WARNING: The following contains spoilers for What If...? Season 1, Episode 4, "What If… Doctor Strange Lost His Heart Instead of His Hands?" streaming now on Disney+.
The Marvel Cinematic Universe has undoubtedly spread its wings over 13 years of making movies and TV shows, moving from comedy and action, per the Infinity Saga, to more cerebral stories like Loki and WandaVision, as well as sociopolitical narratives in Black Panther, Captain Marvel and The Falcon and the Winter Soldier. Now, though, "What If… Doctor Strange Lost His Heart Instead of His Hands?" has revealed what the MCU is desperately missing, and it could be the final piece to the creative puzzle.
This is straight-up horror, which isn't even something the DC films have veered into. Many thought the MCU would head there first with the likes of Mephisto or Nightmare in the second Doctor Strange film, but that Sam Raimi flick seems to be taking a more psychedelic and psychological approach as the multiverse frays. However, this alternate reality cartoon goes bonkers, bringing a massive scare factor to the MCU never seen before, leaving us wondering when we'll see this in live-action.
As this story focuses on Stephen Strange losing his beloved, Christine, it feels like a dark Groundhog Day as she dies over and over. He can't stop this Absolute Point with multiple car crashes or other accidents taking her life. It's not something for kids at all, adding tension, suspense and intensity never felt before in Marvel movies.
Even the non-canon Blade didn't have this cerebral effect, which gets even more devilish as the Sorcerer Supreme powers up to bring her back. He basically enacts reverse-exorcisms, sucking demons into his soul. By the final act, he's a warped mage, a truly horrific aberration that frightens his in-universe and light-side counterpart as he can't believe his other self could sacrifice so much, murdering to get his selfish desires.
The episode's beasts, including Shuma-Gorath and evil Strange's final form, touch on so many masters of horror -- from John Carpenter to David Cronenberg to even DC's James Wan. By the time both versions fight and the dark one destroys reality, it adds a new meaning to the term "monster." Not only does Strange look like one, inside he's one too as he devoured innocents -- including himself -- to become an unforgivable creature. It's indicative of things like Hellraiser, The Fly and so many other properties that really aren't for children or the squeamish in general, much like his dark journey of pain and sinister sacrifice.
If the MCU finds a way to tap into this on the big screen, it'll definitely be opening up a new audience for one of the world's most popular genres. And seeing as the CGI and tech on the whole are present, it'd make sense to act fast. Wan didn't get to do The Trench with Aquaman's sea monsters, while things like Justice League Dark and a Constantine reboot don't seem to be reaching these scary heights anytime soon.
Thus, using this cartoon as a template when it's time to redo supernatural characters like Ghost Rider, Legion, Hellstrom, Nico Minoru and such, or bring in new faces like Mephisto, Marvel Studios will already know the path to follow to show they're really a complete storytelling unit.
What If ...? is available to stream on Disney+, with new episodes added every Wednesday.