I was lucky enough to be present at the New York premiere of Venom: Let There Be Carnage. The screening was graced by the presence of Director Andy Serkis, who was kind enough to answer fan questions and take selfies. I had a whole list of questions in my head ready to ask for the event. Unfortunately, it didn’t matter. As he pointed at me to ask a question, panic engulfed me and I asked him who would win in a fight between Ulysses Klaw (his character from Black Panther and Avengers: Age of Ultron) and Venom. He was nice enough to address my comment with an appreciative laugh and an answer:
“Well I don’t know about that, it’s a tough one…I’ll go with Klaw.”
-Andy serkis
Although not my brightest moment, it would be cool to see Venom tangle with Klaw’s sonic canons.
Venom: Let There Be Carnage Review
Venom: Let There Be Carnage doesn’t waste time diving into the storyline, providing the dark origin of serial killer Cletus Kasady straight off the bat. Although I adored Woody Harrelson’s portrayal of Kassidy, it was tough to wrap my head around this iteration of the classic Spider-Man and Venom villain. Growing up reading Spider-Man comics and watching the 90s cartoons, Carnage was the antagonist that always intrigued me. He so rarely had a goal, or plot to take over the world. There wasn’t a devious scheme. There only existed a lust to destroy, to create Carnage. Carnage is similar to Heath Ledger’s joker, existing only to create chaos. However, this version seemed more similar to the more recent Joker film, a damaged angry boy.
Despite all this, Harrelson was able to perfectly encapsulate the rage and pure insanity inside the mind of Cletus Kasady. The brilliant performance was equalled by Tom Hardy reprising his role as Eddie Brock, as his chemistry with Venom is the film’s highlight. Tom Hardy’s dedication is incredibly evident as he grows synonymous with Venom.
The film’s great acting, beautiful visuals, and many fun elements, unfortunately, didn’t save it, as the sequel lacked a satisfying plot. The action-packed for 90 minutes, showed us very little backstory on characters Carnage, Shriek, and Detective Mulligan. The film seemed rushed, as though there was an attempt to wrap up a story quickly at the end of a television season. Each role was interesting individually. Unfortunately, the film needed more time for character exploration.
Final Thoughts
Despite its flaws, Venom: Let There Be Carnage is still a fun, action-packed sequel with a strong rewatch ability. Although the film would’ve been improved with more emotional stakes and a different plot, low expectations can still bring plenty of enjoyment when watching Venom: Let There Be Carnage.
Rating: 5.5/10
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