Venom Movie Review

By Ryan Pendleton

Venom is a 2018 Thriller/Science Fiction film produced by Sony Pictures, Columbia Pictures and Marvel Entertainment and stars British actor Tom Hardy, Michelle Williams, Riz Ahmed and Woody Harrelson. The movie was directed by Ruben Fleischer, who directed 2009’s Zombieland, as well.

The film is about a news reporter named Eddie Brock and one day he suddenly obtains an extraterrestrial parasite, a symbiote named Venom, and must stop a dangerous businessman named Carlton Drake, the notorious and genius founder of the Life Foundation, who has plans to infest the planet with these symbioses from space.

The film has grossed around $89 million domestically while worldwide, it has grossed $217 million! In total, after its second weekend, Venom has earned $378.1 million just in 10 days worldwide! Critics are saying the Thriller/Sci-Fi is “taking a bite” out of the box office as one of the most popular films out in theaters. Venom has been based off the comic book character of the same name; Sony Pictures plans to make a full trilogy off the success of Venom and a potential cinematic universe of Spider-Man-related villains.

Credit to Sony Pictures, Columbia Pictures and Marvel Entertainment

The movie, at times, had interesting visuals, terrific production design and decent dialogue. Tom Hardy as Eddie Brock is a bit off, but he does an unique and good job at portraying the character. Did you know that he voices Venom too? Him as the alien symbiote is pretty good as well; his dialogue can be weird, but throughout the entire movie, he’s solid. The dastardly Carlton Drake’s (Riz Ahmed) plan is too similar to generic super-villain plans from before and his dialogue is pretty unmemorable. The love story between Michelle Williams and Tom Hardy is off putting and at times confusing to follow; their chemistry is decent, but it abruptly ends in the beginning. Tom Hardy and Venom’s relationship is confusing as well, but towards the end, they’re just two peas in a pod. The film has the comedic direction and brooding realism of Zombieland (if one seen it), but has that familiar vibe of a traditional Sony Pictures Spider-Man movie.

*SPOILER ALERT*

After the credits, there is an end-credit featuring Tom Hardy’s character going into a maximum security prison and entering a massive room with a cage inside. The lighting is dim and creepy as the camera cuts to Woody Harrelson’s character Cletus Kasady, or better known as Carnage in the comics, and they speak to each other. The scene ends with Harrelson’s character threatening Hardy that “there will be carnage”. The entire vibe felt too forced and not scripted very well, but it does guarantee a sequel. Right? Who knows?

In conclusion, the movie Venom is an exciting, entertaining and decent film to see while the hype is still going. It’s not perfect, but it is a fun time to see. Give the movie-related song Venom a shot as well (it’s by Eminem)!