Mild spoilers ahead for Venom: Let There be Carnage
Hello, Venom fans! We finally got the anticipated sequel to the 2018 film Venom, Venom: Let There Be Carnage, which introduced Tom Hardy as Eddie Brock, host to the symbiote Venom. Let me tell you, this movie is a crazy ride, but in the best way!
In Venom: Let There Be Carnage, Eddie has difficulty dealing with Venom’s ever-constant presence and interference in everyday life, especially after he’s called to interview notorious serial killer Cletus Kasady (Woody Harrelson). Circumstances during one of the interviews lead to Kasady becoming the host for a symbiote known as Carnage.
Kasady is separated from his love, Frances Barrison, a.k.a. Shriek (Naomie Harris). This separation has an incredibly adverse effect on him and contributes to the events later in the movie. Meanwhile, Shriek resides at the secure Ravencroft facility.
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The Positives
First, let’s talk about the positives of this movie.
Tom Hardy, once again, brilliantly portrays the struggling Brock. I can’t get enough of the interactions between Brock and Venom; they’re so enjoyable to watch. The more I watched the two of them, the more I realized they were every set of best friends.
Even though they fight and argue at times, they’re two halves of a whole at the end of the day. They can’t stand being away from each other, and they’ll always fight for each other, even when there’s no chance of winning. They are symbiotic in the truest sense of the word.
Pictured: Tom Hardy and Andy Serkis in VENOM: LET THERE BE CARNAGE. Photo courtesy of Sony Pictures.
While on the subject of compatibility between host and symbiote, I’m delighted that Kasady and Carnage aren’t entirely compatible.
Of course, I can’t talk about the fantastic acting in the film without mentioning Woody Harrelson. That man is so versatile — he can flawlessly play characters like Hamish in The Hunger Games on the same level he portrays Cletus Kasady.
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Naomie Harris also kills it as Shriek. While Shriek isn’t one of my favorite characters in general, Harris does a great job and brings the crazy and creepy factors I think the character desperately needed!
The effects used to create Venom are nothing short of spectacular. The goo that comprises the symbiote seems to ooze. And let’s not forget Venom’s signature teeth, with which he enjoys biting off heads!
As far as the story goes, I was pretty impressed. Tom Hardy has story credits in this film, making him one of only a handful of actors to play superheroes while having those story credits.
I love that Venom: Let There Be Carnage is both action-filled, serious and comedic. There are genuinely hilarious moments interspersed throughout the mayhem. Some of Venom’s lines will have you rolling on the floor from laughing so hard right before cringing from a fierce moment.
The Negatives
Now, on to the negatives. While I truly loved this movie and would easily give it five stars, nothing is perfect, and it’s only fair to point out what I didn’t like. Keep in mind most of this is nitpicky on my part.
For starters, I’m not too fond of the character of Anne. It’s no fault of Michelle Williams; I find Anne to be incredibly annoying. Even when she’s helping Eddie and Venom, she does it in such a way that I find myself rolling my eyes.
Second, which tends to happen in most hero movies, they let the villains go too far before the big win. Thankfully it’s not as bad as I have seen in other films, but they were so close to winning before the tides turned.
Photo courtesy of Sony Pictures
Without giving too much away, I found the way Carnage and Kasady come together a bit odd. While on the subject of Carnage, I wish he was a bit brighter of a red.
Finally, there’s a moment toward the end of the flick involving Detective Mulligan (Stephen Graham) that I’m still trying to figure out. It was only a brief second, but I’m not sure where it is going in the future.
Observations
Venom: Let There Be Carnage is way shorter than most Marvel movies. Coming in at just over an hour and a half, it’s a more average-length movie. However, I see this as a positive — it would not have worked if they made it any longer. It was the perfect length to get in all of the details while keeping the energy high.
There’s a mid-credits scene that you DO NOT want to miss! Trust me on this one; fans will be screaming at this scene!
Check out the trailer below, and then watch the movie for yourself. Let us know in the comments if you found this review helpful!
Venom: Let There Be Carnage is currently in theaters.
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