While the objective may have changed, the brutality stays the same…
On Netflix today, The Platform 2 drops us back into the morally ambiguous and brutal social arguments presented from the first film as it reminds us that while things will always be changing, human nature pretty much stays the same.
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 film with co-writer/director Galder Gaztelu-Urrutia wastes little time dropping us back into the cold and brutal setting of the Platform that seemingly never ends but sets us up with a twist. It’s only about eating the food you ordered this time, not about only eating what you need and it’s up to the prisoner’s to monitor themselves for fear of a new “divine” leadership that is imposing its will on the population of the platform.
To his credit, Gaztelu-Urrutia doesn’t hit us with any unexpected or unnecessary narrative exposition as we get back into the universe but with the extra doubling down on the idea of civil solidarity we aren’t necessarily getting into anything all that new. If anything this second installment lacks the grotesque satirical nature of the uncertainty of the first film. The rules here are much more defined as we do get some overlap in the cast to make this feel like its one set up and no one has truly left the Platform.
Given the five year gap between the first and second films it’s not hard to think that this feels more like a sequel then it maybe wanted to. This film relies on the original material and almost works a little better when you think of them happening concurrently. Watching Platform and the The Platform 2 back to back, actually may make for a much more effective emotional experience as this universe brings up serious dystopian and heady themes that need to be firmly planted in your head.
Milena Smit as Perempuan is a solid lead and helps carry the brutality and the action in this universe pretty easily but the nature of the script that drops us straight into the dystopian argument and situation of the film distracts us from actually getting all that invested in any of our characters that we meet outside of the first 30 min of the film.
Ultimately, The Platform 2 still works as a cold glimpse of how easy it is to make a society breakdown but it forgot to allow us to get emotionally invested in this grim dystopian journey which just means we’re probably more inclined as a species to repeat our mistakes rather than learn from them.
David Voigt is a Toronto based writer with a problem and a passion for the moving image and all things cinema. Having moved from production to the critical side of the aisle for well over 15 years now at outlets like Examiner.com, Criticize This, Dork Shelf (Now That Shelf), and to.Night Newspaper.
He’s been all across the continent; serving on the FIPRESCI Jury at the Festival Du Nouveau Cinema in Montreal, covering festivals out side of Toronto like Calgary Underground Film Festival, CUFF Docs, Slamdance, Fantasia, SXSW, DOC NYC, Santa Barbara Film Festival, New York Asian Film Festival and many others
However, In the uncertain world of modern film journalism, David also knew that he needed to have a hand in writing and cementing his own contributions on the global film scene.
Having eclipsed the 10 year anniversary of his own outlet, In The Seats, where he’s been striving to support film (and TV) from all walks of life and his podcast “In The Seats With…” where after 5 & ½ years and over 750 episodes he’s talked with a wide variety of filmmakers, actors, behind the scenes artisans and so much more on the art of storytelling for the screen, which is spawning the launch of a new show in the Spring of 2026. “ITS: Soundtracks” will focus on the use of soundtrack and score in film which he believes is a combination that is the cinematic equivalent of Peanut Butter and Chocolate.
All this as well as hosting and moderating a variety of big screen events around the city, covering film in all its forms is just a way of life for him.
Four Cold Walls: Our Review of ‘The Platform 2’ on Netflix
While the objective may have changed, the brutality stays the same…
On Netflix today, The Platform 2 drops us back into the morally ambiguous and brutal social arguments presented from the first film as it reminds us that while things will always be changing, human nature pretty much stays the same.
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 film with co-writer/director Galder Gaztelu-Urrutia wastes little time dropping us back into the cold and brutal setting of the Platform that seemingly never ends but sets us up with a twist. It’s only about eating the food you ordered this time, not about only eating what you need and it’s up to the prisoner’s to monitor themselves for fear of a new “divine” leadership that is imposing its will on the population of the platform.
To his credit, Gaztelu-Urrutia doesn’t hit us with any unexpected or unnecessary narrative exposition as we get back into the universe but with the extra doubling down on the idea of civil solidarity we aren’t necessarily getting into anything all that new. If anything this second installment lacks the grotesque satirical nature of the uncertainty of the first film. The rules here are much more defined as we do get some overlap in the cast to make this feel like its one set up and no one has truly left the Platform.
Given the five year gap between the first and second films it’s not hard to think that this feels more like a sequel then it maybe wanted to. This film relies on the original material and almost works a little better when you think of them happening concurrently. Watching Platform and the The Platform 2 back to back, actually may make for a much more effective emotional experience as this universe brings up serious dystopian and heady themes that need to be firmly planted in your head.
Milena Smit as Perempuan is a solid lead and helps carry the brutality and the action in this universe pretty easily but the nature of the script that drops us straight into the dystopian argument and situation of the film distracts us from actually getting all that invested in any of our characters that we meet outside of the first 30 min of the film.
Ultimately, The Platform 2 still works as a cold glimpse of how easy it is to make a society breakdown but it forgot to allow us to get emotionally invested in this grim dystopian journey which just means we’re probably more inclined as a species to repeat our mistakes rather than learn from them.