The Perils of Platforming: A Dystopian Sequel That Fails to Deliver

When the original "The Platform" hit Netflix, it struck a chord with audiences, offering a chilling metaphor for the inequalities of capitalism. The film's simple yet powerful premise – a vertical prison where the upper levels feast while the lower levels starve – resonated deeply, especially during the pandemic when many were forced into isolation and reminded of the stark divide between the haves and the have-nots. So, when a sequel was announced, there was a glimmer of hope that the filmmakers could recapture the magic and deliver a thought-provoking continuation of the story. Alas, "The Platform 2" falls short, trading the original's primal simplicity for an overly complicated and muddled narrative that fails to capture the same level of impact.

A Dystopian Sequel That Misses the Mark

The Premise: A Flawed Attempt at Fairness

The sequel picks up with a new set of protagonists, Perempuan (Milena Smit) and Zamiatan (Hovik Keuchkerian), who find themselves on level 24 of the vertical prison. The inmates have devised a "fair" system – they can only eat the meals they've requested, and they're not allowed to consume the food of those who have perished. However, as Zamiatan begins to break the rules and indulge in the meals of the deceased, the cracks in this system start to show.

A Shift to the Bureaucratic

The first half of the film maintains the same bleak and unsettling atmosphere as the original, with the characters' struggles on the lower levels serving as a chilling reminder of the harsh realities of the system. However, the plot takes a turn for the worse in the second half, as the focus shifts from the primal struggle for survival to a more bureaucratic and convoluted narrative.

The Enforcers and the Ambiguous Rebellion

The introduction of the "loyalists," a group of enforcers tasked with maintaining the prison's rules, adds an additional layer of complexity to the story. Their motives and the nature of the rebellion they are fighting against are never fully explained, leaving the audience to grapple with a series of unanswered questions. Is the prison floating in space? Or is it in some sort of hellish dimension? What exactly is Perempuan's crime? The film becomes bogged down by these unresolved plot points, making it increasingly difficult for the audience to invest in the characters or the stakes at hand.

A Muddled Attempt at Allegory

The original "The Platform" succeeded in its simplicity, using the vertical prison as a powerful metaphor for the inequalities of capitalism and the "trickle-down" economic system. In the sequel, however, the filmmakers seem to have tried to layer on additional political and social allegories, resulting in a muddled and overly complex narrative that fails to deliver the same level of impact.

Underdeveloped Characters and Lack of Empathy

One of the most significant shortcomings of "The Platform 2" is the lack of character development and the inability to generate empathy for the protagonists. With the majority of the characters being one-dimensional and lacking depth, it becomes increasingly difficult for the audience to care about their fates or to fully engage with the film's themes.

A Disappointing Sequel and a Cautionary Tale

In the end, "The Platform 2" fails to live up to the promise of its predecessor. The film's attempt to expand the narrative and explore additional themes ultimately backfires, resulting in a convoluted and unsatisfying sequel that lacks the primal power and social commentary of the original. As the director expresses interest in continuing the "Platform-verse," one can only hope that any future installments will learn from the missteps of this sequel and return to the core elements that made the first film so compelling.