The Marvel Cinematic Universe has recently entered the crossroads between over-saturation and re-imagination. Despite its continued dominance over the box office for the better part of 14 years, there has been a growing feeling that a change in the formula was in line for the popular film franchise. With Loki, it looks as though Kevin Feige and company are entering that re-imaginative stage with the inclusion of the multiverse.
The first glimpse of that change on the big screen was in the form of everyone’s favorite neighborhood hero, Spider-Man or, better yet, Spider-Men in Spider-Man: No Way Home. A film that opened up the possibilities of other iterations of our favorite characters growing up to enter the MCU. One of those iterations was Tobey Maguire’s Spider-Man – one of the most beloved character versions that has graced the big screen. It’s not a coincidence that the return of Tobey Maguire was a prelude to the return of one of the most influential directors in the horror genre and the comic-book genre, Sam Raimi.
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness follows Stephen Strange after the events of Spider-Man: No Way Home. Attempting to move past those events and deal with a personal event that’s sure to change his life, Strange is met with a new adventure with the arrival of America Chavez. One that requires the help of not just the Sorcerer Supreme – Wong, but one familiar with the ideals of the multiverse, The Scarlet Witch – Wanda Maximoff (Elizabeth Olsen).
Before the film’s release, I was concerned about whether Sam Raimi’s style would be on display as Marvel’s stamp supersedes the director’s style. However, Multiverse of Madness is not that film as it is a Sam Raimi film first & MCU film second. Despite suffering the Marvel juggernaut’s usual tropes, Raimi crafts a film more in line with his horror gems of yesteryear.
Homages to his previous work, from a popping eye scene in Evil Dead 2 to the iconic eye through the cellar door motif in the original Evil Dead, are on full display. Raimi’s vision and John Mathieson’s cinematography blend psychedelic, wildly imaginative creations that stand as some of the most unique shots in the MCU’s storied history.
Danny Elfman returns to the comic-book genre with a score that slaps among the best of the recent MCU entries. Working with Raimi for the first time since 2013’s Oz The Great & Powerful, Elfman shows why he’s one of the all-time greats with a score that offers some immaculate needle drops that will indeed have cinephiles chattering after.
Michael Waldron’s screenplay often fails to match the masterful direction Raimi is cooking with throughout. There are moments in Multiverse of Madness where the script suffers from inconsistent character arcs and disappointing conclusions to individual narratives. It won’t ultimately ruin a cinephile’s enjoyment of the film, but it does leave you longing for a more structured screenplay that was on par with Raimi’s direction.
While Michael Waldron’s screenplay ultimately lets the character of America Chavez down, Xochitl Gomez is not to be faulted. Gomez’s charisma is magnetic and makes it relatively easy to invest in America Chavez and long to go on more adventures with her. Benedict Wong continues to be one of the secret sauces of the MCU’s success. Wong is hilarious and fits nicely into Raimi’s world of comedy and horror.
Doctor Strange’s main attractions come from its titular character, Stephen Strange & Wanda Maximoff. Since their first appearances in the MCU, Academy Award nominee Benedict Cumberbatch and Elizabeth Olsen have created characters that have not just become two of the most beloved but are two of the most important and well-developed in the entire cinematic universe.
Once again, Cumberbatch delivers a performance that exudes the confidence and swagger Stephen Strange is known for. Adding layers of inner turmoil, Cumberbatch gives his best performance thus far in the role.
Olsen is just incredible! In 2021, many praised her heartbreaking turn in Wandavision as her career-best. In Multiverse of Madness, Olsen deals with continued grif and regret with such transcendence. It’s one of my favorite performances in the 14-year history of the MCU and one that cements Olsen and the Scarlet Witch into the pantheon of the Marvel Cinematic Universe food chain.
The surprises are aplenty, and while none will be spoiled, there will be smiles and cheers across the globe upon the film’s release. It’s hard to imagine not being in a theater on opening day to watch this film with a group of fans knowing what’s coming. But, these surprises are what the theatrical experience and fan service are all about.
Sam Raimi’s return to the comic-book dimension conjures up a spell in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness that can only come from the horror maestro. While swallowed by the Marvel machine and a frustrating screenplay at times, the film is the darkest and most gruesome entry thus far. It’s Marvel’s Evil Dead, and I couldn’t be happier to live in that multiverse.
