyo
directed by: Galder Gaztelu-Urrutia
written by: David Desola & Pedro Rivero
photographed by: Jon D. Domínguez
music by: Aránzazu Calleja
edited by: Elena Ruiz & Haritz Zubillaga
stars: Ivan Massagué, Zorion Eguileor, Antonia San Juan
imdb
Netflix

The latest hype in Netflix, The Platform, takes us to what seems the near future, to show a prison structured as a column of cells with a hole in the middle (the "hoyo" of the original Spanish title). Every day, through this hole, descends a platform (the "platform" of the English title) with food. The problem: all the food is placed on the platform at the top, and with each level the platform descends there is less and less food for the prisoners, reducing the chances of survival for those living in lower levels. To sort of even things, once per month prisoners are moved among levels and, in case, their cellmate has died, placed with a new cellmate.

The Platform begins with Goreng, a voluntary (yes, voluntary) inmate who discovers the peculiarities of "the pit" and tries to stay alive the time he has to stay inside. During his time inside he will have several cellmates, and will go through several emotional and even philosophical phases.

The paralelims with Cube (1997) are obvious: a closed dangerous space, with the survival depending on how much people will compete or collaborate, but The Platform arrives 22 years later, so it is not so surprising anymore. Also, the limitations established by the cell limits with a sort of philosophical background. And maybe here is the weak point of the movie.

Movies like Cube or The Platform, that play the shock and gore card, very rarely can connect also from a philosophical point of view with the spectator. In this sense, it is much better when they simply don't try, and focus on entertainment.