News regarding a sequel to Netflix’s cult sci-fi/horror film The Platform has elicited mixed reactions. The original film’s nightmarishly simple concept left many eager to further explore its world, although there were concerns about what additional content a sequel could offer.
However, it appears these concerns were unfounded. The Platform 2 effectively continues the grim tale introduced by Galder Gaztelu-Urrutia’s 2019 film, expanding on its brutalist universe while altering the rules enough to present a new message.
The setting remains the same: a vertical prison with cells stacked one atop another. Each cell features a rectangular hole, and daily, a platform laden with food descends from the top to the bottom of the prison. Each prisoner requests a specific meal prior to entering, and there is enough food for everyone—provided no one takes more than their share, which inevitably they do.
The Platform 2 expands upon this premise, introducing new characters, Perempuán (Milena Smit) and Zamiatin (Hovik Keuchkerian), during a period when prisoners have established a stringent set of rules to ensure equitable food distribution.
Despite the familiar oppressive setting and the sinister sounds that create the film’s atmosphere, the rules within the prison have evolved. As one character asserts, "the higher up you are, the more responsibility," signaling a prisoner-enforced system where individuals consume only what they have requested, or face severe punishment. This alteration, courtesy of the screenplay co-authored by David Desola, Pedro Rivero, Egoitz Moreno, and Gaztelu-Urrutia, revitalizes the franchise. The tension now arises not from understanding the prison, but from navigating the internally imposed system.
The Platform 2 mirrors the original in its depiction of humanity’s highs and lows. The script oscillates between moving and terrifying, while Gaztelu-Urrutia’s direction aptly captures this spectrum in the actors’ performances, which are both raw and believable. Production designer Azegiñe Urigoitia’s work remains a nightmarish masterpiece, complemented by Aitor Etxebarria’s haunting score, which unifies the film.
Viewers are advised caution as the sequel, much like its predecessor, contains disturbing and gory visuals unsuitable for mealtimes. However, the dialogue and performances remain compelling, with an underlying exploration of societal power structures as intricate as in the first film.
A character’s line, "We kill to build a future where no one will kill anyone. Only fear subdues beasts," underscores how a system aimed at fairness can quickly lapse into brutality. While creating a sequel to a unique and special original film is no easy task, The Platform 2 illustrates how it can be done effectively.
The Platform 2 is available for streaming on Netflix starting October 4.