Glitch BGS

I went into Joker: Folie à Deux with high hopes, considering how powerful and thought-provoking the first film was. Unfortunately, this sequel was a complete letdown. What made the original Joker great—its raw portrayal of mental illness, society's failures, and the descent into madness—was completely overshadowed by a chaotic mess in this follow-up. The most jarring aspect was the tonal shift. Where the first film was gritty and grounded in realism, Folie à Deux took a wildly different approach, incorporating unnecessary musical numbers that didn’t fit with the dark, psychological vibe that the Joker character is known for. It felt like the filmmakers were trying too hard to make an artsy statement rather than focusing on a cohesive narrative. This drastic shift left me confused and disengaged, as it seemed completely out of place for what I expected from a Joker film. Moreover, the pacing of the movie was all over the place. One moment, it was slow and plodding, and then it would suddenly jump into chaotic sequences that felt disconnected from the rest of the story. It was exhausting to watch and hard to follow. The movie lacked any clear direction, leaving me wondering what the point was. I was constantly waiting for it to pick up or offer some sort of emotional payoff, but it never came. The character development was also severely lacking. Arthur Fleck, who was so carefully crafted in the first film, felt like a shadow of his former self. Instead of exploring his deeper psychological complexities, the film seemed more interested in shock value and style over substance. His motivations were unclear, and the plot didn’t offer any meaningful insight into his transformation. By the end, I didn’t feel connected to his journey at all. Visually, while there were some interesting shots, the overuse of surrealism felt forced and pretentious. The film tried to blend elements of fantasy with reality, but it never struck the right balance. Instead of being thought-provoking or innovative, it just came off as confusing and trying too hard to be different. What made the first Joker so compelling was how real and relatable it felt, and Folie à Deux abandoned that for an over-the-top artistic style that just didn’t work. Lastly, the performances—while not terrible—didn’t save the film. Joaquin Phoenix, who was incredible in the first film, felt underutilized here. His portrayal of Arthur lacked the depth and emotional weight that made his character so memorable. Even Lady Gaga’s performance, which I had high hopes for, felt underwhelming. It was as if the script didn’t give them enough to work with, leaving both actors delivering performances that felt flat and uninspired. In the end, Joker: Folie à Deux was a confusing, disjointed, and pretentious sequel that failed to capture the magic of the original. Instead of building on the strong foundation laid by the first film, it veered off into a direction that didn’t make sense and wasn’t satisfying. I left the theater feeling frustrated, disappointed, and wishing I hadn’t wasted my time and money. I wouldn’t recommend this film to anyone who loved the first Joker. It’s a huge step down, and I can’t imagine it will resonate with many fans of the character or the original movie.