What Is the Story About?
Following the events and proceedings of the 2019 hit Netflix outing ‘The Platform’, The Platform 2 places itself in the very same vertical prison-like brutal feeding system that follows a utopian trickle-down filter mechanism imposed by a mysterious leader.
However, as chaos and anarchy leeches onto humans’ survival instincts owing to brutal death-sentences for alleged law breakages, the inmates quickly transcend to implement Darwin’s survival of the fittest theory.
Performances?
The Platform 2 boasts of a strong cast where each role is believably performed despite shorter screen-time.
Milena Smit portrays Perempuan’s guilt, trauma, anger and redemption with ease. However, the writing doesn’t give her enough depth in comparison to Ivan Massague‘s Goreng in The Platform.
Hovik Keuchkerian’s Zamiatin deserved better writing and the actor served the best of his mettle in limited screen-time. Zorion Eguileor‘s Trimagasi makes a short cameo appearance in The Platform 2 and is undeniably the best thing about the film.
Analysis
Directed by Galder Gaztelu-Urrutia and written by a writing team comprising of David Desola, Pedro Rivero, Egoitz Moreno and Galder Gaztelu-Urrutia himself, The Platform 2 is a genre bending sci-fi thriller with a strong political messaging like its predecessor ‘The Platform’ (2019) – also directed by Galder Gaztelu-Urrutia – one of Netflix’s biggest non-English language successes.
The Platform 2 is also set in a large tower-style vertical self management center aka prison like setting where a trickle down feeding mechanism exists. The inmates (who have previously committed crimes or seek redemption) wake up on randomly shuffled levels every month and are supposed to survive on the leftover food their respective levels receive from the levels above.
Unlike ‘The Platform’ (2019), the sequel film seems to be set in a time-frame where there is an organised and just food distribution where each person is allowed to only consume the food he/she previously listed before entering the tower. This ensures that no inmate in any level starves as they follow the law laid out by a mysterious leader whose testament reflects selflessness and sacrifice.
However, like any system guided by any form of law – the tower’s functioning also collapses and anarchy thrives. Perempuan, an inmate who seeks redemption from a personal tragedy initially abides the law and later defends the law to ensure equality. But, when she’s brutally punished for an alleged law-break by barbarian leaders, she eventually rebels against the law and leads a brutal rebellion against the archaic and authoritarian law-watchdogs.
The Platform 2 is very repetitive in its screenplay. The stakes, conflicts, politics and concerns of the film mirrors the first film and terribly falls short in its novelty, intrigue and shock value. The Platform’s politics echoed amongst the audience considering the uncertain times of covid-19, and its execution was very original. The same cannot be said about The Platform 2 as there’s little to nothing new that escalates the stakes of the film.
The Platform 2’s main-cast is stellar, but none of their characters resonate with the audience. Their personal traumas and struggles find no footing in the sequel which serves as a prequel time-frame wise. The end-credits of the film is bound to blast your brains off while also lending a calculated clarity on the film’s messaging.
The Platform 2 lays out a strong social commentary on anarchy, authoritarianism and equality while affirming that any system is bound to be anarchic because human beings are its founding elements. While the second installment doesn’t provide a back-story to how it all began, it definitely hints at how it ends for everyone in the system and society at large.
To conclude, The Platform 2 falls short of expectations as it lacks the novelty and originality in comparison to the first film. The events and occurings of the second installment are similar and stakes are lower. Regardless, The Platform 2 can be watched by fans of the first film.
Music and Other Departments?
Unlike Aranzazu Calleja’s music and score for The Platform, Aitor Etxebarria’s music and score for The Platform 2 is less memorable. Jon D. Domínguez’s camera-work for the sequel is similar to the first film. The cinematography breaks no new grounds either with the framing or the lighting. However, the production design team does an appreciable job once again.
Highlights?
End Credits
Performances
Politics
Brutal brawls
Drawbacks?
Repetitive
Lack of novelty
Incomplete execution
Did I Enjoy It?
Yes, but in parts.
Will You Recommend It?
Yes, but with reservations. If you’ve liked The Platform, give the sequel (prequel timeline wise) a try. However the film falls short of expectations.
The Platform 2 Movie Review by Binged Bureau
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