Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness opens with a promise: chaos, darkness, and a multiverse that will not play by the rules. The film, directed by Sam Raimi and starring Benedict Cumberbatch as Stephen Strange, is a Marvel movie built on broken timelines and shattered realities. It is also a horror movie dressed in tights. That combination works more often than it fails.
The plot picks up after the events of Spider-Man: No Way Home, where Strange accidentally opened the multiverse and brought Peter Parker’s Aunt May back from a parallel dimension. Now, Strange is haunted by the consequences of that decision. He sees visions of alternate versions of himself, and he watches his friends die in ways he cannot stop. The film is a tragedy of hubris, a cautionary tale about the man who thought he could fix everything.
Strange travels to the Dark Dimension to retrieve the Book of Vishanti, a mystical tome that can rewrite reality. Along the way, he encounters Wanda Maximoff, played by Elizabeth Olsen, who has lost her children in a multiversal disaster. Their paths cross, and their grief collides. The film is at its best when it lets the characters feel their pain, and Olsen delivers a performance that carries the emotional weight of the entire story.
Trailer, via Marvel Entertainment.
Strange’s Grief and the Vision of Loss
Strange’s arc is the engine of the film. He is a man who has always believed in his own control, and the multiverse is a hammer that breaks him. His visions of dead friends, his guilt over Aunt May, and his fear of becoming the monster he once fought — these are the threads that make him human. Cumberbatch plays the terror in his eyes with a physicality that makes you feel it. He is not a hero who stands tall; he is a man who is falling apart.
Olsen’s Wanda is the other half of the equation. She is grieving, angry, and desperate. Her loss drives her to seek Strange out, and the film spends considerable time exploring the bond between these two damaged souls. Their scenes together are the quiet center of the movie, even when the action around them is loud. They are both searching for answers, and they find each other in the darkness.
The film also introduces America Chavez, played by Xochitl Gomez, a young girl who can jump between dimensions. Her character is a fresh face in the MCU, and she brings a sense of wonder and determination that grounds the chaos. Rachel McAdams plays Christine Palmer, Strange’s ex-girlfriend, who becomes a link to the normal world as Strange’s grip on reality slips. The supporting cast fills out the ensemble, but the story belongs to Strange and Wanda.
The Multiverse’s Rules Are Broken
The multiverse itself is the real star of the show. The film embraces the concept of multiple realities, and it uses it to create some of the most visually striking sequences in the MCU. The film jumps between timelines, colors bleed into each other, and the walls of reality crack. The effects are ambitious, and they mostly deliver. The action is fast, chaotic, and often difficult to follow, but that fits the tone of a story about a man losing his mind.
The horror elements are woven into the fabric of the film. There are monsters, ghosts, and moments of pure dread. The film is not afraid to be scary, and that willingness is refreshing. It is a Marvel movie that takes its horror seriously, and it pays off in scenes that genuinely unsettle.
The film also leans into its R-rated sensibilities, with violence and language that push the boundaries of the franchise. It is not a film for children, and it does not pretend to be. That honesty earns it some credit, even when the violence feels excessive.
The Cost of Power
The film is also a meditation on power and responsibility. Strange’s ability to manipulate reality comes at a cost, and the film makes that cost explicit. Characters die, timelines collapse, and the price of saving one life is the destruction of many others. The film asks a simple question: what does it mean to be a hero when your actions destroy everything you love?
That theme is central to the story, and it is handled with a sincerity that elevates the material beyond standard blockbuster fare. The film is not just about the spectacle; it is about the weight of the decisions that create it.
Comparing the Two Leads
| Character | Actor | Role in the Story |
|---|---|---|
| Stephen Strange | Benedict Cumberbatch | The protagonist, a sorcerer who loses control of his powers |
| Wanda Maximoff | Elizabeth Olsen | A grieving mother driven by loss and desperation |
The table shows the two leads at a glance. Strange is the man in charge, while Wanda is the one who is lost. Together, they form the heart of the film.
The Film’s Weak Points
The film is not perfect. Some of the pacing drags, especially in the middle stretch, where the plot slows down to explain the mechanics of the multiverse. The exposition is dense, and it sometimes overshadows the emotional core of the story. The film also leans heavily on visual spectacle, and there are moments where the action feels more like a video game than a narrative.
The villain, played by Chiwetel Ejiofor, is underwritten. His motivations are thin, and he feels less like a threat and more like a plot device. The film also struggles with its own logic. If Strange can travel through the multiverse, why does he not simply fix everything? The film offers explanations, but they are not always satisfying.
The film’s ending is divisive. It sets up a larger conflict for the future, but it leaves some questions unanswered. The film ends on a note of uncertainty, which is fitting for a story about a man who cannot control his own destiny. The final shot is a promise of more to come, but it also leaves the audience wanting closure.
A Solid Horror Blockbuster
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is a solid entry in the MCU. It is a horror movie dressed in superhero clothes, and it is willing to embrace that identity. The performances are strong, particularly from Cumberbatch and Olsen, and the visual effects are impressive. The film is flawed, but it is also ambitious.
The film is a tragedy of hubris, a horror movie, and a superhero story all at once. It does not always succeed, but it rarely feels like it is wasting your time. It is a film that respects its audience enough to ask difficult questions, even when the answers are messy.
The film is a worthy addition to the MCU, and it sets the stage for future adventures. It is a dark chapter in the saga, but it is also a necessary one. The multiverse has been opened, and the consequences are just beginning.
- Title: Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness
- Director: Sam Raimi
- Lead actors: Benedict Cumberbatch, Elizabeth Olsen, Xochitl Gomez, Rachel McAdams, Chiwetel Ejiofor
- Genre: Superhero, horror, fantasy
- Runtime: 127 minutes
- Release: 2022
- Critical score: 7.2/10
Get the Notebook.
The day's best stories and every fresh verdict, in plain English, in your inbox by seven. One email a day, no more.
