‘Venom’ Sequel Introduces Sony’s Spider-Man Universe

To the everyday viewer, “Venom: Let There Be Carnage” feels like another superhero movie. This is the second installment in the Venom film series and focuses on Eddie Brock (Tom Hardy, “Mad Max: Fury Road”), an investigative reporter who harbors a parasitic alien symbiote named Venom. Eddie gains powers by harboring Venom, and together they become an anti-hero. This film follows their efforts to defeat Cletus Kasady (Woody Harrelson, “The Hunger Games”), a serial killer who obtains a stronger symbiote named Carnage. While the plot remains rather mundane in the superhero world, the film itself is notable as a launching pad for Sony’s Spider-Man universe – the compromise that Marvel and Sony reached as a result. of their Spider-Man dispute in August 2019.

Essentially, the two media giants have agreed to share the film rights to Spider-Man. The popular superhero will continue to be a part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe while playing a vital role in the SSU, which is expected to feature other Marvel Comics characters to which Sony owns the film rights. The end credits scene in “Venom: Let There Be Carnage” clearly references the highly anticipated “Spider-Man: No Way Home” and sets the stage for the Venom and Spider-Man worlds to collide, establishing the SSU. So far, Sony has announced two more films for the SSU – “Morbius” and “Kraven the Hunter” – due for release in 2022 and 2023, respectively. The Venom franchise essentially serves as a debut for the SSU, much like the role of the Iron Man series in the MCU.

However, while “Venom: Let There Be Carnage” attracts a lot of attention due to its importance in the SSU, the film has a lot of issues. At around 40% of the hour and 37 minute runtime, audiences already know exactly how the story will end – and at this point, you start to wonder why you’re watching it in the first place. The dialogue is cringe-worthy and there’s not much development compared to the first film. “Venom” ends with Eddie and Venom as anti-hero vigilantes, and “Venom: Let There Be Carnage” ends with Eddie and Venom as… fleeing anti-hero vigilantes. There is not a lot of progression. Audiences never get any deeper themes or character development.

Best of all, Cletus Kasady is a confusing and incoherent character. Kasady is initially established as a mad cold-blooded killer who has murdered innocent people for no reason, including his own mother and grandmother. But later in the movie, Kasady recoils from killing Eddie’s loved ones because he knows what it is to be in love and such an act would be “going too far.” How can someone who kills people for fun suddenly become so worried? It’s bizarre that audiences come to sympathize with the tragic upbringing and tortured love story of a serial killer.

That being said, the film is not all Wrong. In fact, it’s quite funny. Venom and Eddie’s jokes are incredibly believable, finding that perfect balance of affection and genuine annoyance that only best friends can pull off. The humor in their interactions is quirky and refreshing, and it definitely brings something new to the table. Their relationship is the hidden gem of this movie. There is a period when Venom and Eddie angrily go their separate ways and both are free to pursue the lives they were previously held back – Eddie could finally enjoy some peace and quiet, and Venom could come out in the air. free without having to hide all the time. But his symbiote friend misses Eddie, and there is a point where, after a crowd cheers him at a party, Venom goes alone to a quiet corner, looks around and simply says, “I ‘m. wish Eddie was here to see it. ” After a while, they both realize that they’d rather endure the nuisance of each other’s presence rather than being apart. Their sweet relationship is what fuels the film, and the feeling of “love triumphs over everything” sounds healthier than cheesy.

On its own, “Venom: Let There Be Carnage” is yet another mundane non-Marvel superhero movie – but if you’re a superhero junkie who wants to see the birth of the SSU, then Venom, Eddie and the ‘fresh humor from their relationship will keep you laughing throughout this otherwise lackluster production.

Daily arts contributor Pauline J. Kim can be contacted at [email protected].