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Following on from the wildly popular ‘Venom’, Andy Serkis’ directorial debut improves on the first in many ways, features much of what previously worked, including the endearing relationship between the symbiotic protagonists, makes some welcome additions to the ‘Sony Pictures Universe of Marvel Characters’, via way of Woody Harrelson’s Cletus Kasady, but does fall behind its predecessor in other aspects.
Overall, ‘Venom: Let There Be Carnage’ presents a concise, well-structured, understandable narrative, better written than the first. Clocking in at just 97 minutes, I was glad that the sequel chose to adopt only one storyline, and for the most part, the duration served it well. The viewers are also treated to believable performances, as both Hardy and Harrelson play off each other to perfection, with a surprisingly good performance coming from Woody Harrelson – I was expecting a typical Harrelson performance. The sequel makes sure to embrace what audiences adored in the former.
However, the most glaring issue that presented itself was the repetition of the same conflicts from the previous instalment – it would have been better for Eddie and Venom to be performing at their best, until their match is met via way of Carnage, whose victory over the pair catalyses their inevitable conflict.
Just as Riz Ahmed in the first, Naomie Harris’ inclusion for a character of little impact was a true shame. Despite an ensemble of strong talent, some of the franchise’s best performers aren’t properly utilised, being given characters that ultimately amount to very little. I wish the writers in both movies had a little more time to construct the characters and insert them into the story in a meaningful way.
Despite both films earning a ‘15’ rating in the UK (the same as ‘Deadpool’), I still get the sense that with the comedy used, the movies are being made for younger audiences. The feature would have truly benefited from an R-Rating and a more serious approach: take time to delve into who Eddie and Venom truly are and what makes them tick. A comedically fun relationship is fine, but it only works once. After that, you should deconstruct the characters and make audiences truly connect with them.
On the matter of seriousness, the film can’t seem to decide whether it wants to be taken seriously, or be goofy, so does both; this ultimately makes it feel disjointed and overall, less enjoyable than the last, which wasn’t as well written, but was consistent in its tone. This consistency made it feel more natural and thus, it was easier to immerse myself in the experience. The film is at a crossroads, fragmented between the genres of body horror, romantic comedy, or buddy cop – just pick one.
The movie also does slightly reinterpret the character of Cletus Kasady, featuring a scene where he makes puns while beating people to death. While this was no issue for me, a more casual fan with less attachment to the character, this was acceptable, especially when compared to Venom’s more child-like personality, and actually worked to the strengths of Woody Harrelson’s casting. However, this may serve as frustration for many fans of the Marvel comics, considering the high regard Carnage is held to, alongside the years-long anticipation for his debut.
If what was teased does come to fruition, I do hope a more serious interpretation of the pair is taken. I wish to see Venom bring out the worst in Eddie’s personality, making Eddie feel conflicted with a quick resolution to his long-term problems, but at the expense of who he is. I also want the third instalment to move away from another symbiote antagonist and instead take a more serious approach. Let Venom spend a movie fighting real crime and making his own choices, rather than stumbling into grand alien conspiracies each movie.
To conclude, this movie shares many of the criticisms I declared with the first: the PG-13 age rating holds it back and attempting to appeal to everyone via poorly replicating Marvel Studios’ secret formula ultimately prevents it from truly connecting with anyone. While the movie is a fun ride, filled with enjoyable moments and a sense that the actors are having the time of their lives, and an enjoyable night out, it isn’t something to be deeply thought about or dissected post-viewing. Whichever you want out of your movie-going experience should inform your decision to watch the sequel.
If you are a Marvel fan, or enjoyed the first Venom movie, I would recommend this feature, although I don’t see it being as popular among the general audiences as the first, particularly in such a cluttered quarter with such movies as ‘Dune: Part One’ and ‘Marvel’s Eternals’ right around the corner. ‘Venom: Let There Be Carnage’ isn’t a must-see, but if you have no qualms with the theatrical ticket costs of this number of movies, please do see it for yourself, although I imagine many casual viewers will be reserving their viewing for the television screen.