My favorite Netflix film just got a sequel - and this dark thriller is just as delicious as the first

Not every film needs a sequel. As much as I loved The Platform when it hit Netflix in early 2020, the sci-fi thriller felt like the quintessential one-and-done movie. When a sequel was subsequently announced, I had mixed feelings.

Fast forward to now and The Platform 2 has arrived on Netflix, and after taking a trip back into the pit myself (Side note: I decided to watch during breakfast. Not recommended.), it's a big one for me I'm happy to say that “The Platform 2” delivers exactly what I expected from a sequel, cleverly building on its predecessor.

The film has some weaknesses, such as being too ambiguous in the third act, but The Platform 2 looks set to gain cult status and become a real gem in Netflix's growing international film library. That's why it's a filling meal that I would order again.

“The Platform 2” sidestepped my biggest fear

The Platform 2 | Official Trailer | Netflix-YouTube

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Going into The Platform 2, my biggest fear was that the film wouldn't justify its own existence.

For those who need a refresher on the first film, “The Platform 2” is once again set in a 333-story high-rise prison known as “The Pit.” Every day, a floating platform of food descends through the floor and inmates stuff their faces for two minutes. Those on the upper floors enjoy a feast while those below live on leftover food.

Going into this sequel, I was concerned that The Platform may have stretched this very intriguing core concept as far as it could go. Through the eyes of the first film's protagonist, Goreng (Iván Massagué), humanity's selfish nature is observed, and we see the prison from several floors (inmates are randomly moved between floors monthly). I just didn't know if there was still a way to make it work – how was The Platform 2 going to stop it from seeming boring?

Key art for

(Image credit: Netflix)

In The Platform 2, the pit is essentially the same, but instead of the oppressive establishment changing, it's the people who have evolved. A group within the prison has begun enforcing a new system in which inmates only take a single piece of food out of the platform that they asked for when they were thrown into the pit.

Those who break this rule and take more than their fair share will be swiftly punished. Our new protagonists Perempuan (Milena Smit) and Zamiatin (Hovik Keuchkerian) quickly become familiar with these “laws” and become enforcers of the rules themselves, trying to give the skeptics a fairer livelihood in this hellish place. The prisoners didn't follow them.

A red statue of Milena Smit sitting on a bed

(Image credit: Netflix)

This moves The Platform 2 from being about a single main character struggling to survive in a system that encourages self-preservation, but instead allows the sequel to comment more broadly on what happens when a group of people get together joins together to strive for a better society overall. This slight change ensures that “The Platform 2” remains exciting, even when it explores the same location as before.

This sequel is definitely for the fans

It's fair to say that if you didn't like The Platform, you won't like this sequel. If you haven't seen the first movie, don't even try to watch this one first. “The Platform 2” makes no concessions to newcomers and is designed more as a sequel. There are dozens of callbacks and references here.

(LR) Milena Smit as Perempuan and Hovik Keuchkerian as Zamiatin in

(Image credit: Netflix)

The Platform 2 can be pretty gross at times, not to mention extremely violent, but it's all in service of the story. While his criticism of our capitalist society is hardly subtle, it has merit, and viewers who think about a film's deeper themes will enjoy unraveling everything contained within The Platform 2. Just don't expect to get an answer to every question, there are plenty of plot points left open.

Another area where The Platform 2 shines is the characters. The first film focused on The Pit itself and its inhabitants seemed a little thinly sketched, but the sequel can take the extra time to develop the flawed people at the center of the twisted tale. That doesn't mean that the characters are all likable, but at least they are all well implemented.

Hovik Keuchkerian as Zamiatin in

(Image credit: Netlfix)

Meanwhile, returning director Galder Gaztelu-Urrutia does an excellent job behind the camera, transporting viewers into this dystopian setting. Of course, the increasingly surreal and strange third act will turn off some viewers, but if you're able to accept the madness and not take every scene at face value, “The Platform 2” will hold your attention from beginning to bittersweet end moments.

You need to stream The Platform 2 on Netflix

The Platform 2 won't be for everyone – I've already seen early reviews accusing the film of having nothing to say or simply being too ambiguous for its own good – but it managed to impress me , building on the core narrative of its predecessor, but retaining most of what excited me about the first installment.

The dark subject matter and off-putting aspects (I can't blame anyone for feeling uncomfortable with scenes of people stuffing their faces with half-chewed food scraps) probably mean it won't grab the attention of every Netflix subscriber. However, if you find the original film captivating, this sequel will satisfy your hunger as well.

If The Platform 2 isn't quite to your taste, check out the full list Movies and series being added to Netflix this month including Anna Kendrick's new flick “Woman of the hour”which seems to offer just as much thrill as The Platform 2, but without the food fight.

Electricity “The Platform 2” on Netflix Now

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On October 6, 2024 By John Fenwick

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My favorite Netflix film just got a sequel – and this dark thriller is just as delicious as the first

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