Close Menu
  • Login
  • Support Us
  • Newsletter
  • News
  • Features
  • Interviews
  • Reviews
    • Video Games
      • Previews
      • PC
      • PS5
      • Xbox Series X/S
      • Nintendo Switch
      • Xbox One
      • PS4
      • Tabletop
    • Film
    • TV
    • Anime
    • Comics
      • BOOM! Studios
      • Dark Horse Comics
      • DC Comics
      • IDW Publishing
      • Image Comics
      • Indie Comics
      • Marvel Comics
      • Oni-Lion Forge
      • Valiant Comics
      • Vault Comics
  • Podcast
  • More
    • Event Coverage
    • BWT Recommends
    • RSS Feeds
Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
Support Us
But Why Tho?
RSS Facebook X (Twitter) YouTube
Trending:
  • Features
    EA Sports Madden NFL 26 Head Coach But Why Tho 5

    Dear EA Sports, Why Can’t I Make A Hot Coach?

    08/14/2025
    Blade in Marvel Rivals Season 3.5

    Blade Can Shut Down The Other Team In Marvel Rivals Season 3.5 If You Know How

    08/08/2025
    John Cena and Cody Rhodes during Summerslam 2025

    The SummerSlam 2025 Main Event Was A Fever Dream We All Needed

    08/08/2025
    Street Fighter 6 Sagat

    Sagat Brings Depth And Approachability To ‘Street Fighter 6’

    08/07/2025
    Battlefield 6 Classes - Support trailer image

    Battlefield 6 Really Wants You To Play Support (But Knows You Won’t)

    07/31/2025
  • Indie Games
  • K-Dramas
  • Netflix
  • Apple TV+
But Why Tho?
Home » Film » REVIEW: ‘The Platform 2’ Fails To Ascend

REVIEW: ‘The Platform 2’ Fails To Ascend

Sarah MusnickyBy Sarah Musnicky10/06/20244 Mins Read
The Platform 2
Share
Facebook Twitter Pinterest Reddit WhatsApp Email

The Platform (El Hoyo) was one of the most gripping films to stream during the 2020 lockdowns. With its multilayered symbolism surrounding societal structures and human nature, ambiguity, and impactful performances, director Galder Gaztelu-Urrutia‘s dystopian thriller easily resonates. The arrival of the sequel, The Platform 2, raises the question of whether there’s anything new or exciting to add to the world of its film universe. Instead, we get a retread of familiar territory and a much weaker film.

Not much has changed regarding the premise or rules of the world. Each prisoner requests the food they choose to consume each day while trapped on their level. Each person must only eat their food item. If they eat the food of their comrades or the dead, they will be punished. If any food is left behind in their cell, they risk death. The inclusion of the “Anointed Ones” adds a layer to an otherwise familiar set-up, but their involvement later on rings hollow as they crack down on the rules.

Get BWT in your inbox!

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter and get the latest and greated in entertainment coverage.
Click Here

Get BWT in your inbox!

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter and get the latest and greated in entertainment coverage.
Click Here

The first 30 minutes of The Platform 2 reiterate the prison rules in the most gratuitous form of info dumping. This time, there is no attempt at mystery or ambiguity. Gaztelu-Urrutia and co-writers David Desola, Pedro Rivero, and Egoitz Moreno forgo that entirely, delivering information with minimal finesse.  The rules are upheld through escalated violence and Robospierre’s (Bastien Ughetto) primary existence to verbal diarrhea everything newcomers Perempuán (Milena Smit) and Zamiatin (Hovik Keuchkerian) need to know to survive.

Despite a rocky start, the relationship between Perempuán and Zamiatin evolves into something sweet. It’s refreshing to see platonic partnering against grim circumstances between different genders, and their bond proves to be the strongest part of The Platform 2. It plants the seed of Perempuán’s resistance to the system in place but also shows a remarking depth and range to Zamiatin. From beginning to end, Zamiatin turns out to be the complete opposite of how we’re meant to perceive him, and when the two are separated, it is soul-crushing.

The Platform 2

Once The Platform 2 dives into the concept of the “Anointed Ones” and its leader, Dagan Babi (Óscar Jaenada), it loses ground. Not even Natalia Tena‘s performance introducing the horrors of what he and his lot inflict can stir intrigue. Toeing the line between justice and villainy, Babi should be a compelling enough character. Yet, little is done to explore, dulling his entrance and actions to the point of forgetability.

The arrival of one key figure from the previous film shakes things up but isn’t wholly necessary. The Platform 2 was initially meant to be a sequel, not a prequel. Including a surprise character in execution is a lazy attempt to flesh out some connection to the first film. At best, it’s a meager Easter egg. At worst, it is baffling, especially since nothing new regarding that character in question is added or expanded upon.

