The second Dr. Strange film, Dr. Strange in the Multiverse of Madness has been highly anticipated since the releases of Disney+ shows Wandavision, What If, and recent movie Spiderman: No Way Home. Rumors about surprise cameos, new characters, and the film taking a more horror-inclined direction only added to the excitement. Having been released on May 6th, it’s safe to say that this new installment in the Marvel Cinematic Universe was no disappointment. 

The movie picks up with Dr. Strange, portrayed by Benedict Cumberbatch, encountering America Chavez (Xochitl Gomez), a teen with the power to travel between countless alternate universes. Determined to protect her heavily-sought-after power, the two embark on an absurd journey through the multiverse, with riveting special effects that appear alarmingly realistic. This would have been enough to provide for a fantastic adventure, but director Sam Raimi couldn’t stop there. 

As many fans are aware, Wanda Maximoff (aka the Scarlet Witch) is still recovering from her grief-ridden state following the events of Wandavision. Now with powers beyond compare, she will do anything to get her two sons back, providing for a very crazed version of the beloved hero. Seeing the Scarlet Witch’s abilities has always been an intriguing experience for fans, but topping that with amazing jump-scares and jarring fight scenes, the once-awe-inspiring character turns to a horrific train wreck you can’t help but continue watching. The fact that fans can still root for Wanda throughout this movie just proves that the direction behind this film was expertly done, and that the actors involved (Elizabeth Olsen specifically) gave a breathtaking performance that is definitely worth watching. 

The plot itself can be a little hard to follow at times, but as long as you have seen the projects preceding this story, you should be fine. This is likely due to the fact that a lot has to happen in this film with only a 2-hour-five-minute run time. This movie definitely requires the viewer’s full attention, as well as perhaps rewatching Wandavision and Dr. Strange beforehand, but will pay off in the end, as it provides a thrilling, edge-of-your-seat adventure that will have everyone biting their nails in anticipation. 

Another thing that made the movie so perfect was the new versions of characters throughout the multiverse. Some were mere copies of the main cast, but others were slightly unexpected, but previously seen in other Marvel projects, so very enjoyable to watch. Some did not pertain to the main storyline of the MCU, so their appearance now could mean big news for the canon, as these previously separate stories are now relevant to the main saga. 

Dr. Strange in the Multiverse of Madness was a terrifyingly amazing cinematic display of special effects, epic fights, and unique characters that twisted an already complicated plot into an utterly mind-blowing spectacle. Be sure to stay in theaters through the credits as well, as there is a mid-credits scene and an after-credits scene. For anyone who is a fan of superheroes, magic, and horror movies, here is the best possible mashup of the three (though if blood makes you queasy, maybe sit this one out).