The first reactions to Venom: Let There Be Carnage have arrived. Sony kicked off its own Spider-Man Cinematic Universe in 2018 with the first Venom, which was a huge hit financially. The success gave Sony confidence in making more movies starring Spider-Man villains, including a Venom sequel that brings Tom Hardy back as Eddie Brock. Venom: Let There Be Carnage is directed by Andy Serkis and was originally meant to release in 2020 prior to multiple delays caused by COVID-19.
The main hook for Venom: Let There Be Carnage is the opportunity to show Venom fight Carnage. Woody Harrelson had a cameo as Cletus Kasady in Venom's post-credits scene, but it is in the sequel that Carnage will emerge and be the latest symbiotic threat for Eddie Brock and Venom to defeat. Venom: Let There Be Carnage also brings Michelle Williams back as Anne Weying aka She-Venom and introduces Naomie Harris as Shriek. There have also been rumors about how the movie connects to other Sony Spider-Man projects, including Tom Holland's Spidey and the Marvel Cinematic Universe. This has only increased interest in the sequel.
Following some fan screenings that brought positive reactions, Sony has now started screening Venom: Let There Be Carnage for critics. Full reviews are still under embargo until closer to the film's release date - this Friday, October 1 - but social media reactions have been allowed. This means social media is now flooding with early reactions to Venom: Let There Be Carnage, and here are some non-spoiler responses.
The main takeaway from Venom: Let There Be Carnage's early reactions seem to be Tom Hardy's performance. His commitment to the weirder parts of Eddie and Venom's relationship was one of the highlights of the first film. It sounds like Hardy has managed to top himself with another memorable performance. The reactions also mostly say favorable things about Woody Harrelson's portrayal of Carnage. With the terrible wig gone and more screentime in the sequel, his version of Carnage is one that fans of the character in the comics could appreciate. Some of the reactions also further tease the crazy post-credits scene that fans have been buzzing about since the earliest screenings.
As positive as the reactions to Venom: Let There Be Carnage are, it is noticeable that many of them point out the similarities - both good and bad - between it and the first film. While it was a financial hit and well-received by audiences, Venom received negative reviews overall from critics. These reactions note that those who didn't enjoy the tone and style of the first film likely won't change their tune when it comes to the sequel. That could mean that Venom: Let There Be Carnage proves to be just as polarizing as the first film.
Source: Various [see above]
