Anton van Beek takes a critical look at the latest sci-fi and fantasy cinema, Blu-ray and streaming releases…

DOCTOR STRANGE IN THE MULTIVERSE OF MADNESS

(2022) In cinemas, Cert: 12

★★★★

Having accidentally messed around with the multiverse in last year’s Spider-Man: No Way Home, Marvel’s resident magician finds himself up to his neck in even more multiversal mayhem in this latest slice of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

In the aftermath of a fairly typical afternoon spent saving New York City from a rampaging one-eyed octopus monster, Doctor Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) meets America Chavez (Xochitl Gomez), a gifted teenager who hails from another Earth and has the power to travel through the multiverse. Seeking the aid of fellow magic practitioner Wanda Maximoff (Elizabeth Olson), Strange learns that the former-Avenger-turned-Scarlet-Witch has been corrupted by the Darkhold, an ancient demonic book of spells, and is planning to steal Chavez’s abilities in order to be reunited with her sons, who still exist in other parallel realities. So begins a chase across the multiverse as Strange and Chavez seek out the Book of Vishanti, antithesis of the Darkhold and the only thing capable of stopping Scarlet Witch.

As much as we look forward to every new Marvel movie, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness was made even more by marking Sam Raimi’s return to directing, following a near ten-year absence from the big screen. While Raimi has form when it comes to directing superhero movies - as well as the original Spider-Man trilogy (2002- 2007), he also helmed the comic book-inspired cult classic Darkman (1990) - for many he will always be best-remembered as the man behind the Evil Dead movies. And if there’s one thing that Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness delivers, it’s vintage Sam Raimi fun.

From crazy camera angles and crash zooms to overt visual and thematic homages to his earlier films (everything from Spider-Man and Army of Darkness to Crimewave) it’s everything cinema has been missing since Raimi took a step back from directing film following 2013’s Oz: The Great and Powerful.

As you’d hope, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness also pushes closes to outright horror than previous Marvel movies, with a couple of rather icky death scenes that probably stretch the limit of the BBFC’s 12 certificate, as well as some well-conceived jump scares. Raimi’s more playful side is also on display, too, most notably in fantastical battle using musical notes.

The performances are strong, too. Cumberbatch is as reliable as ever as Doctor Strange, continuing to take over the MCU’s elder statesman role previously held by Robert Downey, Jr’s Tony Stark, and while not given a massive amount to do Xochitl Gomez has a likeable screen presence that bodes well for future appearances (Young Avengers, anyone?). However, the stand-out is Elizabeth Olsen, who does a fantastic job of providing the film’s emotional core as she continues the exploration of Wanda’s grief and trauma begun in the WandaVision series (itself something of a mustwatch before catching this film).It’s just a shame then that the film never quite lives up to its title.

While Raimi and his cast are clearly having a lot of fun, and the script serves up plenty of fanpleasing cameos and Easter Eggs (which we won’t spoil here, no doubt the Internet already has that well in hand), the so-called ‘Multiverse of Madness’ ultimately boils down to a version of Earth that’s a lot like ours, only buildings are covered in plants and red lights mean it’s safe to cross the road, and a second one that’s in the process of completely breaking apart.

Sure, we see glimpses of a world full of dinosaurs, another that’s completely animated, and another where everyone is made of paint; but that’s all they are, tiny glimpses.

Would it really have been too much to ask for more of that kind of multiversal madness? Perhaps we’ll just have to wait for next year’s Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (sequel to animated 2018 Oscarwinner Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse) to see how mad these things can really get.

AvB

MARVEL’S MOON KNIGHT (2022)

Disney+, Out now, Marvel Studios, Cert: 16+

★★★★

Moon Knight is Marvel’s sixth TV series for the Disney+ streaming platform, and differs from its live-action predecessors in a couple of ways. First, as you may have noticed above, is the 16+ age restriction. Until now all Marvel Studios shows produced for Disney+ have carried a 12+ rating, and while Moon Knight isn’t a total bloodbath, there is a slightly harder edge to the violence and some moments of creepy supernatural horror. The other difference is that - unlike WandaVision, The Falcon and Winter Soldier, Loki and Hawkeye - this series focuses on a character who hasn’t already appeared in a movie and doesn’t have any significant ties to the larger Marvel Cinematic Universe.