Let's be real for a second. When we first saw the trailers for Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, we all expected a cameo-filled romp through every Marvel property ever made. We wanted the kitchen sink. Instead, Sam Raimi gave us a psychedelic, borderline-gory horror movie about a grieving mother and a sorcerer who finally learns that he doesn't always have to be the one holding the knife. It was jarring. People left theaters feeling either exhilarated by the style or deeply confused by the pacing.
Honestly, the movie is a bit of a miracle when you look at the messy production history. Scott Derrickson, the director of the first film, stepped away due to "creative differences," and Raimi—the legend behind the original Spider-Man trilogy and Evil Dead—stepped in with only a few months to prep. You can feel that frantic energy in every frame. It's fast. It’s loud. It’s unapologetically weird.
The Wanda Maximoff Problem and the Hero-to-Villain Pivot
The biggest sticking point for most people is Wanda. After the emotional gauntlet of WandaVision, seeing her go full "slasher villain" was a tough pill to swallow. But if you look at the lore, it actually makes sense. The Darkhold isn't just a book; it’s a corruptive force. The movie basically treats it like the One Ring from Lord of the Rings.
Elizabeth Olsen is doing the heavy lifting here. Her performance isn't just about glowing red eyes; it's about that terrifying, singular focus of a parent. When she tells Strange that "being reasonable" is her being merciful, she means it. The nuance is in the desperation. She isn't trying to rule the world. She just wants her kids. This shift turned Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness into something more than a superhero flick—it turned it into a tragedy about the dangers of unchecked grief.
Some fans argue this did Wanda dirty. They feel it erased her growth from the Disney+ series. Others argue that the Darkhold's influence is a tragic, inevitable extension of her power. It's a debate that still rages on Reddit threads years later.
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Sam Raimi’s Fingerprints All Over the Multiverse
If you’ve seen Drag Me to Hell or Army of Darkness, you recognized the "Raimi-isms" instantly. The POV shots of the souls of the damned? That's Sam. The extreme close-ups on eyes? Classic Raimi. The movie feels distinct from the "Marvel Gray" aesthetic we’ve grown used to. It’s vibrant. It’s colorful. It uses practical-looking makeup for the "Dead Strange" sequence that felt refreshing in an era of pure CGI.
Let’s talk about that music fight. It’s probably the most polarizing scene in the entire film. Strange and Sinister Strange throwing musical notes at each other like physical weapons is objectively bizarre. Danny Elfman’s score literally becomes part of the choreography. It’s the kind of creative risk that the MCU rarely takes anymore, and whether you loved it or hated it, you have to admit it was original.
The Illuminati and the Trap of Fan Expectations
Everyone remembers the "Illuminati" sequence. Seeing Patrick Stewart’s Professor X and John Krasinski as Reed Richards felt like a fever dream. Then, five minutes later, they were all dead. Wanda ripped them apart like tissue paper.
This was a bold move. Raimi was basically trolling the audience. He gave us the fan service we craved and then immediately showed us how powerless those icons were against a truly motivated Scarlet Witch. It served a narrative purpose: it established Wanda as the most dangerous being in the multiverse. It wasn't just a cameo; it was a slaughter.
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Why Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness Still Matters for the MCU
Looking back, this movie was the pivot point for the Multiverse Saga. It introduced America Chavez and the concept of "Incursions"—the idea that universes colliding will eventually destroy everything. This is the bedrock for Avengers: Secret Wars. Without the stakes established in Strange’s journey, the upcoming crossover events wouldn't have any weight.
But beyond the lore, the film is a character study of Stephen Strange himself. For years, his arc was about becoming the best, the smartest, the one in control. In Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, he has to face versions of himself that succeeded in "saving the day" but lost their souls in the process. The "Are you happy?" question that bookends the film is the most human moment the character has ever had. He realizes that being the hero doesn't mean you have to be the one holding the scalpel. You just have to trust others.
Strange's Magic vs. Scarlet Witch’s Chaos
The power scaling in this movie is wild. Strange is using the Sands of Nisanti and the Viper Spells of Valtorr, while Wanda is just rewriting reality on the fly. It highlights the difference between "learned" magic and "raw" power.
- Strange’s Style: Calculated, geometric, defensive.
- Wanda’s Style: Fluid, destructive, emotional.
- The Result: Strange almost always loses the direct confrontation.
This forces him to use his brain. Using the corpses of his own variants to "dreamwalk" into a dead body is some of the darkest stuff Marvel has ever put on screen. It’s metal. It’s gross. It’s exactly what the movie needed to stand out.
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Navigating the Multiverse: What You Should Do Next
If you’re planning a rewatch or trying to make sense of where the MCU is headed after the events of Westview and the 838-universe, keep a few things in mind to get the most out of the experience.
First, watch WandaVision and the first Doctor Strange back-to-back before diving in. It makes the emotional stakes of the sequel much heavier when the memory of Wanda’s loss is fresh. Second, pay attention to the background details in the Illuminati headquarters; there are Easter eggs regarding the history of that world that explain why they were so arrogant in the face of Wanda's threat.
For those looking to explore the comic roots, grab a copy of House of M or the 2015 Secret Wars run. These books provide the DNA for the "Incursion" logic used in the film. Finally, don't take the cameos too seriously. The movie is a self-contained Sam Raimi horror-action hybrid. If you treat it as a standalone piece of directorial style rather than a checklist for future movies, it actually holds up remarkably well. Stop looking for what's coming next and just enjoy the sight of a zombie sorcerer using a cloak made of literal screaming souls. It’s as good as it gets.
Key Takeaways for Fans:
- Focus on the thematic journey of Stephen Strange learning to let go of control rather than just the multiverse cameos.
- Recognize the "Incursion" concept as the primary setup for the future of the Avengers franchise.
- Re-evaluate the horror elements as Sam Raimi’s unique contribution to an otherwise formulaic genre.