Review: Sony and Marvel's "Venom: "Let There Be Carnage"

Sony and Marvel’s superhero sequel Venom: Let there be Carnage is every bit as fun as its predecessor, and fans of the first film will be more than satisfied. This entry builds on all the over-the-top antics introduced in the original and the zany relationship between the titular symbiote and its host, Eddie Brock, and if anything, it turns the dial to 11 on the action and alien mayhem.

That isn’t to say that there aren’t issues, though, as this movie is a deeply flawed sequel that glosses over character development for anyone not named Eddie or Venom in favor of action set-pieces that barely impact the bare-bones story. While it is certainly a thrilling ride, much like a overhyped roller coaster, there is an emptiness inherent in the proceedings, as Venom 2 prefers flash over substance.

The biggest issue is the lack of a coherent and reasonable story. The opening few minutes are actually quite interesting, with a brief flashback into Cletus Kasady and how he came to be in prison. It’s an earlier attempt to humanize the villain, and while it doesn’t fall flat here, it ends up being something of a dangling thread as it’s never followed up on.

After that, the plot picks up where the first Venom left off, with Eddie once again coming face-to-face with the notorious serial killer. However, there is still no real reason given as to why Kasady will only talk to Eddie. And just like in the post-credits scene where the baddie first appeared, the situation makes no sense.

Confusing movie logic aside, the real issue with Carnage/Cletus Kasady, is that the character isn’t really developed. He’s just an evil incarnate, murder machine. Even so, Woody Harrelson is giving it his all, doing his best Joker impression, complete with a rip-off Harley Quinn in Naomie Harris’s Shriek, and trying to make the character seem menacing, but it ends up being far more Leto than Ledger.

The mishandling of Carnage is by far the most disappointing thing about the Venom 2, because that lack of development leads to an absence conflict, and the stakes, minor though they are, never end up mattering. Even though the violence is superb, as Andy Serkis proves he has quite an eye for rollicking action set pieces, and the Carnage symbiote is built up as an impressive threat with unique powers, it just doesn’t matter. None of the pivotal villain/hero match ups lead to anything meaningful.

The Eddie Brock/Cletus Kasady relationship gets the most attention, but, as aforementioned, it’s so underdeveloped that it’s inconsequential. Conversely, the Venom/Carnage conflict is basically non-existent with only a throw away from the villain explaining that it has to kill its father, though no reason is provided. Lastly, the subplot involving Shriek and the cop that took her eye when she was younger is actually the most interesting, with a logical backstory intact which provides justification for why she’d want to take him out. However, as it involved tertiary characters, it’s relegated to the C-story and doesn’t get a much of a resolution, as she dies before they get a proper standoff.

And while the villain/hero dynamics never really coalesce into something stimulating, it’s the inter-personal relationships that shine here. Whether it be Venom and Eddie, Eddie and Anne, Cletus and Shriek, or the odd Venom-Eddie-Anne love triangle, these interactions are what keeps the film moving forward at a brisk pace and distracts, even to the point of making up for, the other shortcomings. There is real effort in showcasing these relationships as authentic. Eddie and Venom are a kind of superhero Odd Couple, with the symbiote playing the sloppy Oscar Madison to Brock’s Felix Ungar. It’s a curious way to drive their union forward and goes far in showing how close they are, yet how completely different they seem to be, while also being, perhaps, the most effective storytelling in the movie.

Alongside this, Woody Harrelson and Naomie Harris are pitch perfect as insane long-lost, star-crossed lovers, even if their whole wedding schtick comes out of left field. But the best acting in the film happens when those two are focused only on each other and want nothing more to be together, as they pair are positively electric together. It’s honest and sweet and is the only thing about either character that is even remotely relatable.

By and large, the story of this film is meaningless, though. It didn’t serve to really challenge or change the characters in any meaningful way. Rather it served to only propel them forward to the next story, as the obligatory mid-credits scene dropped the surprise that Eddie Brock/Venom is now, officially a part of the MCU, while also firmly confirming that he wasn’t prior. And while this is certainly exciting as the fan-favorite symbiote can finally share the screen with Spider-Man, it does, nonetheless, mostly invalidate all the story work that happened in the Eddie-verse prior to that moment.

In the end, Venom: Let the be Carnage is a fun and harmless sequel that isn’t anything more than what it sets out to be and won’t have much affect on the Venom franchise moving forward, so it’s not essential viewing, though it has a lot of great popcorn action. However, it’s hard not to see the film as a missed opportunity, as Carnage is one of the most popular Spidey-villains and, arguably, Venom’s nemesis. The fact the character was squandered in an entry that’ll go down as little more than fluff bridging the Venom story to the broader MCU is just plain old disappointing.