Sam Raimi didn't just make a superhero sequel. He made a horror movie wearing a Doctor Strange costume. Honestly, the first time I sat through Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, the vibe shift from the rest of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) was almost jarring. One minute we're talking about the stability of reality, and the next, a beloved Avenger is literally snapping necks and shredding souls. It was a lot.
People expected a cameo-heavy romp through infinite worlds. Instead, we got a tragedy about grief and the terrifying realization that absolute power really does corrupt, even if you’re the "good guy."
The Wanda Maximoff Problem
Is she a villain? That’s the question that broke the internet back in 2022. After the emotional gut-punch of WandaVision, seeing Wanda Maximoff transition into the Scarlet Witch as a full-blown slasher-flick antagonist felt like a betrayal to some. But if you look at the Darkhold's influence, it makes sense. The book doesn't just give you spells; it eats your soul.
Wanda wasn't just "sad." She was possessed by an ancient, chaotic evil.
The movie treats her like a relentless force of nature. Think about that scene in the Illuminati headquarters. It wasn't a fair fight. It was a slaughter. Seeing Reed Richards turned into spaghetti was the moment everyone realized Sam Raimi was playing by his own rules, not the standard Disney playbook. It’s brutal. It’s messy. It’s exactly what the multiverse should feel like: dangerous.
Benedict Cumberbatch and the burden of being "The Best"
Stephen Strange is a character defined by his ego. In Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, we see three or four different versions of him, and they all share one fatal flaw. They think they have to be the one holding the knife.
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- Defender Strange: Sacrifices a child for the "greater good."
- Sinister Strange: Succumbs to loneliness and the Darkhold.
- 838 Strange: Becomes so arrogant he triggers an Incursion.
Our 616 Strange has to learn the one thing he hates: letting go. He has to trust America Chavez. He has to admit he isn't happy. That’s a remarkably human arc for a guy who fights giant eyeballs in the middle of New York City.
Why the CGI looked "Off" to some people
We need to talk about the Third Eye. You know the one. At the end of the film, Strange develops a third eye as a consequence of using the Darkhold. Some fans hated the visual effects here. They called it "cheap" or "rushed."
But here’s the thing: Raimi loves camp.
If you've seen Evil Dead or Drag Me to Hell, you know he leans into a specific, slightly grotesque aesthetic. The "musical fight" between the two Stranges is another example. It’s weird! It’s literal sheet music being used as weapons! Some found it cringey, but it’s actually one of the most inventive uses of magic in the entire MCU. It’s not just sparks and circles. It’s conceptual.
The Illuminati were meant to be losers
There, I said it.
The biggest complaint people had about Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness was how quickly the Illuminati were defeated. "How could Black Bolt die like that?" "Captain Carter deserved better!"
That was the point.
The Illuminati represented the ultimate hubris of superheroes. They sat on high thrones in a shiny glass room, convinced they had everything under control. They underestimated Wanda because they were blinded by their own legend. Their swift, violent deaths weren't a "disrespect" to the characters; they were a narrative device to show just how high the stakes had become. If Patrick Stewart’s Professor X can’t stop her, who can?
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Practical Magic and the Raimi Touch
Raimi brought a kinetic energy that had been missing from the MCU. The "POV" shots of spirits, the Dutch angles, the jump scares—it felt alive. Michael Waldron’s script moved at a breakneck speed, maybe too fast for some, but it captured the feeling of a "madness" that couldn't be contained.
Remember the souls of the damned? When Strange "Dreamwalks" into his own dead body?
That is pure 1980s horror. It’s gross. It’s iconic. It’s arguably the most "Director-driven" moment in a Marvel movie since the original Iron Man.
What this means for the future of the Multiverse
The "Incursion" mentioned in the post-credits scene with Clea (Charlize Theron) isn't just a throwaway line. It sets the stage for Avengers: Secret Wars. An incursion happens when two universes collide, destroying one or both.
Strange is now a multiversal pariah. He broke the rules. He used the Darkhold. He "Dreamwalked" into a corpse. He isn't the hero the world thinks he is—he’s a ticking time bomb.
Common Misconceptions
- America Chavez was "nerfed": People felt she was a "plot device." While she starts as a MacGuffin, her journey is about overcoming trauma. She didn't lack power; she lacked belief.
- The movie ignored WandaVision: It didn't. It showed the logical conclusion of someone using the Darkhold to process grief. It’s a tragedy, not a retcon.
- It’s a horror movie for kids: It’s really not. The ratings were pushed to the absolute limit. It’s a PG-13 that acts like an R.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Collectors
If you're looking to dive deeper into this specific corner of the MCU, stop looking at the movies alone.
Read the source material. Specifically, check out "Doctor Strange: The Oath" by Brian K. Vaughan. It captures that blend of ego and heroism perfectly. Also, look into the "House of M" comic arc to understand the weight of Wanda’s mental state, even though the movie departs significantly from it.
Watch the "Assembled" documentary on Disney+. It shows the practical sets they built for Wundagore Mountain. Seeing the scale of those physical sets changes how you view the "CGI-heavy" final act.
Pay attention to the score. Danny Elfman returned to Marvel for this, and he used a lot of dissonant orchestral choices that mirror Strange’s fracturing mind. Listening to the soundtrack on its own reveals layers of the story you might have missed while watching the screen.
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The multiverse isn't just a way to bring back old actors for nostalgia. It's a mirror. Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness forced Stephen to look in that mirror and realize that in almost every other reality, he is the villain. That’s a heavy burden to carry into the next phase of the MCU. Whether you loved the horror elements or hated the treatment of the Illuminati, you can't deny it left a permanent mark on the franchise. It shifted the tone from "quippy action" to "existential dread," and that’s a shift the series desperately needed to stay relevant.