Venom Review

Venom

Release Date: 4th October 2018 - Australia

Production Companies

Columbia Pictures

Marvel Entertainment

Distribution

Sony Pictures Australia

Genre: Action

Rating: M

Runtime: 112 minutes

Budget: $116,000,000

Box Office Gross: $856,085,151 (Worldwide)

Plot Summary
Eddie Brock is a broken man
after he loses everything
including his job and fiancee.
Just when his life is at its
lowest, he becomes host to
an alien symbiote which
results in extraordinary
superpowers--transforming
into Venom. Will these
powers be enough for this
new lethal protector to defeat
great forces, especially
against the far stronger and
more weaponised symbiote
rival, Riot? (Source - EzyDVD)

Cast

Tom Hardy - Eddie Brock/
Venom
Michelle Williams - Anne
Weying
Riz Ahmed - Carlton Drake/
Riot
Scott Haze - Security Chief
Roland Treece
Reid Scott - Dr. Dan Lewis
Jenny Slate - Dr. Dora Skirth
Melora Walters - Homeless
Woman Maria
Woody Harrelson - Cletus
Kasady (Cameo)
Peggy Lu - Mrs. Chen
Malcolm C. Murray - Lewis
Donate
Sope Aluko - Dr. Collins
Wayne Pere - Dr. Emerson
Michelle Lee - Malaysia EMT/
Riot Host
Chris O'Hara - Astronaut JJ
Jameson, III
Emilio Rivera - Lobby Guard
Richard
Amelia Young - Allie
Scott Deckert - Noisy Neighbor
Ziggy
Jared Bankens - Isaac/Blue Host
Stan Lee - Dapper Dog Walker (Cameo)

Crew
Director - Ruben Fleischer
Marvel's Venom Character Creators - Todd McFarlane
and David Michelinie
Screen Story/Screenplay - Jeff Pinker
and Scott Rosenberg
Screenplay/Executive Producer - Kelly Marcel
Executive Producers - Howard Chen,
Edward Cheng, Tom Hardy, David B. Householter
and Stan Lee
Producers - Avi Arad,
Amy Pascal and Matt Tolmach
Casting Director - John Papsidera
Production Designer - Oliver Scholl
Set Decorator - Larry Dias
Costume Designer - Kelli Jones
Director of Photography - Matthew Libatique
Second Unit Director/Stunt Coordinator -
Spiro Razatos
Stunt Coordinator - Chris O'Hara
Fight Coordinator - Tim Connolly
Special Effects Supervisor - J.D. Schwalm
Special Effects Coordinator - Eric Cook
Visual Effects Supervisor: SPI - Mark Breakspear
Visual Effects Supervisors - Sheena Duggal,
Paul J. Franklin, Arudra Jaykar
Visual Effects Supervisors: Double Negative -
Andrew Lockley and Daniel Paulsson
Editors - Alan Baumgarten and Maryann Brandon
Music - Ludwig Goransson

Review

Having not prepared to review 'The Amazing Spider-Man 2' as well as 'VENOM' simultaneously. I decided to look at the latter movie as I was supposed to see it in theatres even though I didn't. 'VENOM' has been in the pipeline with other spinoffs that have all been put on hold, until Sony brought it back from limbo in 2018. 'VENOM' was a vainglorious attempt to expand the cinematic universe of Spider-Man which has been featured three times as part of an ongoing deal between Sony and Marvel.

Rather than being the kind of superhero horror film that should have been dark and moody, 'VENOM' is tonally confused and feels more like a superhero action comedy in many points. This is because of the woefully misguided direction by Ruben Fleischer, this mix of horror and comedy may appeal to some but it doesn't work for me. Even the dialogue is clunky, especially when it was used in certain scenes that doesn't contain comedy. 

Tom Hardy was an interesting choice to portray the protagonist Eddie Brock who becomes the hapless host of Venom, the serpent like anti-hero. Hardy's performance is acceptable and he fares better than Topher Grace's awkward and weaselly interpretation of the same character in 'Spider-Man 3'. The rest of the cast is not so great, particuarly Michelle Williams who is underwhelming as the love interest of Eddie.

Some of the visuals are intriguing, while others are bad and don't do justice to 'VENOM'. The biggest example of this CGI fail is the climatic scene of the film.

'VENOM' is not going to be everybody's cup of tea and it certainly wasn't mine. However, if you're someone who likes a mix of comedy and horror then try this brew.

Star rating: (5/10) Average 

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