The Platform 2 expands on the premise of the original film, but it smartly decides to leave the series’ key question a mystery. The platform original came to Netflix in 2019, with the story set in a hellish prison dubbed a “vertical self-management center.” The film was an impactful yet powerful metaphor for capitalism and the unfair distribution of wealth in society. The end of The Platform left many questions unanswered, but it also felt like that was the point.
A new cast of characters are introduced in The Platform 2 – although some familiar faces also make surprise appearances. The sequel from returning director Galder Gaztelu-Urrutia is even more gruesome and dark than the first entry, as new resident/prisoner Perempuan (Milena Smit) must quickly adapt to life within the Vertical Self-Management Center. The ending of Platform 2 will once again leave viewers with questions, although it at least expands on the fate of the original’s protagonist, Goreng (Iván Massagué).
Platform 2 still keeps the origin and purpose of the prison a mystery
The story behind the Vertical Self-Management Center is not revealed
Custom image by Yeider Chacon.
The Platform gave the audience plenty to ponder once the credits rolled, including the fate of the young girl Goreng saved in the final moments. One thing he deliberately kept vague was the purpose of the Vertical Self-Management Center itself. Apart from the interview scenes or the montages of chefs preparing food for the platform, the story takes place entirely within the prison itself. The film never reveals who built this place or why, and although The Platform 2 opens up the subject a little more, the origin of the vast tower still remains a mystery.
It would have been obvious for the sequel to pull back the curtain even further on the Administration and explain why they built such a nightmarish place. Logically, it must be some sort of social experiment, one of which the authorities want to see how different classes of people react to the unique conditions inside. This is of course just conjecture, since The Platform 2 is smart in leaving this part of the franchise a question mark.
Platform 2 co-star Natalia Tena is best known for her role as the wildling Osha on Game of Thrones.
Concrete answers on the platform’s prison would only be disappointing
Platform 3 shouldn’t explain the mystery either
Time will tell if The Platform 2 is enough of a success to spawn another sequel, but the film doesn’t overtly lay the groundwork for a third chapter. While some might be disappointed that the second film doesn’t reveal more about the Vertical Self-Management Center, any definitive answer would only be disappointing. Either this is exactly what the theory claims it to be – a twisted experiment carried out by a sinister government – or it is something stranger in its origin.
A future Platform sequel explaining that the prison was actually built by aliens or that it really is Hell would only take away from the mysteries of the franchise.
The lack of answers is part of the problem with both Platform films and leaves people filling in the spaces on their own. A future sequel explaining that the prison was actually built by aliens or that it really is Hell would only take away from this. An angle that a third platform could potentially explore is the existence of other vertical self-management centers in different countries, but again, a level of ambiguity as to their purpose should be maintained.
