Venom 2 - Let there be carnage
Greetings, Marvel Fans!
As promised, today we dive into Tom Hardy’s second adventure alongside his chaotic alien partner, Venom. In this sequel about Spider-Man’s nemesis, we’re treated to an epic showdown between two symbiotes—Venom and Carnage. Expect wild action, humor, a pinch of cringe, and plenty of jaw-dropping moments.
This time, Andy Serkis takes over the director's chair from Ruben Fleischer. Known for Mowgli (2018) and Breathe (2017), Serkis brings his unique vision to the table. Will he elevate the franchise, or will this sequel stumble? Let’s find out!
The Beginning
The film kicks off in 1996 at the St. Estes Reform School, where a young Cletus Kasady shares a tender yet eerie bond with Frances, a mutant with a devastating sonic scream. Frances is the “light” in Kasady’s twisted life, but their escape attempt ends in tragedy as she’s shot, losing an eye, and taken away to a high-security facility. In the present day, Frances learns that her beloved Cletus is facing execution, setting the stage for chaos.
Venom 2 - I really wonder why the authors didn't tell us why Cassady became a maniac.
Meanwhile, Eddie Brock is preparing for another tense interview with the maniacal Kasady. Venom, as unhinged as ever, causes mayhem in Eddie’s personal life, yet their sharp-witted banter is the film’s comedic backbone. Eddie is also holding onto his integrity, resisting the temptation to use Venom’s powers for selfish gain—a rare quality in today’s antiheroes.
Venom 2 -You face when you are hunting some bad guys and their tasty brains.
When Eddie visits Kasady, Venom spots cryptic drawings on the walls of his cell. Back home, they analyze the sketches and uncover locations of Kasady’s hidden victims, which earns Eddie a wave of fame and success. But solving the case doesn’t just bring Eddie glory—it also paints a target on his back.
As Kasady’s execution looms, Eddie and Venom butt heads over their next steps. Venom dreams of becoming a “lethal protector,” biting off bad guys’ heads and saving the world, while Eddie just wants to survive without losing his sanity. In a bizarre twist, Venom adopts two chickens as pets, hilariously refusing to eat them despite his constant hunger for brains.
Venom 2 - The Alien can also have his own pets, such as that sweet chicken.
A surprise call from Eddie’s ex, Anne, changes the pace. Venom is as thrilled as Eddie to meet her, but the excitement is short-lived. Anne reveals her engagement to Dan, leaving Eddie crushed. Venom, ever the opportunist, steps into the role of cosmic therapist, urging Eddie to keep fighting through the pain.
The tension escalates when Eddie receives an invitation to witness Kasady’s execution. Their interaction unveils chilling secrets about Kasady’s murderous past and his obsession with Frances.
Chaos Unleashed
The execution doesn’t go as planned. A new symbiote, Carnage, emerges from Kasady and wreaks havoc, massacring guards, freeing inmates, and escaping with ease. The red menace is loose, and the stakes skyrocket.
Back in Eddie’s world, things aren’t any better. Detective Mulligan is suspicious of Eddie’s involvement in Kasady’s escape. To make matters worse, Venom, after a heated argument, abandons Eddie and hops from host to host. His misadventures lead him to a carnival, where he basks in the crowd’s adoration as a “hero.” Unfortunately, Venom begins to weaken without Eddie, his perfect host.
Venom 2 - Detective Patrick and future Toxin owner.
Kasady, now fully bonded with Carnage, embarks on a mission to reunite with Frances. Breaking into a high-security facility, he frees her, and their twisted romance resumes. However, a rift emerges: Carnage hates Frances’ sonic powers and threatens to kill her if she uses them again. Talk about a toxic relationship!
Eddie pieces together the puzzle and realizes Kasady’s plan. He learns that Frances is tied to Mulligan, who shot her years ago. Kasady and Frances kidnap Anne, drawing Eddie and Venom into their trap for a deadly final confrontation.
The Bloody Wedding
The climactic showdown takes place in a cathedral, where Kasady and Frances plan their grotesque “wedding.” Venom hesitates to fight Carnage, nervously muttering, “He’s red!” Apparently, red symbiotes are a big deal.
Venom 2 - Carnage is ready to end his parent and become The One.
The battle is explosive. Carnage, with his horrifying powers, unleashes devastating attacks, while Venom relies on sheer determination and Eddie’s support. Frances adds chaos with her sonic screams, but this drives a wedge between her and Carnage. As their alliance crumbles, Eddie and Venom exploit the discord.
Venom 2 - Sad that two hearts that love could it just quietly escape and live together.
In the heat of battle, Frances lets out one final scream, causing the bell tower to collapse. The chaos ends with Carnage separated from Kasady. Begging for mercy, Kasady claims all he ever wanted was a friend. Venom’s response? A sharp, unforgiving bite that ends both Kasady and Carnage.
