304. Venom - Let There Be Carnage; movie review

 

 

VENOM - LET THERE BE CARNAGE

Cert 15

97 mins

BBFC advice: Contains strong threat, horror, violence

Crash, another building falls to the ground, smash, there goes a police car and, oops, someone's head has been gobbled up.

Nothing and nobody is safe from marauding aliens in Venom - Let There Be Carnage.

But, rather than the spectacular CGI, I will remember Andy Serkis's movie for its unique attributes.

For where else would you see brotherly love - and fall-outs - between symbionts?

And I also admired its crispness. A story told at a decent pace and all over in 97 minutes - contrasting to the trend for mainstream movies reaching towards two and a half hours and beyond.

Anyway, Tom Hardy plays the double role of investigative journalist Eddie Brock and Venom, the alien symbiont he hosts.

The two bicker like a married couple with the quiet Brock wanting to get on with his life and career and the brash Venom wanting to use his powers to be a "lethal protector".

He gets his chance after the escape of murderer, Cletus Kasady aka Carnage (Woody Harrelson), from jail en route to his incarcerated girlfriend Frances Barrison (Naomie Harris), who has the ability to maim with her piercing screams.

Michelle Williams has an odd bit-part role as Eddie's ex-girlfriend but the concentration is on saving a burning city from more mayhem.

Occasionally, we all need a film which requires no brain power and can just wash over us.

Venom: Let There Be Carnage is that type of picture. It keeps the pace going throughout and doesn't outstay its welcome.

I enjoyed it more than I expected.

Reasons to watch: Superhero movie with more fun than most

Reasons to avoid: Seen most of it before

Laughs: Smiles rather than laughs

Jumps: None

Vomit: Yes

Nudity: None

Overall rating: 7.5/10

Did you know? Venom 2's production was hindered as Matrix Resurrections was being filmed at the same time and its crews controlled almost the whole of San Francisco's Downtown area. But there was also a benefit. The production of Matrix Resurrections had helicopters overhead and, according to location manager Christopher Kusiak, the helicopters in Let There Be Carnage are the ones that belong to the Matrix production.

The final word. Andy Serkis: "the performance side of it is all down to Tom’s brilliance as a physical performer. His process of creating Venom was recording all Venom’s lines first to himself and then play it in an earpiece so he could improvise with “Venom” and his own timing." 

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