Review: Venom: Let There Be Carnage

“Venom” is back and “Let There Be Carnage.” Our JP reviews the sequel with Tom Hardy and Woody Harrelson.

VENOM: LET THERE BE CARNAGE
Columbia Pictures

  • Directed by: Andy Serkis
  • Screenplay by: Kelly Marcel
  • Story by: Tom Hardy & Kelly Marcel
  • Based on the Marvel Comics
  • Cast: Tom Hardy, Michelle Williams, Naomie Harris, Reid Scott, Stephen Graham, and Woody Harrelson

Studio Synopsis:
Tom Hardy returns to the big screen as the lethal protector Venom, one of MARVEL’s greatest and most complex characters. Directed by Andy Serkis, written by Kelly Marcel with the story by Tom Hardy & Marcel, the film also stars Michelle Williams, Naomie Harris and Woody Harrelson, in the role of the villain Cletus Kasady/Carnage.

Venom in Columbia Pictures’ VENOM: LET THERE BE CARNAGE.

J.P.’s Take:

The first “Venom” film was certainly fanfare, played up with a PG-13 atmosphere and gaining traction with many followers. I wasn’t totally impressed with it at first, yet, I saw the potential. Now “Venom: Let There Be Carnage” has come along and is a slight step up from its forerunner. Whereas the storyline in first “Venom” felt more loose leaf than cohesive plot coursing, the sequel has a steadier thread running throughout.

We are reminded that Eddie Brock (Tom Hardy) is the consummate underdog who can’t quite master life’s nuances without things falling apart. Since he’s buddied up with the alien life form Venom, Eddie has become the scapegoat of things gone wrong in the city of San Francisco as well. Here in number two, Eddie has made amends and, of course, the bad guy munching symbiote is with him 24/7. Well, that puts a damper on Eddie regaining credibility as an investigative reporter, as well as his love life, which there isn’t one. Sadly or fortunately to say however you look at it, Venom is that narcissistic friend that cheers him up and puts some pep in Eddie’s step.

Call them the perfect odd couple: a black gooey gelatinous creature and a somewhat audacious investigative reporter teaming up to become….well, we’re not quite sure what. Moments with Eddie and Venom (also voiced by Tom Hardy) constantly bickering and trading slams become the ingredients of an off-the-wall buddy film or moreover a bromance. Yes folks, this is a love story of sorts which branches out in many directions at once. Looking back on “Venom” (2018), I’ve come to realize that all the zany quips and situations the two were set in were like love taps you’d receive from a potential mate; that’s what the 2018 film thrived on. Instead of the typical annihilistic stance, “Let There Be Carnage” offers a different approach. By and large what Venom himself represents are both the vacillations and the extraordinary ability we all have within ourselves. The things we wrestle with daily.

Although this particular events isn’t so concerned with destroying the world, there is still a bit of “carnage” to go around. The villain (again if you choose to view him that way) Cletus Kasady a.k.a Carnage (Woody Harrelson) inflicts much of the damage here. And for what it’s worth he even cheesily spouts the subtitle “LET THERE BE CARNAGE” for good measure. It was certainly carnage visually and auditory. There is carnage on the eyes, ears and senses as a whole to be exact. Only in the moments of battle between the sinewy aliens that I couldn’t make heads or tales of who was who. Their slimy bodies sprawled out like bubble gum all over buildings and other beings; not to mention the many explosions and the scream of Shriek (Naomi Harris) and Carnage’s roar rang out like a freight train – quite abrasive.

Eddie (Tom Hardy, left) interviews Cletus (Woody Harrelson) in prison in Columbia Pictures’ VENOM: LET THERE BE CARNAGE. (Jay Maidment)

I felt the performances were fitting of character and setting:

  • Woody Harrelson as Cletus Kasady feels quite diabolical enough that even his alter-ego Carnage fits him like a glove. He’s undaunted by the fact that he’s become host to an evil symbiotic creature. Then again, he’s imbued with such anger that he doesn’t process it fully. Allowing Kasady to simply roll with it as his motives are hell bent.
  • Tom Hardy is adept at etching out the fall guy act. He’s able to conjure up an Eddie Brock that’s vulnerable, insecure and good hearted, even brave, at the same time. Hardy also shares producer and co-writer duties this time around.
  • Naomi Harris is another one of my fave actresses. However, here as the character Frances Barrinson/Shriek, she more or less conjured up the character Tia Dalma/Calypso, which she played in the “Pirates of the Caribbean” series. Not that it’s was a bad thing…it’s just the filmmakers could have given her more to play with.
  • Michelle Williams reprises her role as Anne Weying and does a fine job.
  • Stephen Graham is the tenacious Detective Patrick Mulligan. It’s a role seems to suit him just fine, although watch for what’s to come of him later on in the film.

My only qualm is that with a movie subtitled “Carnage,” you’d expect Marvel to follow the same formula as with “Logan.” Had this film been rated R, there would have been much more bloodshed and making the scenes much more macabre and dark.

As with almost every Marvel outing, you’ll need to stay in your seat; you can not leave without knowing they have something Earth moving. I can’t say what, because it’s worth the watch in full.

All in all both “Venom 1 and 2” are slightly messy in their exposition; however, I’m having a bit of an epiphany about the franchises future. I’m gonna to say view it for yourself. There is something to take away from the story.

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