The sequel to the hit Netflix dystopian thriller The Platform, aptly titled The Platform 2, has now been unleashed and has quickly topped the global streaming charts (via FlixPatrol). While audiences are clearly tuning in for another bite of this Spanish sci-fi horror series, the critical response has been a little more unsavory, with The Platform 2 now sitting at a divisive 50% on the review aggregator site Rotten Tomatoes, with just 25% from audiences on the “Popcornmeter.”
So, what are the critics saying about our return to the “Vertical Self-Management Center” prison, a brutal system which sees a platform of food work its way down different levels. Pro tip, don’t find yourself at the bottom. Robert Daniels of RogerEbert.com gave the sequel just 1.5/4, and sees no reason why a follow-up was needed.
“Within the first half an hour of director Galder Gaztelu-Urrutia’s “The Platform 2,” it’s apparent that this return is indeed a grave error.”
David Ehrlich of IndieWire scores The Platform 2 a (passing) grade of C+. For context, the first movie stands at 81% on Rotten Tomatoes, with Ehrlich calling the sequel a “dull and delirious sludge.”
“The Platform 2 descends into a dull and delirious sludge of color gels, religious iconography, and head-scratching callbacks, none of which are even half as interesting as the basic premise of the plot they’re all working so hard to dilute.”
Next up is Jesse Hassenger of The Guardian, who gives The Platform 2 just 2/5 and felt that the follow-up failed to do anything further with the concept.
“Gaztelu-Urrutia seems to be regarding his own concept from level 0, treating it as a frantic all-you-can-eat buffet that may be snatched away at any moment.”
Some Critics Enjoyed Having Sci-Fi Horror Seconds
Of course, a rating of 50% means some critics must have liked it. One such critic is Witney Seibold of Slashfilm who commended the sequel for making things more “personal.”
“”The Platform 2″ doesn’t expand on the first’s themes of class and ill-begotten resource allocation, but it does, at the very least, tell the story in a slightly more personal way.”
Marco Vito Oddo of We Got This Covered found a lot to enjoy in this extension of the gripping and unique dystopian concept.
“‘The Platform 2’ revisits the Pit and its grim perspective on human nature, emphasizing religious metaphors over economic ones. However, the sequel amplifies its predecessor’s cryptic narrative, pushing the boundaries of audience engagement.”
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The Platform director Galder Gaztelu-Urrutia returns to helm the sequel, which introduces a new cast of unlucky characters played by Milena Smit (The Snow Girl), Hovik Keuchkerian (Money Heist), Natalia Tena (Game of Thrones), and Óscar Jaenada (Luis Miguel: The Series) who find themselves trapped and at the mercy of the titular platform. You can check out the official synopsis below.
“As a mysterious leader imposes their rule in the Platform, a new resident becomes embroiled in the battle against this controversial method to fight the brutal feeding system. But when eating from the wrong plate becomes a death sentence, how far would you be willing to go to save your life?”
The Platform 2 is now streaming on Netflix.