The Platform: A Chilling Allegory of Class Inequality

A Descent into Depravity

The Platform (2019) is a Spanish social science fiction horror film that serves as a powerful allegory of the consequences of extreme societal inequality. Directed by Galder Gaztelu-Urrutia, the film follows the story of inmates confined to a vertical prison system where they are forced to ration food from a platform that moves between the levels.

A Hierarchy of Suffering

The inmates are assigned to different levels, with the prisoners at the higher levels enjoying a feast while those on the lower levels starve. The platform descends slowly, leaving the lower levels with only scraps. This cruel system pits the inmates against one another, forcing them to fight for survival and resort to desperate measures.

The film's cast, including Iván Massagué, Zorion Eguileor, Antonia San Juan, and Emilio Buale, deliver chilling performances that capture the inmates' desperation and the horrors they endure.

A Symbol of Society's Failures

The Platform is not merely a suspenseful thriller; it is an unflinching commentary on the failures of our society to address inequality. The vertical prison system represents the stark divide between the wealthy and the poor, with those at the top exploiting the resources while those at the bottom suffer. The film questions our complacency and challenges us to confront the consequences of allowing such disparities to exist.

The film's ending is both shocking and thought-provoking, leaving viewers to grapple with the implications of the allegory. The Platform is a powerful and disturbing film that will stay with viewers long after the credits roll, serving as a reminder of the fragility of our social fabric.