Venom: Let There Be Carnage
by Paulette Reynolds * October 3, 2021
by Paulette Reynolds * October 3, 2021
Director: Andy Serkis
Screenwriter: Kelly Marcel
Starring Tom Hardy/Eddie Brock/Venom, Michelle Williams/Anne, Naomie Harris/Shriek/Frances Barrison, Woody Harrelson/Carnage/Cletus, Stephen Graham/Patrick Mulligan, Reid Scott/Dan, Peggy Lu/Mrs. Chen
Screenwriter: Kelly Marcel
Starring Tom Hardy/Eddie Brock/Venom, Michelle Williams/Anne, Naomie Harris/Shriek/Frances Barrison, Woody Harrelson/Carnage/Cletus, Stephen Graham/Patrick Mulligan, Reid Scott/Dan, Peggy Lu/Mrs. Chen
I hadn’t been in a movie theater for almost two years - and indeed - had been resolved not to visit one until the pandemic ended. My family, friends, and the entire state of Texas had braved maskless people, two strains of Covid, and the walking unvaccinated to enjoy a film in a public venue FOR MONTHS.
"You are so silly," said my tweenly granddaughter.
"Ma - it's ok, you've been vaccinated," laughed my daughter.
"You'll venture out when you're ready," shrugged my neighbor.
While I huddled in my recliner chair, remote in hand, I wondered - Great Anthony Fauci, what am I waiting for?
"Ma - it's ok, you've been vaccinated," laughed my daughter.
"You'll venture out when you're ready," shrugged my neighbor.
While I huddled in my recliner chair, remote in hand, I wondered - Great Anthony Fauci, what am I waiting for?
For those who read my blog or are social media friends know I'm a huge fan of British entertainment. Oh yes, I love classic films and Korean tv series, and am a passionate devotee of female-centric filmmaking. So what movie beckoned me out into the world of virus-induced chaos that the media had faithfully warned me about (daily, 24/7, for 19 months) ?
Tom Hardy. It didn't matter what he was in, mind you, but the British star of The Drop, The Revenant, Lawless, Legend, and Taboo was more than enough to lure me out of my lair.
Tom Hardy. It didn't matter what he was in, mind you, but the British star of The Drop, The Revenant, Lawless, Legend, and Taboo was more than enough to lure me out of my lair.
So as the birds chirped and the clouds parted on a peaceful Sunday afternoon, I finally stepped into my local movie multiplex to enjoy Venom 2. A crowd of unmasked Texans waited politely for refreshments, but that didn't stop me from peering anxiously around - you know - for that renegade anti-vaxxer to assault me (See, I told you it wasn't safe!).
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I’m happy to report that Venom: Let There Be Carnage has plenty going for it: The continuing saga of Eddie Brock, his symbiotic relationship with Venom, their fight against evil (in this case, serial killer Cletus Kasady), and his floundering romance with Anne Weying. Kudos goes to scriptwriter Kelly Marcel for the strong Cletus-Shriek love story, which acts as a perfect foil to the more complex Eddie-Venom-Anne ménage a trois.
But the Marvel Universe still needs to think outside the box. Venom 2 lacks any real gain in diversity when it comes to casting, with only three people of color in speaking roles...sigh. And the 1950s narrative of the White Blonde Woman in need of rescuing is a trope that should be put out of its misery. PLEASE.
There's been some comments about the shortened film time, with Venom 2 clocking in at 97 minutes (15 minutes shorter than Venom 1) - and yes - I'm casting my vote for fewer bloated blockbusters. A good script + tight editing can provide a better viewing experience for fans, without sacrificing character development. The cinematography was so good I didn’t miss the 3D version at all, but the over-reliance on night-time battles makes for muddy viewing - not to mention repetitive.
In the end, I found myself rooting for the villains with the same intensity as for Brock and company, thanks to Woody Harrelson and Naomi Harris. Their carefree cruelty, paired with moments of genuine expressions of love easily won me over. I know some have compared it to Harrelson's Natural Born Killers, but director Oliver Stone's demonic duo was too consumed in their scorched earth agenda to evoke the necessary chemistry of the Venom 2 criminals.
My movie experience with Venom 2 somehow comforted me in the face of real carnage (the pandemic), driving home the lesson that we have to find the strength to stare down the monsters in our world.
My movie experience with Venom 2 somehow comforted me in the face of real carnage (the pandemic), driving home the lesson that we have to find the strength to stare down the monsters in our world.
And really, who in their right mind would choose What’s-His-Name over Tom Hardy?!
COPYRIGHT 2012/2021. Paulette Reynolds. All CineMata Movie Madness blog articles, reviews, faux interviews, commentary, and the Cine Mata character are under the sole ownership of Paulette Reynolds. All intellectual and creative rights reserved.
