Introduction
The anticipation surrounding The Platform 2 (2024), a follow-up to the cult hit The Platform (2019), was palpable. The original movie stunned audiences with its brutal depiction of class struggles, survival, and human nature in a dystopian vertical prison. It left an indelible mark as a social commentary wrapped in a nightmarish sci-fi horror. The sequel promises to expand on this bleak world, introducing new characters and challenges, while grappling with fresh themes of power, control, and the consequences of systemic oppression.
But does The Platform 2 live up to its predecessor, or does it fall prey to sequel fatigue? Let’s dive deep into the movie’s plot, characters, and visual design to see if it can recapture the dark magic of the original.
Plot Overview
The sequel returns to the same grim setting—a vertical prison known as “The Pit.” Prisoners, who have voluntarily entered or been forced into this nightmarish facility, are housed in cells stacked on top of each other. Every day, a platform laden with food descends from the top floor to the bottom, stopping for a limited time on each level. The food, however, only lasts if prisoners practice restraint. Those on the upper levels can feast, while those below must make do with the leftovers—or nothing at all.
The Platform 2 wastes no time in establishing that the rules of this twisted society have evolved. New inmates Perempuan (Milena Smit) and Zamiatin (Hovik Keuchkerian) find themselves thrust into a system where strict, prisoner-enforced rules dictate the distribution of food. If prisoners adhere to these rules, there’s enough for everyone. But, as we’ve come to expect from this dystopia, enforcing such rules is easier said than done.
Characters: Perempuan and Zamiatin
Unlike the solitary Goreng from the first movie, this sequel introduces two key characters who embody different perspectives on survival and morality. Perempuan is a cautious thinker, seeking balance and order in the chaos. In contrast, Zamiatin is more aggressive, driven by a need for immediate justice. Their interactions offer a fascinating look into how different personalities cope with the pit’s oppressive environment.
Zamiatin’s tough exterior masks a deep-seated fear, while Perempuan’s calculated approach softens him over time, leading to an unexpected but believable bond. The film doesn’t waste much time on backstories, focusing instead on the philosophical and moral dilemmas they face in real-time.
Visual and Cinematographic Mastery
The visual design of The Platform 2 is as hauntingly bleak as its predecessor, maintaining the brutalist aesthetic that defined the first film. Director Galder Gaztelu-Urrutia returns to helm this sequel, ensuring a sense of continuity. Cinematographer Jon D. Domínguez further enhances the suffocating atmosphere of “The Pit” with stark lighting and monochromatic color palettes, occasionally punctuated by red, symbolizing blood and danger.
However, the sequel does introduce some new visual elements that differentiate it from the first movie. Notably, the introduction of the “Anointed Ones” — blind, cult-like leaders who enforce the prison’s brutal rules — adds a chilling religious overtone to the film. Their presence is amplified by the stark contrast between the dim, concrete surroundings and their zealously fanatic behavior.
Themes and Messages
At its core, The Platform 2 remains a searing indictment of human greed and the failure of societal structures meant to promote equality. However, where the original movie focused heavily on class and survival, this sequel delves into themes of control, law, and religious zealotry. The self-proclaimed “Anointed Ones” impose harsh punishments on those who violate the system, enforcing a twisted interpretation of fairness that mirrors extremist ideologies.
The film also explores how power corrupts even the best-intentioned systems. The prisoners, in their attempts to maintain order, inadvertently recreate the very cycles of oppression they sought to dismantle. The battle between the rigid authoritarianism of the “Anointed Ones” and the desperate cries for freedom parallels real-world struggles between control and liberty.
Comparing The Platform 2 to the Original
While The Platform thrived on its allegorical simplicity, The Platform 2 complicates the original’s message, for better or worse. The first film was a straightforward metaphor for capitalism, using the pit’s vertical structure as a visual representation of inequality. The sequel adds layers of religious symbolism, moral absolutism, and the dangers of zealotry, but at times, it feels overstuffed.
The pacing is noticeably faster than the original, which may work for some audiences but detracts from the slow-burn psychological tension that made the first movie so captivating. The addition of new rules and characters sometimes feels like it bogs down the raw simplicity that made The Platform such an unsettling experience.
Direction and Storytelling
Galder Gaztelu-Urrutia’s direction remains sharp, but the screenplay, co-written with David Desola, Egoitz Moreno, and Pedro Rivero, struggles to maintain the momentum of the original. While the philosophical debates are intellectually stimulating, the constant shifts in the movie’s metaphorical underpinnings can feel dizzying.
Where the first movie focused on Goreng’s moral journey, The Platform 2 spreads its focus among several characters and themes, which leads to a less cohesive narrative. That said, the film’s willingness to explore new ideas—even if they don’t always land—shows a level of ambition that should be commended.
Final Thoughts and Rating
The Platform 2 is a visually stunning and philosophically rich sequel that expands upon the original’s themes of survival, greed, and power. However, its more convoluted narrative, faster pacing, and over-reliance on religious symbolism dilute some of the sharp, focused commentary that made The Platform so effective.
While it doesn’t quite reach the heights of the original, it is still a compelling watch for fans of dystopian sci-fi and social commentary. If you enjoyed the first film, you’ll find much to ponder here, even if the sequel doesn’t quite match its predecessor’s intensity.
Watch The Platform 2 on Netflix now!
Watch Trailer on YouTube
Where to watch: The Platform 2 (2024)
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