Movie Review: The Platform (El Hoyo)

The Platform (El Hoyo)

Director: Galder Gaztelu-Urrutia

Starring: Iván Massagué, Zorion Eguileor, Antonia San Juan, Emilio Buale, Alexandra Masangkay

Rating: R

Runtime: 94 minutes

El Hoyo, more commonly known as The Platform to international audiences, is a Spanish horror, social science, thriller film that tackles issues related to social hierarchy and class welfare. Known as the “vertical” Snowpiercer, director Galder Gaztelu-Urrutia manages to simultaneously create philosophical themes combined with grim, violent cannibalism—a very absurd yet intriguing social commentary that successfully delivers its message and what it says about our worlds and how our choices affect others. 

The film takes place in a vertical prison with one cell per level. The prison, known as the Vertical Self-Management Center, contains two random people in a large rectangular concrete room. The main protagonist of the story, Goreng (Ivan Massague), wakes up and meets Trimagasi (Zorion Eguileor), an old man who seems to have stayed longer than Goreng, who continually says the word, “Obviously,” becoming a farcical catchphrase. He explains to Goreng that they are on the 48th floor, and Goreng learns that there are three kinds of people: the ones above, the ones below, and the ones who fall.

A platform filled with an extravagant meal descends to a prisoner tower and lowers from above every day. Without knowing how many floors below there are, each floor’s inmates must eat what they are offered and eat leftover foods for only two minutes every day. This means that people situated on a lower level might not even have enough food to eat or might have the “luscious” offer to eat another person’s “juicy” flesh. 

From the beginning, we are clueless as to what is going on as much as the story’s main protagonist. Slowly, the story begins to reveal the dark secrets and gives plenty of twists and turns. The director directly shows the viewers that the metaphor is the story, so depending on one’s taste for films and stories, it can feel as if the message can get too preachy and shove its message down one’s throat. However, it somehow manages to deliver its message effectively. It would engage abstract and visual thinkers who would have a greater understanding and connect to the broader world.

The first half of the film immediately grabs the audience’s attention when Goreng and Trimagasi are conversing. The dialogue is both sharp and witty. But thankfully, the film’s message is not the only intriguing thing, as the momentum continues to carry through most movies. Director Gaztelu-Urrutia uses dramatic camera angles and striking color contrasts of both red and blue to show the physical changes that are happening to the environment and show the character’s internal state of mind. 

Furthermore, on each floor, each of the people is permitted to bring one personal item inside, and I thought it was a great way to develop Goreng’s character and maintain continuity when he chooses to bring with him a copy of “Don Quixote,” while his cellmate Trimagasi selects a self-sharpening knife. Goreng brings “Don Quixote” to the prison. I enjoyed how the director infuses literary elements to show the similarities of the character’s ideals, and character flaw was an excellent choice to add to the film.  

Overall, The Platform has great build-up and mystery with a decent amount of social commentary on class welfare. While it is not the best film that deals with this topic, the film has a high chance of becoming a cult classic with its fun dialogue and absurd concept. It purposely leaves you wanting for more, and so if you have a strong stomach, go to Netflix right now and give this film a chance to impress you.