Reviewed by: Pamela Karpelenia
CONTRIBUTOR
Moral Rating: | Extremely Offensive |
Moviemaking Quality: |
|
Primary Audience: | • Adults • Young-Adults |
Genre: | Sci-Fi Action Horror Sequel |
Length: | 1 hr. 30 min. |
Year of Release: | 2021 |
USA Release: |
October 1, 2021 (wide release—4,225 theaters) DVD: December 14, 2021 |
Becoming a host to a symbiote (parasite) / 2 entities sharing 1 body
Antihero supervillain
Psychotic serial murderer
Lust for power over others
Extreme selfishness and narcissism
Seeking revenge
Blackmail
What does Scripture say about Stealing? and theft?
FILM VIOLENCE—How does viewing violence in movies affect families? Answer
Featuring |
Tom Hardy … Eddie Brock / Venom Michelle Williams … Anne Weying Naomie Harris … Frances Barrison / Shriek Woody Harrelson … Cletus Kasady / Carnage Stephen Graham … Detective Mulligan Reid Scott … Dr. Dan Lewis, Anne’s fiancé William W. Barbour … Sedan Driver Sean Delaney … Peggy Lu … Mrs. Chen See all » |
Director |
Andy Serkis |
Producer |
Marvel Entertainment Pascal Pictures See all » |
Distributor |
“Venom,” opens with a flashback laying the groundwork for the villain character arc—abuse and lost love. Back to present day, the villain (a psychotic serial killer) is revealed as Cletus Kasady aka Carnage (played by Woody Harrelson), being visited by Eddie Brock aka Venom (Tom Hardy).
As his execution day draws near, Cletus is lamenting over his years of carnage. He wants his story told and wants Eddie to be his voice. With the help of Venom, Eddie is able to reveal where Cletus buried his victims. This enrages Cletus, but Eddie and Venom are having their own internal conflict; Venom wants to eat brains and Eddie wants a normal life. This odd-couple-style conflict along with the villain’s lost-love are the co-plots of this film.
Tom Hardy is a very talented actor, but the comedy in this film comes off forced and unfunny. Although this cast is talented overall, they all fall flat in this film—no real standouts, just a seemingly rushed script and a cast making the best of it, but not succeeding. Woody’s playing Carnage is not bad, but it could have been so much better. The plots are clearly defined and easy to follow, but the script just does not live up to the hype or the first film.
Foul language is peppered throughout this movie, adding nothing and completely unnecessary, as usual. There is blasphemous language as well.
The violence is gratuitous although very little blood is shown. There is talk of cannibalism and physical abuse. The entire backdrop of the movie is very dark and depressing, except for a lone party scene that is vapid.
The film brings to mind a comparison to the Christian battling their sin nature and not wanting to give in. It’s a spiritual battle and internal struggle. The Apostle Paul tells us in his letter to the Ephesians,
For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. —Ephesians 6:12 KJV
Our sin nature is like a venom, that leads to eternal death, but God’s grace is what gives us salvation and peace as a free gift.
Learn about spiritual light versus darkness
About the fall of mankind to worldwide depravity
What is SIN AND WICKEDNESS? Answer
What is SIN AND WICKEDNESS? Is it just “bad people” that are sinners, or are YOU a sinner? Answer
Are you good enough to get to Heaven? Answer
“Venom: Let There Be Carnage” gets a definite no from me. The acting is lackluster, the script is underwhelming (although easy-to-follow) and the overall gratuitous language and violence does nothing to earn fanfare of this sequel.
Learn about DISCERNMENT—wisdom in making personal entertainment decisions
Every time you buy a movie ticket or buy or rent a video you are in effect casting a vote telling Hollywood, “I’ll pay for that. That’s what I want.” Read our article
See list of Relevant Issues—questions-and-answers.
PLEASE share your observations and insights to be posted here.