


Experimenter
Yale University, 1961. Stanley Milgram designs a psychology experiment that still resonates to this day, in which people think they’re delivering painful electric shocks to an affable stranger strapped into a chair in another room. Despite his pleads for mercy, the majority of subjects don’t stop the experiment, administering what they think is a near-fatal electric shock, simply because they’ve been told to do so. With Nazi Adolf Eichmann’s trial airing in living rooms across America, Milgram strikes a nerve in popular culture and the scientific community with his exploration into people’s tendency to comply with authority. Celebrated in some circles, he is also accused of being a deceptive, manipulative monster, but his wife Sasha stands by him through it all.
Insights
Plot Summary
Experimenter is a biographical drama that delves into the life and work of Stanley Milgram, a prominent social psychologist. The film meticulously reconstructs Milgram's controversial 1961 "obedience experiments" at Yale University, where participants were led to believe they were administering electric shocks to others. It explores the ethical dilemmas and profound societal implications of these studies, examining Milgram's motivations, the pressures he faced, and the lasting impact of his research on our understanding of human behavior and authority.
Critical Reception
Experimenter garnered positive reviews from critics, who praised its intellectual depth, compelling performances, and thought-provoking exploration of a landmark psychological experiment. While some found its pacing occasionally deliberate, the film was widely commended for its sophisticated approach to complex ethical questions and its ability to engage audiences with Milgram's controversial legacy.
What Reviewers Say
- Praised for its intelligent and nuanced portrayal of Stanley Milgram and his controversial experiments.
- Winona Ryder and Peter Sarsgaard deliver strong performances that anchor the film's dramatic and intellectual weight.
- The film successfully highlights the ethical complexities and societal relevance of Milgram's obedience studies.
Google audience: Google users generally found 'Experimenter' to be a thought-provoking and well-acted film that effectively explores the ethical dimensions of psychological research. Many appreciated the historical accuracy and the performances, although some noted that the film could be intellectually dense at times.
Fun Fact
The film's unique visual style, including breaking the fourth wall and direct address to the audience, was intended by director Peter Sarsgaard to mimic the experimental and observational nature of Milgram's own work.
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