Is Venom’s sequel a smash hit, or is Let there be Carnage a suggestion made to liven up a slow story?
★★★★★★☆☆☆☆
Venom: Let there be Carnage has the unique challenge of being one of the only Marvel properties to not be under the Disney banner. With the incredibly high standard that Feige and Co. have had with Disney, can Venom achieve that high standard or does it fall short
Eddie Brock (Tom Hardy) attempts to reignite his career by interviewing infamous serial killer Cletus Kasady (Woody Harrelson), who becomes the host of the symbiote Carnage and escapes prison after a failed execution. From here Brock and his symbiote Venom must stop Carnage before it becomes an unstoppable threat.
When looking at the brightest parts of Venom 2, it is hard not to bring direct attention to the relationship that Eddie Brock and Venom have through the entire movie. The pair resemble a comedy duo similar to that of Shaun and Ed in Shaun of the Dead and Shrek and Donkey in Shrek. It’s here where the funniest moments occur - in the back and forth.
Attention also has to be given to the CGI in the movie, with Carnage and Venom really looking top tier. It is to be expected that Marvel movies be at a certain level, but the sheer scale of the work that goes into Carnage and Venom really has to be appreciated.
For your average Marvel fan that is wondering if they will watch Venom: Let there be Carnage, the mid-credits scene alone is a highlight, and really the part of the movie that raised the most excitement in the cinema.
Still, there's a nagging feeling that the movie just feels flat. The storyline always felt like it is going to lead to something big, always building.
Then the final battle of the movie comes, and it just feels like there was nothing at stake. Obviously, the fate of the world is in jeopardy, that’s a given, but ultimately it becomes a battle that will be quickly forgotten, with no particularly memorable moments. This does seem to be an unfortunate constant for director Andy Serkis, with movies like Mowgli: Legend of the Jungle and Breathe under his belt, both of which are decent movies with an interesting premise, but also follow the same forgettable trend.
Overall Venom: Let there be Carnage is a fine movie, with a veteran cast that gives solid performances. It really should be a smash hit, but it seems to fall short. The funny moments are few and far between. It’s a good movie for expanding the world of Venom, but not much more than that.
_______________________
Director: Andy Serkis (Mowgli: Legend of the Jungle, Breathe)
Writers:
Kelly Marcel (Venom, Fifty Shades of Grey)
Tom Hardy (Taboo)
Cast:
Tom Hardy (Mad Max: Fury Road, Inception)
Woody Harrelson (Zombieland, Natural Born Killers)
Michelle Williams (The Greatest Showman, Blue Valentine)
Naomie Harris (Moonlight, Skyfall)
Reid Scott (Late Night)
Running Time: 1h 37 mins
Genre: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi, Thriller
