directed by Andy Serkis
Imagine that a mild-mannered schlub had a monster inside of him, one that was virtually immune to harm, needed human flesh and blood to survive, and was almost all id with nothing to moderate or channel its impulses.
Or think about being the host for a alien parasitic life form that told you that it had your best interests at heart but was actually insidiously reworking your body for its own mysterious purposes. There are some serious horror movie vibes to either of those situations but the sequel doesn't go down those paths. Despite a fair amount of well, carnage, this movie's violence is neither that explicit nor impactful.
Eddie Brock (Tom Hardy) is a journalist who shares his body with the alien symbiote Venom (also voiced by Hardy). Venom, like all of his species, can't survive for long on this planet without being bound to a human body. And not every human body will do. There must be, as with any relationship, the correct chemistry. However, lately Eddie and Venom are increasingly at odds. Venom sees no reason to hide. Eddie wants Venom to stay hidden as much as possible.
Eddie once limited Venom to only eating "bad guys"; he now refuses to let Venom eat anyone.
Eddie forces Venom to eat chickens or other animals. Venom has reached the boiling point. Venom's dietary needs are not negotiable.
Venom doesn't think that Eddie is properly thankful for his superpowers and career rebound.
Venom likes Eddie but Venom can not and will not let Eddie "starve" him.
A prolific and psychotic serial killer awaiting execution, Cletus Kasady (Woody Harrelson), wants to speak to Eddie before his execution.
The police hope that Cletus will tell Eddie the burial location of Cletus' victims. Cletus communicates in code and drawings, most of which are concerned with his imprisoned soulmate, Frances Barrison (Naomie Harris), an insane mutant (?) who can use sound to massive destructive impact.
Venom figures out where the bodies are and leaves the prison without giving Cletus the ego charge he desires. Eddie's career skyrockets. Eddie might win back his ex-fiancee (Michelle Williams). Success boosts Eddie's and Venom's self-regard to the point where they refuse to occupy the same body. Seeking freedom and food, Venom departs.
Before Eddie/Venom left the prison, Cletus bit him. There's now an alien symbiote growing inside Cletus. On Cletus' execution date, this symbiote, which Cletus calls Carnage, appears. Cletus/Carnage kill dozens and escape from the prison, seeking Frances and revenge on the cop (Stephen Graham) who partially blinded her. The insane Cletus/Carnage enjoy murder. Can Eddie find and make up with Venom in time to stop Carnage? This movie should have been a hard R with the moral questions put front and center. Instead, it was mostly forgettable, decent but forgettable. As always Harrelson impresses as a crazy man. TRAILER
