Written By: Absar Ahmad
After the massive commercial success of Venom (2018), Sony quickly moved ahead with a sequel featuring one of Spider-Man’s most iconic villains: Carnage. With Tom Hardy returning as Eddie Brock and Woody Harrelson stepping into the role of Cletus Kasady, expectations were naturally high. The sequel also carried the responsibility of expanding Sony’s Spider-Man Universe beyond the first film. Unfortunately, while Venom: Let There Be Carnage delivers entertaining action and plenty of chaotic energy, it falls short when it comes to storytelling and emotional depth.
Venom: Let There Be Carnage (2021) Official Trailer
Watch the official trailer for Venom: Let There Be Carnage starring Tom Hardy and Woody Harrelson as Carnage in Sony’s chaotic superhero sequel.
Too Long a Wait, Too Little Reward
When Venom: Let There Be Carnage finally released in 2021, I was genuinely excited. After enjoying the Eddie-Venom dynamic in the first film, I had high hopes for where the sequel would take their story. But honestly, the movie did not quite live up to those expectations.
I still wonder why they took a three-year gap between Venom (2018) and this sequel. One or two years would have been perfect. As a movie lover, such a long break sometimes kills the momentum and excitement surrounding a franchise.
What Didn’t Work
The storyline felt weaker this time around. The plot seemed rushed, and the emotional stakes were not nearly as strong as they should have been. While Carnage had the potential to become a terrifying and memorable villain, the film never fully explored the darker and more psychological side of Cletus Kasady.
Instead of feeling genuinely menacing, Carnage mostly came across as chaotic. There was a lot of destruction and noise, but not enough character development or meaningful build-up. His motivations felt surface-level, which made the antagonist less impactful than expected.
Even the pacing felt uneven. The film tried to squeeze too much into a runtime of just 97 minutes, and because of that, several important moments never had enough time to breathe. Director Andy Serkis brought energy and style to the action sequences, but the storytelling often felt compressed and underdeveloped.
What Still Worked
Despite its shortcomings, the one thing that continued to hold the movie together was the relationship between Eddie Brock and Venom. Their banter, co-dependency, and strange friendship remained entertaining throughout the film. That dynamic is still the true heart of this franchise.
The action sequences were also enjoyable. The final showdown between Venom and Carnage delivered the visual chaos fans were hoping for, and the CGI looked polished for the most part. The movie maintained a comic-book style energy that made it entertaining even when the story struggled.
Another major talking point was the post-credit scene, which teased Venom’s connection to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. That moment created huge excitement among fans and became one of the most discussed aspects of the film after release.
Box Office Performance and Audience Reaction
The film was made on a production budget of around $110 million and went on to gross approximately $506.9 million worldwide. While that was significantly lower than the first Venom film, it still proved to be a commercial success, especially considering the pandemic-era release and theatre limitations at the time.
Critically, the movie received mixed-to-negative reviews. Some viewers appreciated the humor, action, and fast-paced nature of the film, while many critics pointed out the shallow plot and underdeveloped villain. Still, fans of Eddie Brock and Venom showed up to support the franchise.
My Final Thoughts
Venom: Let There Be Carnage had the potential to become a bigger and better sequel, but ultimately it falls short in terms of storytelling and emotional depth. What saves the film from becoming a complete disappointment is the continued charm of Eddie and Venom’s relationship along with the entertaining action sequences.
If you enjoyed the first film, this sequel is still worth watching for the fun moments and comic-book chaos alone. Just do not go in expecting something groundbreaking.
While Let There Be Carnage may not fully reach the heights fans expected, it still plays an important role in Eddie Brock’s larger journey leading into Venom: The Last Dance.
⭐ The World of Movies Rating: 7/10