Venom: Let There Be Carnage (2021) is the sequel to the 2018 hit Venom, which introduced us to the unlikely duo of Eddie Brock (Tom Hardy), an investigative journalist, and Venom (also Hardy), an alien symbiote who lives inside him and gives him superpowers. In this film, they face a new threat: Carnage (Woody Harrelson), another symbiote who bonds with a serial killer, Cletus Kasady, and wreaks havoc in San Francisco. Along the way, Eddie and Venom have to deal with their own relationship issues, as well as the return of Eddie’s ex-fiancée Anne (Michelle Williams) and her new partner Dan (Reid Scott).
The film is directed by Andy Serkis, who is best known for his motion-capture performances in The Lord of the Rings, Planet of the Apes, and Star Wars franchises. Serkis brings his expertise in creating realistic and expressive CGI characters to the film, which features some impressive action sequences and visual effects. The film also benefits from Hardy’s committed and charismatic performance, which balances humor, drama, and action. He clearly enjoys playing both Eddie and Venom, who have a hilarious and heartfelt chemistry. Harrelson is also having fun as the villainous Carnage, who is more powerful and ruthless than Venom. He is joined by Naomie Harris as Shriek, a mutant with sonic powers who is Carnage’s love interest.
The film is not without its flaws, however. The screenplay by Kelly Marcel, who co-wrote the first film with Hardy, is thin and predictable, relying on clichés and tropes from the comic book genre. The film does not explore the themes of duality, identity, and morality that are inherent in the premise of Venom. The film also suffers from a short runtime of 97 minutes, which does not allow enough time to develop the characters, the plot, or the emotional stakes. The film feels rushed and superficial, leaving many questions unanswered and many potentialities unexplored.
The film also has a tone problem, as it tries to balance horror, comedy, romance, and action, but does not succeed in any of them. The film is not scary enough to be a horror film, not funny enough to be a comedy, not romantic enough to be a romance, and not exciting enough to be an action film. The film is also inconsistent in its tone, shifting from dark and violent scenes to light-hearted and silly ones without any coherence or logic. The film does not know what it wants to be or what it wants to say.
Venom: Let There Be Carnage (2021) is a middling monster movie that wastes its potential and its talented cast. It is a disappointing follow-up to the first film, which was more entertaining and original. It is only worth watching for Hardy’s performance and for the mid-credit scene that hints at a possible crossover with another Marvel franchise. Otherwise, it is a forgettable and disposable sequel that does not live up to its title.
You can watch the trailer here.
Check out the IMDB page here.
