Venom: Let There Be Carnage – Movie Review
90 Minutes, Rated PG-13
Written by Kelly Marcel (Story by Tom Hardy and Marcel)
Directed by Andy Serkis
Synopsis:
Tom Hardy returns to the big screen as the lethal protector Venom, one of Marvel’s greatest and most complex characters.
Okay, so this one is going tot be a bit different. As Ryan and I haven’t recorded just yet, you’re going to get my first impressions on Venom now, then this post will be updated with the audio of our discussion.
Make sense?
Let’s roll.
And, now we’ve recorded, so you can read my thoughts below, then listen as we discuss in tandem.
Bon Appetit!
**Spoiler Alert: Probably going to be some… sorry.**
Despite the fact the original Venom made $800+M at the box office, reactions were kind of mixed (as evidenced by the RT split of 30%/81%, critics vs audience). But, with that kind of financial return, and star Tom Hardy’s obvious enthusiasm toward the character, a sequel was sure to follow.
With a directorial change from Ruben Fleischer (Zombieland: Double Tap), who remains on as a producer), to Andy Serkis (Mowgli), the sometimes scattershot nature of the first film is streamlined into a more effective “buddy” movie between Eddie Brock and Venom.
Ironically, of course, Hardy returns to voice Venom as well as portraying Eddie, which makes this relationship a “buddy” film between Tom Hardy and Tom Hardy. This kind of explains the love-hate relationship the two have, lol.
This streamlining has the effect of making Let There Be Carnage a better film than the first (a rarity in cinema), though it is not without it’s faults.
Michelle Williams returns as Anne, Eddie’s ex, but we don’t get as much of her this time around.
Woody Harrelson’s Cletus Kasady is an interesting character, much more developed in this film than the hint in the credits scene of the first film. It’s still a fairly two dimensional character, but one Harrelson manages to add enough psychotic heft to to be compelling.
The weak spot in Let There Be Carnage is, in fact, Carnage himself (itself? theirself? Do symbiotes have gender?). We see the origin of Carnage and Kasady’s symbiosis, but the actual “father-son” dynamic between Venom and Carnage is left unexplained.
You’ll see.
It was nice that when the two fought this time, the decision was made for them to maintain generally human forms, which resulted in more easily followed fight scenes instead of the much-maligned CGI symbiote goo-fest battle that was the climax of Venom.
The performances were fun, which helped the 90 minute run-time feel very efficient. The film was neither too long nor too short for what we got. Could it have been longer? Sure, but it would have been minor additions instead of major plot points, so again: efficient.
Naomie Harris appears as Frances Barrison, Kasady’s childhood sweetheart and–wait for it–MUTANT called Shriek (think a female Banshee from X-Men: First Class), which returns the idea of Mutants to film after the sale of the X-Men to Marvel (which had input on Let There Be Carnage).
Finally, Marvel continues to tighten their grip on their legacy IPs (regardless of who currently “owns” them) in the credit scene in which Eddie and Venom experience a shift of perception, and end up **REDACTED**.
Right?
This kind of cheapens the film a little bit, making it feel more like **REDACTED** but I enjoyed Venom: Let There Be Carnage, regardless.
Ryan will probably disagree with me. You’ll find out when I do.
Watch the website and social media (@VSMoviePodcast) to see when we drop that audio.
Venom: Let There Be Carnage releases exclusively in theaters on October 1, 2021.
Venom: Let There Be Carnage stars Tom Hardy, Woody Harrelson, Michelle Williams, and Naomie Harris.
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