‘The Platform 2’ Netflix Movie Review - A Deep Dive into an Empty Well

Watching The Platform 2 is like walking into a second date after an amazing first one, only to discover the charm and mystery have evaporated. The first Platform was gripping—claustrophobic, tense, an allegory on class struggle that struck a chord during its release. The Platform 2, however, feels like it's stuck repeating its predecessor’s grim vibes without offering much new to chew on. Let’s get the positives out of the way first. Director Galder Gaztelu-Urrutia certainly knows how to create a visual experience, especially in making this bleak, minimalist world feel oppressive. The claustrophobic setting of the vertical prison remains powerful, even if its wow factor has diminished. Cinematography-wise, the film works. There's enough slime, grunge, and muted colors to make you think the movie itself might have crawled up from the dregs of some industrial sinkhole. The production design remains nightmarishly grim, perfectly matching the film’s nihilistic tone. I’ll give them that.

But plot? Well, imagine you order your favorite meal, but the restaurant has gotten lazy, slapped on some stale garnish, and served it cold. Perempuan, our protagonist, floats through the chaos without much emotional depth, making it hard to root for her survival. She spends most of the film looking lost, and frankly, I was right there with her. If the goal was to channel an existential crisis, mission accomplished—but as a lead, she’s more blank slate than a compelling character. We get a lot of religious and philosophical hand-waving, but it all ends up feeling like vague symbolism thrown at the screen without purpose.

Speaking of vague symbolism, the movie is obsessed with it. From religious allegories about sin and redemption to half-hearted references to current political climates, it’s like someone threw every metaphor they could think of into a blender. The result? A smoothie of confusion. Are we talking about systemic oppression, or did the writers just need an excuse for a bunch of gory death scenes? The first film was clear in its message—eat or be eaten. The Platform 2 drowns in its own attempt to say something profound, only to deliver a mess that even its characters can’t navigate.

Let’s talk villains. In the first film, the true villain was the system itself—a faceless, inescapable force that pitted inmates against one another. In The Platform 2, we get Loyalists and a blind figure named Dagin Babi. These antagonists are supposed to represent law and order, but their motives are muddier than the sludgy visuals. Why are they so hellbent on maintaining this prison's brutal order? Who knows. We get the sense that there’s some sort of divine or messianic element at play, but like much else in this film, it feels more like set dressing than actual narrative depth.

The pacing? Oof. The film drags, often confusing slow-burn tension with simply wasting time. What was once a thrilling descent into madness now feels like a tired plod down a repetitive, grimy staircase. It’s less "What’s going to happen next?" and more "Can something—anything—happen, please?" There are still grotesque set-pieces and violent confrontations, but they lack the punch of the first movie. By the time the inevitable carnage unfolds, it feels less like a climactic moment and more like an obligatory scene, just there to tick the “violence” box on the checklist.

I also need to address the ending, because wow, what a tacky attempt at closure. In what seems like a desperate grab at tying both films together, The Platform 2 tosses in a post-credit scene that feels as ham-fisted as it is unnecessary. It’s like when a band does an encore nobody asked for, and instead of playing their greatest hit, they go for some obscure B-side no one remembers.

Still, for all its flaws, The Platform 2 isn’t without merit. If you’re in the mood for something grotesque, with enough philosophical seasoning to make you feel like you’re watching something deep, it’ll scratch that itch. But let’s be honest, this sequel is the equivalent of reheating last night’s leftovers. It might still taste good, but it’s never going to hit the way the fresh meal did.

In the end, The Platform 2 is what happens when you take a bold, original concept and try to stretch it out beyond its natural lifespan. It’s a sequel that, while technically competent, feels like it’s grasping for a reason to exist. I wouldn’t say it’s a total waste of time—but it’s close. Save this one for when you’re in the mood for something mildly existential, and you don’t mind if it leaves you with more questions than answers.

Final Score- [5/10]
Reviewed by - Anjali Sharma
Follow @AnjaliS54769166 on Twitter
Publisher at Midgard Times