The Aftermath
With the danger behind them, Eddie and Venom retreat to a tropical paradise, contemplating their future as humanity’s unlikely protectors.
And then, the mid-credits scene drops a bombshell. Eddie and Venom find themselves in a strange new room, watching Spider-Man on TV. Venom is intrigued, hinting at a thrilling crossover in the Marvel universe. Have they crossed dimensions? We’ll have to wait and see!
Final Thoughts
And so, the second film about the legendary Venom and Eddie Brock has come to an end. After watching it, I have mixed feelings. On one hand, the movie brings more drama, humor, and interaction between Brock and the symbiote. We get a closer look at their relationship, emotions, and daily life. These dynamics feel fitting—exactly how one might imagine the bond between an alien creature that's always hungry and an ordinary guy still trying to make sense of what’s happening.
Cletus here isn’t just a flat, motiveless maniac. Instead, he’s portrayed as a deeply scarred individual who found no love in this world except for Frances. She was the one person capable of loving a societal outcast like him. Frances, herself rejected by society because of her mutation, stood apart from the world. Perhaps if they had been allowed to stay together, Cletus wouldn’t have turned into a mass murderer. Instead, they might have run off to live in isolation. However, considering Frances’ hidden abilities, it’s likely they would have eventually ended up on a dark path anyway.
Venom 2 - Sometimes your inner friend is just trying to cheer you up.
I really enjoyed how Carnage was portrayed—his birth, abilities, and powers were visually stunning. However, much like the first film where Riot was the antagonist, I felt there was a lack of depth to Carnage’s motivations and identity. His sole goal was to kill Venom. But why? Just because Venom is his progenitor? That’s a weak motivation, honestly. And then what? Kill and consume everyone in sight? Apparently so, as Cletus and his red symbiote lacked the bond Eddie and Venom shared. Cletus’ body was merely a vessel, nothing more.
This raised another question: if Carnage was just born, how did he so quickly master his abilities? We know symbiotes are born stronger than their progenitors and draw knowledge from the hive mind across the galaxy. But the enormous gap in abilities is hard to explain. Did the black symbiote learn nothing during its time on Earth? Venom didn’t show anything particularly impressive during his fight against his “offspring.” Once again, coincidence and sound helped Eddie survive and win. The strength of their bond was highlighted in one scene where, as Eddie fell from the church tower, the symbiote desperately tried to reconnect with him. Carnage, on the other hand, didn’t do the same, leading to his demise. This felt strange, considering the level of power Carnage displayed while bonded with his host.
Venom 2 - Brock is looking for answers in Estes Reform School
Overall, the film felt heavily edited, leaving me craving secondary storylines, more exploration of the lore, and stronger character motivations. There wasn’t enough tension or reason to genuinely care about the characters. It quickly became clear that Frances would somehow influence the final battle. At one point, I even thought she might join Eddie to defeat the red symbiote and then escape with Cletus. But in the end, all the villains died, and Eddie and Venom decided to keep fighting evil in the world.
I found the first movie more enjoyable, as this one didn’t differ much in terms of storytelling. Eddie gets into trouble: in the first movie, it was the Life Foundation; here, it’s his interview with Cletus. Eddie has relationship issues: his ex is still with someone else, and there’s no hint of reconciliation. A villain appears: Riot and Drake in the first film; Cletus and Carnage in this one. A final battle: Eddie loses badly but, in both cases, a woman plays a crucial role in his victory. The only significant difference is the post-credits scene. The first movie teased Cletus and his symbiote, while this one shows Spider-Man. But Spider-Man isn’t a villain—so is this a hint at their meeting in the third film? We’ll find out soon enough in the next installment’s review.
Venom 2 - Annie is still trying to save Eddie off his problems.
To sum up, Venom 2, like the first film, is a one-time watch. You either won’t feel like revisiting it or will need a significant gap of time before doing so. The visuals are great, the acting is excellent, Venom is charismatic, the fights are spectacular, and the soundtrack is enjoyable. But the plot leaves much to be desired. The antagonists are underdeveloped—their relationships aren’t explored or given dramatic weight. The romantic subplot between Frances and Cletus feels forced, existing solely because it “had to.” I didn’t feel much for them, and with only about 40 minutes, there wasn’t enough time to grow attached to these characters.
Detective Patrick, who plays a significant role in the comics, comes across as clueless here—failing to notice or understand much and nearly dying at Frances’ hands, even though she didn’t even use her sonic powers against him.
The post-credits scene also left me puzzled. What was that? Dimensional travel? Multiverse collision? A dog’s dream? I don’t know, but it seems that in the third and final film, Venom will face his ultimate nemesis. I guess that’s what we’re being set up for.
Nonetheless, I recommend this movie if you’ve already started exploring this universe. It doesn’t evoke negativity but does raise plenty of questions and some disappointments. Let’s hope the third part is more cohesive and finally answers all the lingering questions. That’s all for now—don’t disappear, and stay in touch!
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