Graded against itself, The Platform 2 runs into a pitfall of issues. From telling instead of showing to struggling to craft characters to connect with to the third act’s evolution into the metaphysical, it fails to capture what made the original film so impactful. It whimpers in its attempts to journey into the depths of purgatory the occupants find themselves in. Unfortunately, whimpering cannot convey intended messages when muddied out by the rebellious screams onscreen, getting lost in its proverbial sauce.

Comparing it to The Platform, its prequel is even less subtle than its predecessor in its attempts to explore societal breakdown, individual influence on change, and its interpretation of purgatory and hell. Gone are the nearly exalted look and feel of the platform’s dishes, rendering its symbolism mute in an otherwise hopeless predicament. Assuming viewers have already seen the first film, the exposition dump at the beginning cuts the mystery of the facility at the throat, leaving the otherworldliness out the window. It is a pale imitation.

The Platform 2 fails to ascend past its predecessor, retreading familiar territory and forgoing the benefits of delicious ambiguity for heavy-handed exposition. The lack of character development makes it difficult to connect or care. Ultimately, what was once an intriguing premise has now been rendered both convoluted and stale.

Platform 2 is streaming now on Netflix.

  • 4/10
    Rating - 4/10
4/10

TL;DR

The Platform 2 fails to ascend past its predecessor, retreading familiar territory and forgoing the benefits of delicious ambiguity for heavy-handed exposition.

Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn WhatsApp Reddit Email
Previous ArticleREVIEW: ‘My Hero Academia’ Episode 158 — “A Girl’s Ego”
Next Article REVIEW: ‘Starfield: Shattered Space’ Is A Satisfying Ride (XSX)
Sarah Musnicky

Sarah is a writer and editor for BWT. When she's not busy writing about KDramas, she's likely talking to her cat. She's also a Rotten Tomatoes Certified critic and a published author of both fiction and non-fiction.

Related Posts

Madelyn Cline and KJ Apa in The Map That Leads to You
8.0

REVIEW: ‘The Map That Leads To You’ Is YA Romance Done Right

08/19/2025
Lurker promotional still from MUBI

REVIEW: ‘Lurker’ Probes The Intoxication Of Fame

08/19/2025
The Knife (2025) promotional still
7.0

REVIEW: ‘The Knife’ Is Simple And Too Much At The Same Time

08/17/2025
Still from Shin Godzilla
8.5

REVIEW: ‘Shin Godzilla’ Is More Relevant Than Ever

08/16/2025
Fixed promotional key art from Netflix Animation
6.0

REVIEW: ‘Fixed’ Is Top-Notch Animation But Bottom Of The Barrel Comedy

08/15/2025
Denzel Washington Highest 2 Lowest
7.0

REVIEW: ‘Highest 2 Lowest’ Has A Ton Of Fun Missing It’s Own Points

08/15/2025

Get BWT in your inbox!

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter and get the latest and greated in entertainment coverage.
Click Here
TRENDING POSTS
Still from Shin Godzilla
8.5
Film

REVIEW: ‘Shin Godzilla’ Is More Relevant Than Ever

By Sarah Musnicky08/16/2025Updated:08/17/2025

It is understandable how Shin Godzilla succeeded at the box office nearly a decade ago. The strength of its story still stands today.

Botanical Bliss Update Palia But Why Tho 5 News

Palia’s New Botanical Bliss Update Brings New Flora, Decorations, And Quest Mechanic

By Matt Donahue08/18/2025Updated:08/18/2025

The Botanical Bliss update adds new event, more plushes, and a host of quality-of-life improvements and more to celebrate 2 years of Palia.

BOOTS Netflix First Look promotional images News

First Look at Coming-of-Age Story BOOTS, Coming to Netflix This October

By But Why Tho?08/17/2025

Netflix is reporting for duty this fall with the new eight-episode series BOOTS, a comedic drama starring Miles Heizer and Vera Farmiga

Nuestra Magia Secret Lair Art Interviews

EXCLUSIVE: How The ‘Nuestra Magia’ Secret Lair Found Its Identity And Raised Over $1M

By Kate Sánchez08/15/2025Updated:08/15/2025

We spoke with Ovidio Cartagena about Magic: The Gathering’s Nuestra Magia Secret Lair drop, its impact, and the real treasure within.

But Why Tho?
Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram Pinterest RSS YouTube Twitch
  • CONTACT US
  • ABOUT US
  • PRIVACY POLICY
  • SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER
  • Review Score Guide
Sometimes we include links to online retail stores. If you click on one and make a purchase we may receive a small contribution.
Written Content is Copyright © 2025 But Why Tho? A Geek Community

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.

But Why Tho Logo

Support Us!

We're able to keep making content thanks to readers like YOU!
Support independent media today with
Click Here