Experimenter

Name: Experimenter
Genre: Biography, Drama, History
Released: October 16, 2015
Duration: 98 min
Rating: 81

2015

METASCORE

Universal acclaim based on 20 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 58 Ratings

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7.4

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7.4	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 58 Ratings

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Experimenter

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Movie Details & Credits

Magnolia Pictures | Release Date: October 16, 2015 | Not Rated

Summary: In 1961, social psychologist Stanley Milgram (Peter Sarsgaard) conducted the "obedience experiments" at Yale University. The experiments observed the responses of ordinary people asked to send harmful electrical shocks to a stranger. Despite pleadings from the person they were shocking, 65 percent of subjects obeyed commands from aIn 1961, social psychologist Stanley Milgram (Peter Sarsgaard) conducted the "obedience experiments" at Yale University. The experiments observed the responses of ordinary people asked to send harmful electrical shocks to a stranger. Despite pleadings from the person they were shocking, 65 percent of subjects obeyed commands from a lab-coated authority figure to deliver potentially fatal currents. With Adolf Eichmann’s trial airing in living rooms across America, Milgram’s Kafkaesque results hit a nerve, and he was accused of being a deceptive, manipulative monster. Experimenter invites us inside Milgram’s whirring mind, beginning with his obedience research and wending a path to uncover how inner obsessions and the times in which he lived shaped a parade of human behavior inquiries. [Magnolia Pictures]… Expand

Director: Michael Almereyda

Genre(s): Biography, Drama, History

Rating: Not Rated

Runtime: 98 min

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Critic Reviews

100

Mick LaSalle

Oct 22, 2015

Seemingly loose and free-associative in style, Experimenter builds to an effect and, for all its humor — or rather, through its humor — makes a sober and chilling point. Read full review

David Edelstein

Oct 8, 2015

Experimenter is busily, thrillingly reflective. Its artificiality makes it seem even more alive, more in the present tense. Read full review

Manohla Dargis

Oct 15, 2015

Mr. Almereyda takes Milgram, his work and ideas seriously but doesn’t suffocate them: Despite the story’s freight, the laboratory shocks and Milgram’s insistent melancholia, Experimenter is a nimble, low-frequency high. Read full review

Anthony Kaufman

Mar 26, 2015

Almereyda has created an experiment of his own: a kind of cinematic Rorschach test, prodding viewers to consider what they would do if sitting in the same seat as Milgram’s subjects. Read full review

The Guardian Jordan Hoffman

Mar 26, 2015

Ultimately, Experimenter finds a glimmer of hope by simply revealing itself. Maybe if more people are educated about the dangers of obedience, they’ll put up more resistance. It can’t hurt to hope. Read full review

Mike D'Angelo

Oct 15, 2015

The film bears the subtitle The Stanley Milgram Story, but it’s most effective when it strenuously avoids biopic conventions, focusing intently on the man’s controversial professional life. Read full review

The Playlist Katie Walsh

Mar 26, 2015

While the experiment itself is fascinating, the approach taken by Almereyda in using distractingly peculiar storytelling techniques only succeed in distancing the audience from the film's inspiration. Read full review

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User Reviews

Brent_Marchant

Oct 29, 2015

A fascinating, wryly comic examination of Stanley Milgram's famous psychological experiments involving human obedience and behavior conformity. This inventively designed, smartly written film captivates and entertains throughout, with a standout performance by Peter Sarsgaard and a colorfulA fascinating, wryly comic examination of Stanley Milgram's famous psychological experiments involving human obedience and behavior conformity. This inventively designed, smartly written film captivates and entertains throughout, with a standout performance by Peter Sarsgaard and a colorful supporting cast. What ordinarily might seem like a painfully dull subject is effectively brought to life through a clever, engaging narrative and an inventive production design, both of which never fail to impress.… Expand

2 of 2 users found this helpful20

smiyamot

Nov 3, 2016

I remember taking Psych 101 in college, fascinating stuff, this movie brings it to life. There is also the question of the German people murdering 10 million people during WW2. How could they do it? Was it just bad people? Or were they somehow "mind" controlled? This movie shows howI remember taking Psych 101 in college, fascinating stuff, this movie brings it to life. There is also the question of the German people murdering 10 million people during WW2. How could they do it? Was it just bad people? Or were they somehow "mind" controlled? This movie shows how this professor delved into people's psyche to see how we tick. Very revealing.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

roninphoenix

Aug 30, 2018

I just got done watching this movie on Netflix and it seemed a little quirky, but watched the end and it was worth the wait. It was good example about people being affected by the "herd" effect. Even though it starts out strangely, it quickly gets to heart of the matter. I was alive at theI just got done watching this movie on Netflix and it seemed a little quirky, but watched the end and it was worth the wait. It was good example about people being affected by the "herd" effect. Even though it starts out strangely, it quickly gets to heart of the matter. I was alive at the time it was performed, but do not remember hearing about it. Netflix is the perfect place for a film like this and glad that I opted to view it.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

geewah

Dec 26, 2020

A solid telling of one of the most infamous pyschological studies ever conducted.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

xDaudex

Oct 16, 2015

Pros:
Does a good job going over the main characters life.
Goes over many experiments he did. They did a good job making the movie look like it fit the time period. Cons: Some scenes are somewhat cheaply made due to the low budget. Sound quality is bad but that may be them trying toPros:
Does a good job going over the main characters life.
Goes over many experiments he did.
They did a good job making the movie look like it fit the time period.

Cons:
Some scenes are somewhat cheaply made due to the low budget.
Sound quality is bad but that may be them trying to make it fit the time period better.
Some parts are confusing because of rough jumps to different scenes.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

LeZee

May 23, 2016

A tale of the man who gave a breakthrough in the human psychology.

A movie about the experiments on the human behaviour and for us, there's nothing in it but to study those characters along. This is more a documentary than the cheerful characters and the story with a twist. So forget itA tale of the man who gave a breakthrough in the human psychology.

A movie about the experiments on the human behaviour and for us, there's nothing in it but to study those characters along. This is more a documentary than the cheerful characters and the story with a twist. So forget it if you are looking for an entertainment film.

Based on the true story of an American social psychologist Stanley Milgram. The film narrates the story of his controversial experiments and personal life that takes us back to the 60s. Not all the discoveries were accepted in its first revelation. Sometimes it takes time to realise its benefits like perhaps this one.

The film was boring because it was a drama about an important turning point in the human psychology. So all the major parts of the story were just talking and it never required physical stretch from its characters like running and chasing around. If you're interested in psychology and its related stuffs, then you might like it.

Besides, the romance was a small part of what the film was focused on as its title mentioned. It does not mean I dislike it for not enjoying. In fact, I would have rated it better only if it was a documentary film. But still I'm happy with the product. Overall a decent film with the decent performances.

6/10… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

beingryanjude

Mar 7, 2016

Those less familiar with Milgram's experiments are bound to find this adaptation much more mesmerizing. It's fascinating - but the execution is occasionally questionable.

2 of 2 users found this helpful20

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