MovieChat Forums > The Stanford Prison Experiment (2015) Discussion > Were things exaggerated for the film?

Were things exaggerated for the film?

posted 9 years ago by moviefool09
9 replies | jump to latest

Saw this film on DVD last night. Interesting stuff, but it seemed the guards' behavior got out of hand almost immediately. I admit that I am unfamiliar with what happened in real life, but I think the film would have had more of an impact if things progressed more slowly and REAL changes in character were observed. We also weren't shown many moments with the guards and prisoners interacting together before the "experiment" started, so we didn't really get to know them and their personalities before the experiment. For example, we don't know if "John Wayne" was a jerk before or not.

Some time spent with the characters before the experiment would have been really beneficial...even if it stretched the film to another 30 minutes. I think the film would have packed more of an emotional wallop if all those characters were more humanized before things got out of control.

"Farewell Good Hunter. May you find your worth in the waking world."

[–] bing-57 9 years ago

> Saw this film on DVD last night. Interesting stuff, but it seemed the guards' behavior got out of hand almost immediately.

So of the scenes during the credits shed some light on that. That one guard that seemed to be the root of the problem claims that he was performing his own, unsanctioned experiments to see how far he could push the prisoners before they fought back.

Frankly, I don't believe it. I think he's just a jerk. If he is telling the truth, however, he should be sued or something for ruining the experiment. Either way, he's a detestable person.

--
What Would Jesus Do For A Klondike Bar (WWJDFAKB)?

[–] moviefool09 9 years ago

Interesting viewpoint. I also saw that 'John Wayne' character (played by Michael Angarano) talking in the end credits. I agree that it seems unlikely he would 'run his own experiment', since he wouldn't have been aware of the full scope of the original experiment in the first place. It's not like Zimbardo sat everyone down and told them what he would specifically be studying.

I just got Zimbardo's recent book "The Lucifer Effect", which I am hoping will go into the experiment in more detail.

"Farewell Good Hunter. May you find your worth in the waking world."

[–] Btheatrical 9 years ago

Theres footage on youtube of the real 'John Wayne' explaining himself (a speech which Anagarano copied verbatim at the end of the film) and he just comes across like a jock/bully justifying himself half-assedly. But theres also footage of the same guy, now a mature adult, saying he wished he hadn't rocked the boat so hard to see how things would've played out without it.

[–] moviefool09 9 years ago

Interesting....thanks.

"Farewell Good Hunter. May you find your worth in the waking world."

[–] NotForMeThanks 9 years ago

Yeah Ive read his interviews as an older man and he's full of sht. He can't just admit after all these years that he let the experiment bring out the sadistic worst in him. He just keeps trying to save face. I don't believe him for a second. All of these years he's been trying to downplay what he did which is even more of an example of how sick he is.

[–] hodie1 9 years ago

I agree, NotForMeThanks. He was and is a creep.

[–] elgatony 9 years ago

Nope. Not a thing. There's a website http://www.prisonexp.org/ that's run by Dr. Zimbardo as wella s various documentaries on Youtube that show, almost verbatim, the things that happen in the movie (minus the dry humping (?) scene) and some of the comments made by 'John Wayne' afterwards. For example, there's footage of the prisoners' "rebellion" on Day 1, footage of the "sausage incident" and footage of the "Prisoner 819" did a bad thing chant that caused 819 to have a breakdown. The rest, like the fiancee's horror at seeing the bathroom run, the parole board member who turned into what he hated, Dr. Zimbardo's snapping at his colleague when asked what his independent variable was, Visitors Day, and the priest's visit are all discussed in the website with accompanying photos.

Jamie Lee Curtis survived Halloween, the Fog, Prom Night and a Terror Train & now she can't poop!

[–] moviefool09 9 years ago

Thanks for the info, elga....interesting stuff.

"This is dead air, Barry....dead air."

[–] faye172002 9 years ago

Having seen a couple of documentaries on the experiment and reading abut it - I feel like some parts of the film were actually toned down. I don't believe for a moment that "John Wayne" was doing his own experiments. He doesn't seem to have much, if any, remorse for his actions during those six days. Most things I've seen with him, are him trying to justify his behaviors. But, I also think Dr. Z is to blame - things started getting out of hand very early on, and he was sucked into and did nothing.