Dr. Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022)

#MRFLIXTER

I recently rewatched Dr. Strange in the Multiverse of Madness after seeing it in theatres upon its initial release. This was one of my most anticipated films this year and it needs no introduction. This is my SPOILER FREE REVIEW…for now. The question remains: is this a Marvelous multiversal movie or is it just maddening?

Director Sam Raimi gets back to his horror roots and it's a welcome addition to the shift of atmospheric tone in the MCU in what is easily the darkest film so far. It's full of truly shocking moments like the extremely good use of jump scares and other horror elements. I noticed several callbacks to the Evil Dead films. I love the use of camera movements like rotations, tilts, and zooms to give a dazzling array of visuals. Long takes and wide shots are used effectively to give a sense of the scope of everything too. It's both creepy and pretty to look at with lots of creative editing choices for the scene transitions. The spectacular CGI delivers some of the best action scenes in the MCU so far too. As a horror fan, it's great seeing the master of horror back at what he does best.

Written by Michael Waldron, the multiverse is shown in fun whimsically innovative new ways while simultaneously being a direct sequel to the first Dr. Strange film. It's amazing how they expand on the multiverse without feeling repetitive yet keep the continuity of what's been established so far. It has a good story with plenty of surprises. I loved the references to other MCU films and Disney Plus shows. It touches on the themes of sacrifice and appreciation of what you have in life making for a relatable plot with empathetic characters that have clear-cut motivations so I never questioned their actions.

Benedict Cumberbatch returns as Dr. Strange. He IS the titular hero at this point and seeing his variants is so much fun. He has a nice story about themes of regret and ethics. Motivated by his pain, it's felt through a nuanced performance showing a darker side of the original Dr. Strange giving a fresh take on the beloved character.

Elizabeth Olsen returns as Scarlet Witch. She steals the show. A wide array of emotions are on display in what could be her best performances so far. More about her later.

Chiwetel Ejiofor returns as Baron Karl Mordo. It's exciting to see his character return because he plays a huge role in the comics for those unfamiliar. He plays him in such a dignified manner and is well suited for the role.

Benedict Wong returns as Wong. I'm glad he has more of a significant role in this. It's always a pleasure to see him try to keep Dr. Strange in line while cracking wise.

Rachel McAdams returns as Christine Palmer. Motivated by the pain of heartbreak, she perseveres as a strong-willed woman who uses her intelligence as her greatest asset. She plays her with a sophisticated grace adding maturity to the already established character.

Xochitl Gomez is introduced as America Chavez, a Nexus Being with the ability to travel across the multiverse at will. The fear she feels for herself hurting others is captured superbly by the young actress. She has a good story arc about redemption and self-acceptance filling the film full of heart.

I love the introduction of Rintrah (Adam Hugill) the green minotaur sorcerer. Hopefully, he has more of a role in future films because in the comics he eventually asks Dr. Strange if he could be his apprentice. He agreed and Rintrah lived with him in the Sanctum Sanctorum.

I love the score by Danny Elfman. It's reminiscent of his earlier works with Tim Burton with a fresh spin on it setting an atmospheric tone fitting for the subject matter.

Overall, as a lifelong Marvel fan, this is a Marvelous multiversal movie with enough references to make any Marvel maniac smile. It's darker than New Mutants and Spider-Man 3 using outstanding horror elements to generate actual surprises. This takes every about the magic the original Doctor Strange delivered and provides more of it. The 3D enhanced the experience creating an engaging fully immersive experience that demands to be seen on the big screen. I can't wait to see it again to see what details I missed the first time. I discuss what I love most in the SPOILER SECTION BELOW. And remember, we all go a little mad sometimes.

Grade: Extra Large Popcorn

SPOILERS! SPOILERS! SPOILERS!

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After that first fight with Gargantos when Dr. Strange rips his eye from the socket it's clear this will be a much different take on the MCU.

It's nice to see Michael Stuhlbarg return as Nicodemus West, a surgeon and former colleague of Dr. Strange.

I loved seeing Wanda Maximoff going full-blown Scarlet Witch and how she becomes a full-fledged horror villain. She is so scary in this. I wasn't expecting there to be a body count let alone one this high either. It's way gorier than expected for a PG-13 film. I noticed lots of horror movie references including Raimi's Evil Dead trilogy and Drag me to Hell. Other ones I noticed were Carrie, The Ring, Mirrors, Nightmare on Elm Street, It, The Shining, Kaiju films, and Lovecraftian horror. It even becomes a full blown slasher flick with America Chavez as the final girl.

It's so nice to see Patrick Stewart return as Professor X and it's such a pleasure to see him in his outfit and yellow hover chair from the animated 90s TV show. I honestly never thought I'd see a live-action version of this variant in my lifetime. John Krasinski is Reed Richards/Mr. Fantastic to help explain the multiverse more and he's…well…Nuff said. Haley Atwell returns as Peggy Carter/Captain Britain. This was a pleasant surprise. I didn't think the What If show would come into play in the MCU but here we are and I couldn't be more pleased. Lashana Lynch returns as Maria Rambeau /Captain Marvel. It's fun seeing her return as well. Anson Mount returns as Black Bolt from the Inhumans TV show. This cameo was also an unexpected but welcome addition to the film and I'm grateful for it. I love the inclusion of other Marvel groups aside from the Avengers like the X-Men, Fantastic Four, and Inhumans. What an exciting time to be a Marvel fan.

In conclusion, now that this is on Disney Plus I'll be watching this countless times soaking up every moment of this Marvelous multiversal movie. As one of my most anticipated films this year it didn't disappoint. It was everything I hoped for and more. I highly recommend this to MCU and horror fans alike.

Grade: Extra Large Popcorn