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Venom: Let There Be Carnage Blu-ray Review

“Venom: Let There Be Carnage” is an improvement over the first.

Eddie Brock and Venom face a whole host of challenges in this sequel. Eddie’s life has fallen apart, Eddie is quarreling with Venom, Eddie’s ex-girlfriend is engaged, and Venom winds up infecting serial killer Cletus Kassady with a symbiote which turns him into Carnage. Carnage, meanwhile, has his own journey as he looks to reunite with his institutionalized lover Frances AKA Shriek. Side plots involving Eddie’s ex Anne (a defense attorney) and her new fiance (Dr. Dan) and a Police Detective (Patrick) working with Eddie to find the victims of Cletus are also integral to the story.

“Venom” was a big hit, but I wasn’t quite on board with the first installment. I found it to be a tonal mess with a villain plot that fell flat. Thankfully, director Andy Serkis and writer Kelly Marcel created a superior sequel with a consistent tone. This movie knows what it is- an action heavy sci-fi romance with a comedic edge. Yes, you read that right. At its heart, this is a movie about 3 couples essentially- the complicated dynamic between Eddie and Venom (who need each other), Anne and her new boyfriend (Dr. Dan) and Cleetus and Frances. It’s a much more focused story that often feels more like a throwback to the pre MCU and Dark Knight Trilogy comic book movies. And that’s OK! It’s sort of refreshing to see a comic movie that is short, not self-serious, different from the norm, and character centric. Of course, there are some big Marvel mythology ties here as you’ll see in the end credit sequence that is rife with possibility.

Cast wise, Tom Hardy has really made Eddie and Venom his own at this point. The dual role interplay is a highlight of the movie to be sure. Woody Harrelson gives this franchise the villain it needed with Cleetus/Carnage. He really can do anything. Michelle Williams, Naomie Harris, and Stephen Graham are all solid in their respective roles.

Video/Audio:

Presentation: 1.85:1 1080p. How does it look? This is a pristine hi-def transfer. Note: This title is also available on 4K. 

Audio Track: 5.1 DTS-HD MA. How does it sound? From Venom’s booming voice to the explosive action, this track delivers.

Extras:
* DVD copy
* Digital copy
* Sony trailers and a trailer for the Extras of “Venom: Let There Be Carnage.”
* 2 aptly named featurettes- “Eddie And Venom: The Odd Couple” and “A Fine Romance: Cletus And Shriek.”
* 3 scene previsualizations for “Ravencroft Breakout,” “San Quentin Carnage,” and “Show And Tell.”
* 3 ½ minutes of outtakes and bloopers.
* 6 deleted/alternate/extended scenes
* “Let There Be…Action”- A featurette on the action set pieces with interviews and behind-the-scenes footage.
* “Tangled Web: Easter Eggs”- A look at some of the easter eggs featuring in the film.
* “Sick And Twisted: Cletus Kasady”- A profile of the villainous character (played by Woody Harrelson).
* “Concept To Carnage”- A featurette on bringing Carnage to the big screen. 

December 11, 2021 - Posted by nicklyons1 | Blu-Ray review | Andy Serkis, Carnage, Tom Hardy, Venom, Venom 2, Venom: Let There Be Carnage Blu-ray Review