Lately I've been on a German kick, so I'm watching Das Experiment at the moment, which is based on the Stanford Prison Experiment.
Although it's just in the early stages, you do get the feeling that there's going to be death involved, possibly the nice kiosk owner who believes it's important to have a dream in life.
It's amazing how inhuman people can become in a short time given power over others to use and abuse; when someone not drinking their milk provokes rage in another.
So is it that people are pushed into a position of "evil"? Or is it that the "evil" elements are always there and it's just that being in our every-day social situations where we're constrained by others and social mores that keep the "evil" elements in check?
I mean, look at Abu Grahib, the abuses there against prisoners by those who were meant to guard them... I tend to think that people are naturally screwed up. The bad always gets carried away, leads on and abuses others, while those who want to do the right thing struggle to put the reigns on it.
Humanity rarely seems to win out over the group psychology. Is the human condition really conflict? Why are there some people who are just natural creeps who'll abuse others and hardly anyone will have the balls to stand up to them because it's all just too hard to go against the flow and make a difference?
*sigh*
It's such a horrible movie. But it's an important one, too. It's one where you feel the knot of horror in your stomach and throat knowing that unlike some movie where there's a monsterous creature, the only monsters in reality are humans; that these things happen; that there's Guantanamo and Abu Grahib and a multitude of prisons where inmates are abused.
Of course there are a lot of wonderful people in the world. But do you ask yourself what would happen if you were given the sort of power that could lead to such abuses? Would you treat those you have power over with respect and dignity? Would you be able to trust yourself?
And yes, it was the kind kiosk owner who was murdered.
2 comments:
I think evil is so internalised that only the true psyco is aware of what is really going on inside us. Thus the reason why you have the obsessive compulisve psyco trying to control his 'evil' thoughts; and those who embarace their evilness to 'cleanse' those that don't know they have evil in them....
just a thought... sounds like a good movie though. Though dosn't sound like a late, night on your own sorta movie for me.
Interesting point about some people being willing/able to embrace their inner "evil" side, without being in a situation that might pull it out to the surface.
Although it's not healthy to do that sort of thing, maybe it would be healthier if people realised the bad elements that they have inside them (not in a "I want to kick kittens, yay me" way or something) and deal with it constructively or work towards becoming a better person by working those elements of personality out.
But yes, it's a good movie. Disturbing, but not in a horror movie way. More in a way that makes you feel so disappointed in humanity for not being better or something.d
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