Venom: Let There Be Carnage is the long-awaited (at least, for me) sequel to 2018’s Venom. Tom Hardy stars as both Venom and Eddie Brock, as expected. The film fully introduces Cletus Kasady (Woody Harrelson), who transforms into Carnage later in the film. The beginning focuses on Kasady, and Frances Barrison (Naomie Harris), later known as Shriek, for an obvious reason. The two of them are at a reform school and from the beginning, you know these two are a crazy pairing from hell. Kasady’s sickly sweet, romantic poetry was incredibly odd to me, bordering on annoying.
After we get past the little backstory, the film picks up with Eddie Brock/Venom doing what they do, and it’s ridiculously hilarious. The first twenty or so minutes are thoroughly amusing and elicited laughs from the whole audience, even me, which is very rare.
I would go on to describe more of the plot, but it was thin. In the end, I don’t think the plot really mattered. The whole Carnage/Shriek vs Venom/Eddie was purely a footnote for me. Kasady/Carnage was mildly interesting, but the death knell was him blaming his serial killer behaviour on being abused as a child. It’s one of my pet peeves, both in films and in real life, to attempt to excuse or justify violent behaviour. Luckily, Kasady is called on this bull.
As was reported in other reviews, this was truly a love/partnership story between Eddie and Venom. I was there for it, and I’m pretty sure that’s why most people will end up seeing the film. Seriously, I was there for Tom Hardy, and his whack and hilarious voices. What makes him so fascinating to watch is that he gets so into these parts, you can’t help but be mesmerized. I mean, hey, I sat through his straight-up method acting in Capone (not recommended). His passion is palpable, and he really is the best Venom…. Sorry not sorry, Topher Grace.
Now, my one complaint. Again, I didn’t care that the plot was flimsy, it was the fact Anne (Michelle Williams), showed up again. I get that Venom/Eddie were still fixated on her since the film seemed to pick up relatively soon after the events of the first film, but she wasn’t really needed.
Alright, time to tackle that infamous, apparently mind-blowing post-credit scene. I don’t see what all the fuss was about, it was exactly what you were expecting. If that was mind-blowing to people, WOW. I guess people are thirsty and into the whole MCU Multiverse thing. I am not a fan of adding Venom to the MCU, at all. I would much prefer Venom to stay in his own universe, so we can continue to get films that don’t take themselves seriously, rather than some repeat, vanilla boring MCU movie.
When you go into this film, don’t expect to care about the plot. Just go, watch Tom Hardy go balls to the wall with the character, and laugh at the complete endearing goofiness of the film.
6.6
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I’m a Data Analyst, from the land of Matthew McConaughey. I’m an avid movie-goer and love seeing films in theaters. My most recent favorite films are Good Time, Only Lovers Left Alive, TENET, and England is Mine. When I’m not at the movies, I’m either reading or watching obscene amount of true crime and historical documentaries.
