Venom: Let There Be Carnage

With Andy Serkis taking over as director from Ruben Fleischer, who stays on as an executive producer, and Tom Hardy coming up with some of the story, Venom: Let There Be Carnage is a wild and crazy sequel to the already over the top and energetic 2018 film. Set a little over a year after the first film, Eddie Brock and the Venom symbiote have become begrudging roommates as Eddie tries to get his life back together. Opportunity knocks when a chance to interview convicted serial killer Cletus Kasady, played by Woody Harrelson, could help boost his career. With Venom's help, however, Eddie figures out where Cletus buried many of his kills, thus assuring that the serial killer will get the death penalty. Upon meeting Cletus one last time, a confrontation caused by Venom leads to Kasady biting Brock and the blood mixed with some of the symbiote's essence to eventually turn him into Carnage. Escaping from death row and going on a mass murder spree, Cletus and his own symbiote rescue an old flame with sonic scream powers and sets out to get revenge on those who have wronged them, including Brock and Venom. Despite having separated due to their constant arguments over how to perform heroic acts and whether Venom could eat brains, he and Eddie have to resolve their issues to defeat this new menace. What this film does best is continuing the crazy and silly tone that the first one did, although much of it is either toned down or kinda feels forced. The effects are still great, especially whenever Eddie turns into Venom but bigger props go to Cletus's transformations into Carnage as they have a more chaotic, almost body horror, aspect to it. In terms of the story, it's okay, short as it needs to be, but kinda all over the place when it tries to replicate the absurdity from the previous entry. While Tom Hardy, who also voices Venom, and other actors like Michelle Williams, Reid Scott, and Peggy Lu do return and give good performances, it's Harrelson as Carnage and Naomie Harris as Shriek that steal the movie. Serkis's direction is good as he films many of the drama and action with the same care, while the editing doesn't over do it with too many cuts in the action scenes. While it's understandable with the current pandemic going on that this is rated PG-13, knowing what Carnage can do and has done in the comics, an R rating would have been more appropriate. While Venom: Let There Be Carnage is a bit plain compared to other superhero films, the performances, effects, fight scenes, and a surprising twist in its mid credit scene connecting it to the MCU at least give it something to look forward to. Over all: 75%

2021 top list so far:

1. In the Heights

2. Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings

3. The Green Knight

4. Candyman 2021

5. The Suicide Squad

6. Free Guy

7. Nobody

8. Black Widow

9. A Quiet Place Part II

10. Respect

11. Raya and the Last Dragon

12. Malignant

13. Jungle Cruise

14. Cruella

15. Wrath of Man

16. F9

17. Venom: Let There Be Carnage

18. Snake Eyes

19. Old

20. Space Jam: A New Legacy