“Okay, kid, this is where it gets complicated.”
Marvel has never shied from the complex and the bizarre, but Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (what a mouthful!) is perhaps the most complicated one yet. Released in theatres on May 6, director Sam Raimi’s new superhero film is a mix of horror, action, and beautiful CGI cinematography. As a fan of science fiction like Marvel and Doctor Who, I appreciated the risks taken in this film — some not as successful as others — and the continued character arcs of Stephen Strange and Wanda Maximoff.
In this latest Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) movie, the multiverse has begun to spill into Stephen Strange’s world. When Doctor Strange encounters a girl who can travel between different universes, he finds himself traveling between universes, battling other versions of himself, and encountering Wanda after the events of WandaVision — all while trying to combat a surprisingly dark threat.
Although it is technically the sequel to 2016’s Doctor Strange, it also acts as a continuation of the Disney Plus show WandaVision — and it doesn’t hurt to be familiar with Spider-Man: No Way Home, What If…?, and Loki. That alone is 22 hours worth of content, not to mention the movies that set up Wanda’s origins, the events caused by Thanos, and every other Marvel story under the sun. That’s the problem, and the cash appeal, of Marvel projects these days. (Then again, who hasn’t seen every Marvel project under the sun?) It has generated such a fanbase of viewers who religiously watch each release that it can produce a film like Multiverse of Madness without a ton of context.
The result is a movie that rewards viewers for their Marvel knowledge and doesn’t hesitate to dive into a complicated plot. The fragmented, Marvel-esque plot is perhaps its weaker point, but it does provide an interesting exploration of the multiverse. The multiverse has been a recurring theme of the MCU’s Phase Four, which brilliantly allows endless possibilities and variations of familiar characters.
What has not been explored until now is a pull towards horror. With more horror-inspired scenes — including a reanimated corpse and several violent deaths — I was surprised that the film is only rated PG in Canada (something it has in common with, say, a tame movie like Turning Red). Raimi explained his vision in an interview with the LA Times.
“I think that the level of horror that Marvel had in their heads was about the exact same as [screenwriter] Michael [Waldron] and I had in our heads as far as impact-wise, gore-wise, horror-wise,” he said. “…There was like a mutual understanding that there should be a lot of fun, spooky, and even scary moments, but all under the bigger category of a fun adventure.”
Where Multiverse of Madness succeeds most is in its character performances. Benedict Cumberbatch, who plays Stephen Strange, maintains his egotistical, sympathetic personality and continues to develop his arc. But it’s Elizabeth Olsen, who plays Wanda Maximoff, the Scarlet Witch, who brings the most compelling performance. Her performance of a grieving mother and self-deluded superhero hits all the right emotional strings. Because we have seen her characterization expand and shift over five Marvel projects, her behaviour in Multiverse of Madness fits seamlessly into her character arc. It’s deserved.
Doctor Strange and Wanda’s shared trait of self-delusion is interesting to compare side-by-side as they both face the question of what it means to be good. What makes someone a villain? Is goodness about results, or does it matter how one achieves goodness or one’s goals?
The score, composed by Danny Elfman (also known for The Nightmare Before Christmas and Spider-Man 2), additionally brought the film to new heights. One of the most surprising elements of the score was when two characters fight each other with music rather than weapons, throwing magical piano notes with deadly force at their opponent. It’s a strange movie, after all. I’ll admit that I laughed out loud at that scene, but I can’t decide if it’s admirably creative or just plain weird.
Multiverse of Madness proves that the MCU still has a lot to offer. While it isn’t my favourite Marvel movie, I still respect the risks Raimi and the crew took in this film. The plot is messy, sure. But the decision to lean towards the horror genre and the compelling characterization of Strange and especially Wanda was rewarding, and I look forward to whatever Marvel madness comes next.
Danaye studies English and procrastination at UFV and is very passionate about the Oxford comma. She spends her days walking to campus from the free parking zones, writing novels she'll never finish, and pretending to know how to pronounce abominable. Once she graduates, she plans to adopt a cat.