Marvel Studios is back with Sam Raimi’s pseudo-horror Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. The fifth entry in Phase 4 of the MCU, Madness seeks to entertain comic book fans and general audiences alike, as well as completely subvert expectations of what the 28th film in the franchise could be. Although it’s already garnered more than half a billion dollars in the week since its release, Madness is a polarizing flick. Although I can understand some of the criticisms and complaints, Kevin Feige and company obviously have another hit on their hands.
When it was first announced that Sam Raimi would direct an MCU film, my excitement knew no bounds. This is the guy that brought us the O.G. Spider-Man trilogy, the underrated Darkman, and the fan-favorite Evil Dead. Attaching his talent to this particular cinematic universe was bound to produce some freaky results, and I’m here for it.
The director’s style is felt in spades. Not only did I jump out of my seat a few times, but I was genuinely in awe at the imagery throughout its 126-minute runtime. From the mind-blowing deaths to the creepy Grudge-like suspense to the over-the-top action sequences, I was absolutely shocked at how far Marvel let the filmmaker go with his vision, but they 100% made the right call.
On top of having a world-class director on board, the cast here is phenomenal. Benedict Cumberbatch returns as Doctor Strange, and the more I see him on screen, the more I believe he is the only logical choice to play the former Sorcerer Supreme.
Benedict Wong and Chiwetel Ejiofor also return as Wong and Mordo respectively, and they both are given some great scenes to play off the titular hero. Rachel McAdams returns as Strange’s love interest, Christine, who has a much more significant role this time around, playing an integral part in Strange’s newest adventure.
The breakout star here is Xochitl Gomez who plays the universe-hopping America Chavez. She’s fine in the role, and I respect how her backstory is largely reminiscent of her comic book origins, whereas nowadays, too often is the source material tampered with to befit a wider audience.
The standout character for me personally though was Elizabeth Olsen’s Scarlet Witch, as her arc throughout four movies and a Disney+ series seems to have come full circle in the most gut-wrenching way. She seems to be the most comfortable she’s ever been in Wanda’s skin, and she instantly makes you desire for a solo Scarlet Witch movie as soon as the credits roll.
Oh, and since the word Multiverse is in the title, you can surely expect a few left-field cameos in the film that will either anger or satisfy your inner-child, depending on how you feel about the handling of said characters.
I was somewhat let down by the lack of “madness” in the multiverse. There were some missed opportunities that perhaps will be touched upon in future films, but for a flick expected to bust the multiverse wide open hot off the heels of No Way Home, it sort of feels tame. I do appreciate how weird and out of the ordinary the flick is, but I think it would’ve benefited by going that extra odd mile. On top of all that, the ending and obligatory post-credits scene don’t seem to set up any coming conflict for the wider MCU, and at this point, I’m left wondering what larger threat this current Phase 4 is leading into.
All in all, if you haven’t seen Multiverse of Madness yet, prepare for a wacky thrill ride that will appease your visual senses and make you hunger for more of the MCU until Thor: Love and Thunder comes around. Rife with engaging dialogue, immersive performances, and just enough Sam Raimi-isms to keep you locked in for two hours, this is a game-changer that is sure to be the talk of the town for many weeks to come.
