Eddie Brock (Tom Hardy) is a reporter who has prided himself on being able to stand up for the little guy and take down the corporate monsters of the world. After ruffling the feathers of science bigwig Carlton Drake (Riz Ahmed), Eddie loses his way. However, when he pairs with a symbiote from outer space he takes on the identity of Venom. Now his life will never be the same, as the symbiote takes a liking to planet Earth and prepares to protect it.
If we are all being honest with ourselves, the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) has spoiled many other superhero films for the world. They have been incredibly entertaining, blowing most other superhero properties out of the water, making it difficult to appreciate those entities to thrive like in the past. I had seen previews for Venom and anticipated that it would fail to live up to the hype or be as entertaining as the previously mentioned MCU films; for that reason I’ve avoided the film for some time. Sure, having low expectations for a film can sometimes lead to a better appreciation of that film as it is easily able to surpass said expectations, but Venom, regardless of my preconceived notions, is a truly wonderful film.
Venom combines aspects of action, drama, mystery, horror, and others to create a film that keeps viewers on the edge of their seats, entertained, and asking for more from beginning to end. Sure, the reality is that this film isn’t for everyone, but it marries so many wonderfully developed aspects of cinema that it successfully expands its viewer pool far beyond that of superhero fans.
While the numerous genres of cinema play a significant role in how the film is perceived, a large amount of Venom’s success comes from the immense talent of Hardy. Hardy has done well in massive films like Inception, The Dark Knight Rises, and Mad Max: Fury Road, as the often dominant, and somewhat physically demeaning character, but Venom sees him differently. Hardy is asked to be unassuming, goofy, and somewhat inferior to other characters in the film. Hardy shines brightly, however, as he uniquely becomes the source of humor, drama, and action for the film, ultimately tying everything together and bringing the highly anticipated film to life.
In addition to each of the aforementioned aspects of Venom, the cinematography and animation are scintillating, and nearly flawless. Like I’ve mentioned, the film explores multiple genres of cinema, and the camera work plays a role in developing each of those genres, much like Hardy does. Capturing the action and adding to the mystery of the film comes greatly from a cornucopia of camera angles and shots, effectively marrying the genres and developing something unique. Furthermore, the animation is integral to Venom, as, if the CGI were less-than-adequate, it would be incredibly difficult for viewers to appreciate the film as a whole. In the third act we see symbiotic individuals face off in order to save the world, and animation supervisor Eric Bates, helps to develop truly magnificent images that meld together the real and the seemingly impossible.
The MCU has nearly monopolized the superhero genre over the past decade, as they have created more than twenty uber-successful films. While other superhero films have struggled to compete with what Disney’s superhero spectaculars have had to offer, Venom is comparable to films like Iron Man, Captain America: The First Avenger, and Black Panther. The acting is superb, the animation and cinematography allow this film to come to life with great vigor, and the story itself is compelling and heartfelt. I know that I had low expectations coming into this film for the first time, but director Ruben Fleischer surpassed not just everything I had expected, but everything I could have hoped for. It took me a while to finally sit down and watch Venom for the first time, and, while I’ve been missing out on marvelously entertaining content, at least I only have to wait a few months for the sequel, for which I now have high hopes.
Directed by Ruben Fleischer.
Written by Jeff Pinkner, Scott Rosenberg, Kelly Marcel, Todd MacFarlane, & David Michelinie.
Starring Tom Hardy, Michelle Williams, Riz Ahmed, Scott Haze, Reid Scott, Jenny Slate, Melora Walters, Peggy Lu, etc.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/10
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