When Venom arrived in 2018, it surprised everyone with the way it handled the dynamic between its main characters, despite issues with other elements like plot and pacing. The sequel, Venom: Let There Be Carnage tries to improve upon both its flaws and strengths, but in effect it is almost the same film as its predecessor. So if you didn’t like the first film, then you are probably in for a mildly frustrating experience.
Eddie Brock (Tom Hardy) is trying to police his symbiote, Venom (also played by Tom Hardy) so that he doesn’t eat people. As the two bicker and fall apart, Brock is requested by convicted serial killer Cletus Kasady (Woody Harrelson) to interview him. In the process, Venom notices drawings in Cletus’ old holding cell and helps Brock find the place where Cletus buried his victims. Enraged at being sentenced to death because of Brock, Cletus engages in an altercation with him and manages to bite off part of the symbiote inside him. Soon, he transforms into Carnage and breaks out of the prison, trying to find his girlfriend, Frances (Naomie Harris) aka Shriek, who can emit powerful sonic waves by screaming.
The wacky dynamic between Eddie and Venom is almost the same as before, except this time things come to blows and the two of them have a symbiote-powered, house-wrecking quarrel which results in Venom leaving him. This leads to a complete ‘person enjoys single life after breakup’ phase where Venom goes to a rave and enjoys himself. Then there are the scenes where Venom inhabits Mrs. Chen (Peggy Lu) and later Anne (Michelle Williams) as Eddie tries to apologize to him. While these scenes are sometimes hilarious, other times they fall flat, unfortunately, like the rest of the film.
The pacing is perhaps the biggest casualty of this film. At 90 minutes, the plot zips by without any room for a breather or character development.
The writers try to humanize Cletus by giving him a tragic backstory, though it should be said that elements of that backstory are influenced by comics lore. The movie focuses less on his ruthless, serial killing side and instead highlights his focus on reuniting with Shriek. Some of Carnage’s action scenes are brutal and large scale, but the film’s PG-13 rating holds it back.
Director Andy Serkis, who has plenty of experience in harnessing Hollywood magic to turn in compelling performances, improves the CGI portrayals of the symbiotes, although the night time setting of several fight scenes makes it difficult to make out details.
The main strength of Venom: Let There Be Carnage, the chaotic romcom sensibilities of Eddie and Venom’s relationship, isn’t realized as fully as it could have. They only get back together because Carnage is wreaking havoc across the city, and Eddie’s apology isn’t sincere. While there’s a revelation in the climax that they ‘belong’ together, it feels tacked on instead of organic.
Still, like the previous film, this isn’t atrocious. At least it doesn’t overstay its welcome and opens things up wonderfully in its post credits scene. Let’s hope the potential of that shift can be fully mined in future installments featuring Venom.