The Stanford Prison Experiment

About The Stanford Prison Experiment

The Stanford Prison Experiment is a 2015 American docudrama thriller film that unravels the psychological study of the human response to imprisonment, conducted at Stanford University in 1971. The film is directed by Kyle Patrick Alvarez, and the plot is based on the infamous real-life experiment orchestrated by psychology professor Dr. Philip Zimbardo. Set in a mock prison, the experiment recruited 24 male students who were divided into roles of prisoners and guards, to simulate a jail environment. The study was meant to last two weeks but ended prematurely after violent abuse emerged.

Making / Production

The production is based on Zimbardo's own chronicles – "The Lucifer Effect." The film manages to recreate the visceral and intense atmosphere of the original experiment, mainly filmed in an empty hallway made to replicate a prison-like setting. From start to end, Director Kyle Patrick Alvarez keeps the paces continually tense.

Actors

• Billy Crudup as Dr. Philip Zimbardo presents a powerful portrayal of a man becoming increasingly fascinated by his own experiment.
• Ezra Miller as prisoner '8612' gives an emotionally stirring portrayal of a student pushed to his limits.
• Michael Angarano as Christopher Archer, the guard dubbed 'John Wayne', encapsulates the cruel persona of power-corrupted authority perfectly.

Trivia / Interesting Facts

• The real Dr. Zimbardo was on-set and often given a small director's chair.
• The movie was shot in only 21 days.
• The surprise arrest scenes at the start of the film were done without prior notice to the actors and caught their real reactions on film.

Awards

The Stanford Prison Experiment won the Alfred P. Sloan Feature Film Award at the 2015 Sundance Film Festival and two awards (Best Screenplay and Best Picture) at the 2015 Independent Spirit Awards.

Quotes

• "We're all capable of good and evil, but circumstances dictate who we become."
• "Would you rather be a guard or a prisoner?"
• "I'm sorry, I think we just have to accept it, it's just a prison."

Music, Soundtrack

• The original score for the movie was composed by Andrew Hewitt and skillfully amplifies the grim, claustrophobic environment of the pseudo-prison.
• The film features a selection of period-appropriate songs and instrumental pieces that effectively enhance emotional moments within the movie.