The Platform (El Hoyo) premiered on Netflix Spain on March 20th, though we should really just say Netflix. It's a top-tier release during the coronavirus pandemic. By the way, don't miss our 2020 Guide to watching free movies online during these difficult times, which we will all undoubtedly overcome together and come out stronger. #StayHome
⭐ What is it about The hole?
Backed by major awards (such as those from the Toronto and Sitges Film Festivals) and overwhelmingly positive reviews, The Platform is no ordinary release. Obviously. It could very well be Netflix's most important Spanish film of 2020 (even more so in these strange times of Coronavirus) . We'll explain why this Black Mirror-esque dystopia is a must-see Netflix release.
The Platform is a dystopian, Cube-esque film , 92 minutes long, with a strong message about our society and a blend of dramatic and reality TV elements . Obviously. The film stands out for how it portrays the confinement of a diverse group of personalities who must interact with each other to survive. We've seen this formula in Prison Break, Locked Up , and Lost.
Imagine a prison with different levels connected by a hole (the film is called The Platform). Imagine that social standing, living standards, comfort, and privilege are divided by levels: the higher up, the better your life is (even though it's a prison).
- 2 people per level
- It is unknown how many levels there are in the prison
- 1 daily platform filled with food
- Will you be supportive or will you look only for yourself?
The protagonist, Goreng (Iván Massagué), voluntarily locks himself in the pit for six months to quit smoking. Each person is allowed to bring only one item. He has chosen to bring Don Quixote. He is assigned floor 48 and a rather… peculiar cellmate. And that's all we can say for now.
In The Platform , the central dilemma revolves around the platform that delivers food daily to the inmates of this unusual prison . As the platform descends, each prisoner gathers provisions, and, of course, one can only imagine how much food remains by the time the platform reaches the lower levels.
? El Hoyo: the new paper house?
Frame from El Hoyo, one of the most interesting Netflix Spain premieres of 2020.
The Platform (7,1 rating on FilmAffinity ) was destined to be a minor science fiction film with little impact. No one knew its director, Galder Gaztelu-Urrutia, and its cast included two usual suspects from Spanish independent cinema (aka films that aren't going to rake in millions): Iván Massagué and Antonia San Juan. Things changed when it premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival.
As with other minor films that went on to become huge hits ( Cube, Ex Machina , but also Pulp Fiction and Spanish Affair) , this was a diamond in the rough. At least, that's what Netflix thought, buying the rights the moment they saw the film. Are we witnessing a new international phenomenon like Money Heist?
? What do critics say about The hole?
Frame from El Hoyo, one of the most interesting Netflix Spain premieres of 2020.
The film website Film School Rejects has included The Platform (El Hoyo) among its selection of the most interesting content on Netflix for March 2020. And not only that: their article features the Spanish film at the top, asserting that it "convincing from beginning to end." The article praises the film for prioritizing an original premise over a barrage of special effects and CGI.
- El Mundo, Luis Martínez: «It is one of those films that bless discoveries. And the wonders. So wise and sad and revealing (...) a brilliant provocation more hyper-real than just real."
- El Periodico, Nando Salvá: «He wraps himself in a surreal atmosphere, which prevents him from falling into discourse (…). And, thanks to generous doses of black comedy and absurdist gore, she stays surprisingly light. (…)»
- Frames, Daniel Martínez Mantilla: «Effective and surprising (...) an interactive experience that forces the viewer to take part in the film's main ethical debate.
Now that we're stuck at home because of the Coronavirus outbreak (here are more ideas for free things to do during lockdown), The Platform is a surefire hit . It's the kind of movie you want to watch with friends and then (or even during) discuss what you would have done.
The release date for The Platform on Netflix Spain is March 20, 2020.
