Without a doubt, the talk and buzz about this second Doctor Strange film will revolve around three main strands. The fact that Sam Raimi is directing, that it’s the first horror MCU film, and Elizabeth Olsen as the Scarlet Witch/Wanda Maximoff. Depending on how you enjoyed the film, and it’s multiverse concept, your emphasizing on any of these three aspects will rule your reaction to the film, and it’s good to examine why these will be the top three trending topics.

Raimi is a living film legend. Evil Dead, Darkman, the three Spider-Man films that starred Tobey Maguire, that’s just some film legacy attributed to Raimi. And the fact that he’s directing this Doctor Strange will have viewers once again showering plaudits on the man. And to honest, it will be well deserved, as his visual style, his readiness to inject gory scenes and jump scares, will be the freshest attack on an MCU film in recent memory.

With Raimi, it was always about going dark, and so that while there’s a convoluted Michael Waldron screenplay, we readily sign up for the ride, ready to be bamboozled and even confused, but giddy over all that’s happening.

For what’s happening and unfolding before our eyes is the closest we’ll get to a horror film in this Marvel world. It is a risky step in that it’s a departure of sorts for the Marvel canon of films, but it’s also a canny and extremely smart move, as there obviously was the need to put something new and different on the table. Some scenes will remind us of Evil Dead, while others will be coming at us from the Raimi jump scares department. But regardless of how we will take this departure, it’s evident that the filmmakers were having a lot of fun in throwing out the old formula, and offering this darker, more mature exposition. It definitely isn’t the child-friendly Marvel film we’ve grown used to, but if this is Marvel’s way of now catering to an older audience, I’m all for it and welcome this transition.

And then there’s Elizabeth Olsen’s Wanda taking on an arc that’s completely unexpected, but one that we got hints of in the TV series WandaVision, and has now been put into full bloom. And I say full bloom with a degree of irony, as if this is a rose blooming, it’s one with a lot of thorns as well. Having said that, I’ll also put it out there that while I may be in the minority, I’m not all that convinced that Olsen pulled it off. She is out to enjoy the twist in her character and the arc that ensues, but I didn’t quite take her threats all that seriously, or felt truly in awe of her. 

The other fault in the screenplay is how we have America Chavez (Xochitl Gomez) taking on such a pivotal role, but other than our recognizing that fact, there’s really not enough we learn about America C. Perhaps that’s something being kept in reserve for a future film, but I found that to be a drawback, given that we’re asked to invest so much in her survival.

Benedict Cumberbatch is enjoying himself here, finally asked to provide more range to his portrayal of Steven/Doctor Strange. And high marks to Benedict Wong as Wong, Rachel Macadams as Christine, and Chiwetel Ejiofor as Baron Mordo.

 
There’s a lot more I’d like to say; but in true service to the film, I’d say that this is the one MCU film where knowing less will mean enjoying it more. It’s not just about the surprise cameos, the plot twists, the attack on the multiverse theme; it’s simply that there are so many unconventional routes taken, so many surprises here, that it’s the Marvel film that coming in blind is the best thing that could happen.

So many films of late have offered up this multiverse concept - from the animated Spider-Man, to last year’s No Way Home, and Michelle Yeoh in Everything, Everywhere, All at Once - so it’s nice to see how this one is blended with horror, and marks a glorious return for Raimi.