Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022)

Careful, spoilers ahead

Starring:

Benedict Cumberbatch
Elizabeth Olsen
Xochitl Gomez
Benedict Wong
Rachel McAdams

Throughout the movie I was thinking to myself that this Marvel film felt a little darker than the others in the MCU, and was reminded of 2002’s horror-tinged Spider-Man, directed by Sam Raimi. My spidey senses proved correct when the credits began to roll and Raimi’s name popped up as the director. I knew it! Then when my friend had to explain that the final end-credits scene was a reference to Evil Dead, it clicked for me again. Bless you, Sam Raimi.
People have touted the Scarlet Witch as one of the most powerful Marvel characters, and Multiverse put it on full display by having her go through a contingent of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes like it was nothing. Finally, we get to see what she’s really capable of.
The brutalness of the Scarlet Witch was also never-before-seen. Compare her warping of reality to Thanos’s: He used the reality stone to turn a gun’s ammo into bubbles; the Scarlet Witch made Black Bolt’s brain implode. Damn, girl.

Some of the horror tropes were too much—such as when the group was trying to run away from Wanda and they spend an inordinate amount of time just staring at the door they had locked her behind. Stop it. Get some help.
Yes, the plot focused on Doctor Strange for the most part, but this was really The Scarlet Witch Show. I think viewers have more attention on her because we’ve seen more of her personal life through the Avengers movies and WandaVision. For all his movie appearances (and several episodes of What If…), Doctor Strange has been more of a helper to the other Avengers, with his personal life largely ignored. By the time his sequel has come around, we’re more invested in seeing Wanda go through this tragic arc of villain to flawed hero and back to villain.
I’m not sure why I keep putting myself through all these Marvel movies (and shows) anymore. I still like seeing the interconnectedness of this massive cinematic universe, but I don’t find myself loving these new characters as much. And I’m just tired of it. Thor: Love & Thunder looks like it will be a fun ride, but the magic is pretty much gone for me otherwise. I’m just going through the motions at this point.