Netflix enthusiasts are eagerly awaiting the release of The Platform 2 later this week, a sequel that has audiences on edge as they anticipate the next chapter of the gripping narrative.
Netflix’s official synopsis teases: “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.”
It provocatively asks viewers: “But when eating from the wrong plate becomes a death sentence, how far would you be willing to go to save your life?”
Following on from the original cult hit The Platform, which saw a striking debut in Spanish cinemas in 2019 and made waves globally on Netflix, the upcoming installment promises to captivate with a star-studded lineup including the likes of Milena Smit from The Snow Girl, Money Heist standout Hovik Keuchkerian, Game of Thrones alumni Natalia Tena, and Oscar Jaenada known for his role in Luis Miguel: The Series.
With its October 4 release date around the corner, we dive into the ending of The Platform. But a word of caution, MASSIVE SPOILERS ARE COMING.
How did The Platform end?
In a bold end to Galder Gaztelu-Urrutia’s film, the pivotal twist coupled with intense cliffhangers sets the stage perfectly for the anticipated follow-up, reports the Mirror.
Set within the grim reality of a futuristically dismal penitentiary comprising a relentless hierarchy of two prisoner cells, the closing scenes trace Goreng (portrayed by Ivan Massague) and Baharat (played by Emilio Buale) as they daringly attempt to bestow equitable shares of food to the facility’s depths – a decision that brings them face-to-face with ferocious backlash that almost spells their doom.
In a pivotal moment, one inmate suggests that their mission might gain traction if they send a single food item – panna cotta in this case – to the top level as a symbol of their cause.
However, as they descend further, their cause seems increasingly futile, until they stumble upon a glimmer of hope: Miharu’s (Alexandra Masangkay) long-lost daughter, who has been hiding on the bottom floor all along.
After Baharat succumbs to a fatal wound, Goreng takes her down below the 333rd level, from where the platform is sent back up. He initially planned to ride back up with the girl, until a vision of the slain Trimagasi (Zorion Eguileor) informs Goreng that his “journey is over”.
He walks away from the platform into the sinister unknown with Trimagasi as the sleeping child ascends to the top floor before the credits roll.
What does the end of The Platform mean?
The film’s ending and what it represents metaphorically has been a point of discussion amongst horror film buffs, as they try to decipher what should be trusted as real or imaginary.
The Platform’s bittersweet ending, despite its bleak tone, leaves us with plenty of questions.
According to CinemaBlend, Goreng’s “mission to bring Miharu’s child to the top could successfully put an end to The Pit’s dehumanizing experiment. However, it also sealed his fate, which is made apparent to me by his final stroll alongside his dead former cellmate”.
While the film doesn’t reveal the result of his sacrifice, it leaves audiences with a glimmer of hope after witnessing numerous brutal scenes.
The publication also suggests that The Pit, the prison where The Platform takes place, could symbolise contemporary capitalism.
Drawing comparisons to Dante’s Inferno, The Platform appears to be a socio-economic allegory, illustrating how individuals can randomly succeed or fail based on their position in the economic hierarchy.
However, the crucial question still lingers: did Goreng’s sacrifice ultimately make a difference?
Fans hope to find out more in the sequel, The Platform 2, which is coming to Netflix on October 4.