While not everyone is as they seem, the story’s de facto villain is Mads Mikkelsen’s Kaecilius, who has stolen pages from The Ancient One’s sacred texts in the search for eternal life. But the real trick pulled by director Scott Derrickson (Sinister, Deliver Us From Evil ) is interweaving the film’s CGI-laced universes with the real world as characters jump through portals, travelling from ancient lands to modern-day cities in an instant.

The engrossing 3D visuals are superbly conceived, like Inception times 1,000, as buildings start to fold in on themselves, kaleidoscope-style. At times, it’s hallucinogenic, with one dream sequence seeing Strange growing hands like leaves from a tree. This being Marvel, there’s humour to lighten the mood too – although several pop culture references (particularly to Beyoncé) feel forced.

With the obligatory cameo by Marvel overlord Stan Lee, aptly seen reading Aldous Huxley’s The Doors of Perception, this may well be the most psychedelic Marvel film yet. It’s not completely radical; it still climaxes with a big carnage-filled showdown – in Hong Kong, no less, home to a spirit world sanctum protected by The Ancient One. But Doctor Strange should satisfy those looking for a more off-kilter blockbuster.

Doctor Strange opens on October 27

Want more articles like this? Follow SCMP Film on Facebook