Based on the 1971 Stanford University simulation study of the psychology of imprisonment (otherwise know as the Stanford Prison Experiment), DAS EXPERIMENT is an intense psychodrama about a group of ordinary men who volunteer to take place in a paid two-week study on the mental effects of prison life. Following a series of intellectual and physical examinations, the men are separated into two groups--eight guards and twelve prisoners--and locked into a working prison, fully loaded with cameras to capture their every move. One of the prisoners, an undercover reporter named Tarek (Moritz Leibtrau of RUN LOLA RUN), uses every opportunity to provoke the guards and collect quotes for his story, but he consistently pushes the envelope too far. As egos are bruised and machismo is belittled, the guards resort to sadistic torture techniques while the prisoners formulate an escape scheme that is laden with vengeance. The experiment inevitably goes awry (even the moderators have utterly lost control) leading to a powerful climatic battle between good and evil.

Director Oliver Hirschbiegel keeps the film moving at a fast clip, effortlessly switching from the film to the prison cameras and even to a pair of 007-esque spy glasses worn by Tarek to reveal different angles of observation and offer the viewer a voyeuristic experience. DAS EXPERIMENT is an extreme thriller steeped in ultra-violence, murder, and suspense.

German Theatrical Release: March 8, 2001.
U.S. Theatrical Release: SEPTEMBER 18, 2002 (NY)
SEPTEMBER 20, 2002 (LA)

DVD Features:

Region 1
Keep Case
Full Frame - 1.33
Widescreen - 1.85
Audio:
Dolby Digital 2.0 - English
Dolby Digital 5.1 - German
Additional Release Material:
Trailers

Moritz Bleibtreu: Actor, DAS EXPERIMENT (2002)
Christian Berkel: Actor, DAS EXPERIMENT (2002)
Oliver Stokowski: Actor, DAS EXPERIMENT (2002)
Woton Wilke Mohring: Actor, DAS EXPERIMENT (2002)
Stephan Szasz: Actor, DAS EXPERIMENT (2002)
Polat Dal: Actor, DAS EXPERIMENT (2002)
Danny Richter: Actor, DAS EXPERIMENT (2002)

Oliver Hirschbiegel: Director, DAS EXPERIMENT (2002)

Christoph Darnstadt: Screenwriter, DAS EXPERIMENT (2002)
Don Bohlinger: Screenwriter, DAS EXPERIMENT (2002)

"...Gripping....Oliver Hirschbiegel turns the screws on the audience..."
"...It's hypnotic, a slick and well-told story..."
"...The film's high-tech prison block is well designed, and Rainer Klausmann's cinematography is dynamic..."
"...The movie builds up to a climax of near-unbearable tension; the whole thing is remarkably well-done..."