Venom: Let There Be Carnage not as memorable as it could be.
In Venom: Let There Be Carnage, Tom Hardy returns as journalist Eddie Brock, still struggling with his dysfunctional and bizarre relationship with Venom, the alien symbiote. The two decide to use Venom’s enhanced powers to be a vigilante, aka Lethal Protector, in San Francisco. Brock is also still trying to restore his career as a respected journalist.
Brock has a heated interview with serial killer Cletus Kassidy, played by the obviously enthused Woody Harrelson. The interview turns violent, leading to Kassidy obtaining a drop of Brock’s blood and acquiring his own symbiote. This enables him to transform into the incredibly violent and murderous Carnage. He breaks out of prison to search for his lost love, Frances (aka Shriek who’s scream can overpower any nearby victims).
The chemistry between the two leads cannot be overstated. The two seem to be having the times of their lives playing these characters. This makes for a much more enjoyable experience than the first entry. In addition, the dialogue between the two had the audience in stitches.
The supporting cast also shines, with Michelle Williams returning as Anne Weyland, Eddie’s ex-fiancé. Naomie Harris is wonderful as the haunted and unhinged Shriek. It says something to her performance that she’s able to come off just as terrifying as the two hyper-powered leads.
Andy Serkis (usually known in front of the camera for roles like Gollum, Klaue from Black Panther, and Caesar from the Planet of the Apes franchise) takes over as director from Ruben Fleischer. Serkis has a different approach to telling the backstory of Cletus Kassidy. Kassidy’s story is told in various forms: flashbacks, animated vignettes, or emotional dialogue. I also appreciated how the story takes time to examine how Venom has affected every aspect of Brock’s life.
Venom: Let There Be Carnage Verdict:
I give this sequel a 6 out of 10. Though the movie isn’t exactly an in-depth character study behind what makes these two men tick, it does do more than other comic book movie sequels to give its leads some depth. Unfortunately, the action scenes aren’t memorable and predictable for those who saw Spider-Man 3 (2007). However, it deserves to be said that this is a vast improvement over the lifeless first entry.
Make sure to stick around for a mid-credit scene that will make you look forward to Sony and Marvels’ continued collaboration.
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