Sam Raimi on how Doctor Strange lets viewers ‘build their own nightmare’

As the Marvel Cinematic Universe movie that starred arrogant wizard Stephen Strange, Doctor Strange, in the Multiverse of MadnessFilmed by an experienced horror filmmaker. For 2016’s Doctor StrangeIt is SinisterAnd Emily Rose and the Exorcism writer-director Scott Derrickson. This time around, it’s legendary director Sam Raimi, who, before he made history with the first Spider-Man trilogy, was widely known for his Evil Dead trilogy of horror movies, the wild comedy-horror Drag me to HellThe offbeat story of a superhero Darkman.

Multiverse of Madness Raimi brings his distinct sensibilities to a franchise that isn’t ordinarily all that interested in horror. In a brief interview just before the movie’s premiere, we asked Sam Raimi: What is it about Doctor Strange that makes him such a good fit for horror?

This interview was edited to be more concise and clear.

With the Spider-Man movies, you talked about your desire to connect with the characters’ humanity. Is that Stephen Strange?

Sam Raimi Well, I like the fact that he’s a flawed character, the way Benedict [Cumberbatch]How the Marvel films have presented him has been how he’s been represented. I like the fact that he’s a little proud, and his ego has grown. He’s the kind of guy that thinks he’s the only one that can do this job just precisely as it’s got to be done. He’s not really a team player. They are his flaws that connect the audience with his humanity. Even though they’re not admirable traits, it makes him human.

Scott Derrickson was a horror filmmaker, as is you. Why is Doctor Strange so compelling for horror filmmakers?

When he was a little boy, he read the comics. Strange would always fight — not just crooks and bad guys, but really spooky, magical forces that threatened either Earth or our universe. It was always an inherent part of comics. That was the only thing that made it unique. Batman might have had some, but it was this superhero who dealt with the more frightening aspects of life. Scott Derrickson probably had the same background as Scott, which likely helped him in creating his first Doctor Strange movie. My horror experience really assisted me in creating suspenseful scenes.

Is there anything that makes a Doctor Strange episode scary?

For myself, I think allowing the audience to use their imagination, giving them the proper seeds and tools to help build their own nightmare — allowing some area of the frame to be black or unknown, to let the audience use their own imagination in crafting the finished monster, so it’s a collaboration between director and audience in making the fear happen.

Particularly, your horror work with Evil Dead movies and Drag me to HellThis version of Doctor Strange can also be described as funny and a bit mean. Would you like to tap into this side of him?

It’s something Benedict has brought to the character, and I really enjoy it. He doesn’t suffer fools lightly. He doesn’t have patience for pretty much anybody else. That’s why the character of America Chavez, played by Xochitl Gomez, is a real breath of fresh air for the movie, because Doctor Strange really needs some slapping and some waking up. It is important for him to realize that his ego and insecurity are just facades. Doctor Strange is woken by her kindness. She helps him to be a little more open and less self-centered.

Doctor Strange, in the Multiverse of Madness It is currently playing in theatres