REVIEW: Venom: Let There Be Carnage

Originally written Sept. 30, 2022 • Rated PG-13 • Score: 8/10

This is probably the most comic book-y movie I’ve seen this year, in that it has a strong and unique blend of humor and action that isn’t necessarily found in your traditional super hero fare. I dig it.

The performance by Tom Hardy, both as Eddie Brock and the titular character Venom was strong, but what stole the shoe for me was the performances from Woody Harrelson as Cletus Kasady/Carnage and Naomie Harris as Shriek—especially when they were on-screen together.

This movie is fast-paced, perhaps to a fault. There wasn’t really much breathing room and certainly no filler; every scene was consequential. That’s great for people like me, a fan of the first film, but could be a more challenging one to enjoy for those who like a story that unfolds more slowly.

I should note: I have no idea how this managed to get a PG-13 rating versus an R—while not as violent and over-the-top as Deadpool (and certainly not as laced with dirty humor), this film is still extremely visceral and contains copious amounts of violence—more so than you’d find with a Disney-produced Marvel film. For families with under-13 kids, I’d recommend the adults give this a watch first before taking the family to see it; it’ll allow you to make your own judgements on its appropriateness for younger audiences.

I enjoyed this movie quite a bit, but I’m not sure how I would grade it next to the first Venom. It’s a fun ride and one I’m looking forward to seeing again.

Oh, and *absolutely* stay for the mid-credit scene—that’s all I’m going to say.

The bottom line: Enjoyable, but the pace was a bit fast. Fans of the first will likely enjoy. 8/10