Like the previous Marvel Cinematic Universe film starring the arrogant wizard Stephen Strange, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is directed by a filmmaker with an established horror presence. For 2016 Doctor Strangeit was Sinister and The Exorcism of Emily Rose Writer and director Scott Derrickson. This time it’s legendary director Sam Raimi who, before making history with the first Spider-Man trilogy, was widely known for his Evil Dead horror film trilogy, the wild horror comedy drag me to helland the Fancy Superhero Story dark man.
In multiverse of madness, Raimi brings his keen sensibilities to a franchise that isn’t typically too keen on horror. In a brief interview just before the film’s premiere, we asked Sam Raimi: What makes Doctor Strange such a horror filmmaker?
This interview has been edited for clarity and conciseness.
With the Spider-Man films, you’ve spoken about your desire to connect with the humanity of the characters. Where do you find that in Stephen Strange?
Sam Raimi: Well, I like the fact that he’s a flawed character, like Benedict [Cumberbatch] portrayed him and how the Marvel films presented him. I like the fact that he’s a bit proud and his ego has grown. He’s the guy who thinks he’s the only one who can do this job exactly the way it needs to be done. He’s not really a team player. Through these mistakes, the audience connects with their humanity. While not admirable traits, it makes him human.
Both you and your predecessor Scott Derrickson come from the horror field. What makes Doctor Strange so compelling, especially for a horror filmmaker?
As a child, Dr. Strange the comics and always fought – not just crooks and villains, but really scary, magical forces that threatened either the earth or our universe. And so it’s always been a natural element of comics. And that was unique. Maybe B atman had a bit of that, but outside of horror comics, this was the superhero that dabbled in things that were a little scary. With the background that Scott Derrickson had, it probably helped him a lot to create that first good Doctor Strange film. And my background in horror helped me a lot with the exciting sequences.
So what makes a good scary Doctor Strange sequence?
For myself, I think allowing the audience to use their imagination, giving them the right seeds and tools to build their own nightmare – allowing an area of the frame to be black or unknown, allowing the audience to use their own imagination ready-made monster, so it’s a collaboration between director and audience to make the fear come true.
Her horror work in particular with the Evil Dead films and drag me to hell, can be characterized as a bit mean and comedic, which also describes this version of Doctor Strange. Did you want to lean into that aspect of him?
It’s something that Benedict brought to the character and I’m really enjoying it. He doesn’t easily suffer from fools. He has no patience for just about anyone else. So the character of America Chavez, played by Xochitl Gomez, is a real breath of fresh air for the film, because Doctor Strange really needs a few slaps and a bit of a wake-up call. He needs to realize that this whole ego thing is really just a facade for his insecurity. And she wakes him up, she helps Doctor Strange make a little movement to become a little more open, a little less proud, more willing to believe that others could do a good job, not just him.
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is in cinemas now.
