Just a few days before the premiere of the heavily anticipated “Venom”, I was enthusiastic to see what the film had to offer. Having watched the trailer, I was excited to see what Venom’s portrayal was going to be. The comics have certainly given him an anti-hero label, but the trailer practically made him out to be more of a nightmare than a hero of any kind.
At first, there weren’t any reliable reviews about the film; there were rumors that reviews were rigged to favor “A Star is Born”. Regardless, I’d have to see the film for myself to form a well-rounded opinion about it.
Since the release of the trailer, there have been hesitant feelings about Venom, considering Sony was in charge of putting it all together. And yes, it’s true: Spider-Man isn’t tangled up in the web of this universe whatsoever. The fact that he has no involvement in this universe has received a negative reaction from comic book fans. Not a single physical trace of Spider-Man’s markings are traced on Venom’s body. Regardless, I was going to remain optimistic, because this is Venom we’re talking about. Another potential disappointment is rooted in the decision-making for the Venom’s rating.
If Spider-Man is absent, why can’t we enjoy the movie in full rated-R horrific bloodbaths? Sony made the conscientious decision to make the movie rated PG-13 for the sole reason that they hope to include Spider-Man in the future. Let’s hope that they can sort out any legal obstacles to make it happen, or else we’ve missed out on having a radical adaptation of Venom in vain.
Regardless, allow me to backtrack and explain the importance of Spider-Man’s absence. In the comics, Venom makes his appearance when he possesses Peter Parker. While it was amusing for Parker in the beginning, he sees that the cons outweigh the pros. Parker effectively uses loud sounds of church bells to detox Venom from his body. The distressed Venom then slips out and coincidentally finds his new host: journalist, Eddie Brock, who had originally lost his job because Spider-Man.
Instead, the film begins from a fresh angle, detached from Spiderman all together. Regardless as being a stand-alone Venom film, the plot had plenty of potential. There is something captivating about a containment breach plot, where the alien subjects in captivity have broken free from science labs. The Life Foundation, an evil-covered-ethical organization, vows to use science to enhance the lives of humans. Behind curtains, they use innocent lives as guinea pigs, where they are subject to combine with Symbiotes, a species of parasitic aliens much like Venom. If the symbiote and test subject could not stabilize, it resulted in death of both living organisms. Venom happened to be a perfect match for Eddie Brock.
The male protagonist whose life has been severely altered by possession of a monster or alien life form is not a foreign idea. Eddie Brock is much like these male protagonists who didn’t ask for this fate but deals with it accordingly with their moral compass.
Life Foundation founder, Carlton Drake, is really just a textbook psychopath, and a bland one at that. There’s nothing about Carlton Drake that convinced me I should be quivering in my leathery theater seat. Marvel’s set the bar high with layered villainous characters; polished works of art that did just as they should: make you feel something. Beloved trickster Loki captured hearts, whilst Thanos wins most devastating mass-murder of the year. Carlton is simply not memorable, just another generic villain; an obstacle that should’ve been worth-while.
Marvel has blessed us with enchanting superhero romances before, such as that of Tony Stark and Pepper Potts, Gamora and Peter Quill, and (my favorite) Wade Wilson and Vanessa. The connection between Eddie Brock and Anne Weying isn’t one of them. These are two highly independent characters, rather than interdependent lovers, with a generic love story. There’s a lack of chemistry between the two, a dysfunctional relationship as each of them seem to be on separate pages all the time. If anything, Eddie had a stronger bond with Venom than he did with Anne, and it speaks volumes about the lost potential. Fingers are crossed that Sony can develop this flat romance in the future, even if they aren’t together anymore.
The portrayal of Venom as a parasitic, alien life form that acclimates to their environment through their hosts and feed off of the body is chilling. The horror elements throughout the film, although not prominent, still shine between the cracks. The film could’ve left a more blood-curdling impression. But much is held-back by the PG-13 tag, as Venom was destined to be gruesome. Perhaps Sony can figure out a way for our hearts to beat a little faster, since there weren’t too many moments worth gasping for.
Rightfully so, the duo of Eddie and Venom are the major highlight of the movie. The shared dialogue and schizophrenic union between the two is amusing. I left the theater with a giant grin on my face, clutching my movie-collectable comic with euphoria, simply because my love of anti-heroes knows no boundaries. I have a soft spot for villains-gone-good. Eddie made such a massive impact on Venom that his perception of earth had shifted entirely, making it his duty to protect earth of other symbiotes and even bad people (particularly by eating their heads off). As any Marvel fan does, they sit patiently, yet eagerly for the post-credit preview of the sequel. While unsurprised, we are satisfied to be introduced to the prompt of serial killer Cletus Kasady. He is set to be the host of Carnage, creating the sinister combination of a serial killer supervillain symbiote. Sony made the right choice by not attempting to force Carnage, the most beloved Venom adversary, into the first film. By inaugurating him as the main antagonist of the sequel, it allows to opportunity to focus on a monumental Venom and Carnage showdown.
My only recommendation is to avoid critic reviews for this film, as it can discourage from watching the film all together. The problem is that many critics are shredding this film apart, not giving the appropriate credit to the film where its due. Venom certainly has moments that are highly engaging. There is something refreshing about a stand-alone plot with no prior attachments. There are hearty laughs to be had in the interactions between Venom and his host Eddie. They are the most essential parts of the film to fall in love with. It’s almost as though they didn’t belong to this film’s plot, surrounded by a lack of chemistry and depth.
Both Deadpool and Venom were there to distract me from the disintegrated (no pun intended) fate of the avengers. While we patiently wait for Captain Marvel in her own film, we can ponder about the future of Venom’s universe with carnage, and the possibility of Spider-Man’s appearance down the line. There’s always an exhilarating adventure to be had in the world of Marvel.
Alma Tovar
Features Editor
About Post Author
