VENOM: Let There Be Carnage Bites Onto Bluray

 

Jeri Jacquin

Coming to Bluray, DVD and Digital from director Andy Serkis, in association with Marvel and Sony Pictures Home Entertainment is the next adventure of VENOM: Let There Be Carnage.

At the St. Estes Home for Unwanted Children, it is 1966 and two young people have fallen in love. Cletus Kasady and Frances Barrison are teens subjected to a miserable existence in the institution. One day Frances tells Cletus that she is being taken away to someplace with people like herself and that sets in motion rage of emotions.

Frances does have an unusual power in that she can manipulate sound and on her way to Ravencroft Institute, she shows what she is capable of! A struggle ensues with Officer Patrick Mulligan and Frances is injured but Mulligan believes she died.

That all happened in the past and now Eddie Brock (Tom Hardy) is called to speak with Cletus (Woody Harrelson) who is on death row. Symbiote Venom is thrilled to have the opportunity to get out of the house and believes eating prisoners is an okay thing. Mulligan (Stephen Graham) goes along to see if Cletus has any information about the people he is accused of hurting but gets nothing from Eddie.

During the visit, Eddie notices something in Cletus’ cell only to discover what managed to evade police. All while learning that the love of his life, Anne Weying (Michelle Williams) is engaged to Dr. Dan Lewis (Reid Scott) which Venom is totally upset about. Going back to visit Cletus, Venom gets upset with things that he says and jumps towards the death row inmate. Cletus responds by biting Eddie and instantly feels differently.

On the way home, Venom becomes upset with Eddie and the insults start to fly, so much so that Venom literally leaves Eddie. While Cletus is being executed, something happens, and a creature destroys everything in its path. Feeling powerful, the first thing Cletus does is name his ‘other’ Carnage and rescues his love Frances (Naomie Harris).

But they both have a vendetta and revenge is going to sweep through town and Venom has to be found to make it all stop!

Hardy as Eddie is ever present and bounces off Venom like insane ping pong ball. It can be difficult to get the upper hand when playing alongside a symbiote, but Hardy is back and manages to get in his one liners and parental tips. It is clear that this time the show is all about Venom and Carnage so Hardy lets them take the lead and he follows along.

Harrelson as Cletus a bone to pick with Eddie but gets something better in return. Getting a chance to release Carnage is a dream come true for this character who does not quite have all his beans in one basket. Harrelson does give us Cletus’ total devotion and love for Frances, just in what the medical community might call ‘unhealthy’ ways.

Harris as Frances is equally devoted to Cletus and when she sees him again, he has a little something else to bring into the relationship. Graham as Mulligan has his own demons to deal with and it all has to do with Frances. The twist is another added bonus to the story.

Williams is back as Anne with a surprise for Eddie but the surprise may be on her when Venom asks a favor! Scott rides in as Dr. Dan and gets an opportunity to experience a bit of Eddie and Anne’s world before he came along.

Other cast includes Sian Webber as Camille Pazzo, Scroobius Pip as Siegfried and Peggy Lu as Mrs. Chen.

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4K Ultra HD, Blura and Digital Bonus Features include Outtakes & Bloopers, 6 Deleted Scenes, Eddie & Venom: The Odd Couple, Sick and Twisted Cletus Kasady, Concept to Carnage, Let There Be…Action and more!

VENOM: Let There Be Carnage is exactly that – a wild ride between two people who have symbiotes piggybacking onto their lives. Both are hostile and both want one thing, to create as much havoc as humanly possible. Vemon may have thought he was the toughest alien in town, but Carnage gives him a run for his chocolate.

We have to talk about Venom for a moment, he is so insanely crazy that it is almost like listening to a parent and a pre-teen going at it constantly. Vemon throws fits and thinks he knows everything while Eddie tries to steer him away from trouble, and it does not always work. I have to say that between Vemon and Deadpool – that would be a match I would pay serious money to see.

Vemon’s thought process is hilarious and it does make the film so much more enjoyable so here’s to you, you crazy fit throwing alien infection – well done!

In the end – let there be carnage!

 

VENOM Strikes

Jeri Jacquin

Coming this Friday from director Ruben Fleischer and Marvel is the next superhero with the help of VENOM.

One night a space probe crashes to earth owned by the Life Foundation and tubes containing life forms are collected. Transported to a lab, Carlton Drake (Riz Ahmed) is thrilled at what is brought back.

Eddie Brock (Tom Hardy) is a reporter who goes out of his way to report on issues that need his style of uncovering. Good at what he does, it gives him time to enjoy his relationship with his lawyer love Anne (Michelle Williams).

He is given his next assignment to interview Drake about the Life Foundation and realizes that Anne knows a little about his business. Nosing onto her laptop, he finds information about Drake that he uses the next day during their interview. Much to Drake’s dismay, he ends the interview sending Brock out on his ear.

That move cost Drake his job and his relationship as Anne also loses her job and refuses to forgive him. Everything he worked for is gone in a second at the payback hands of Drake.

Inside, Dr. Dora Skirth (Jenny Slate) who is working with Drake’s research and the creatures that he obtained. Watching what he is doing, she is horrified that Drake is using human beings for testing. She reaches out to Eddie for help in exposing what is happening and he gets inside the Life Foundation to see for himself. What he doesn’t expect is to be leaving wearing a symbiote suit!

Introducing himself as Venom to Eddie, it is clear that it is the beginning of a strange relationship in an effort to stop Drake and what he is doing. Eddie is being affected physically and looks to Anne and beau Dr. Dan (Reid Scott) for help. Venom knows there are other symbiotes and needs Eddie to stop the leader Riot.

Drake just wants his ‘property’ back and sends head of security Reese (Scott Haze) to round up Eddie. When Drake decides that it’s time to erase humanity, he takes on Riot and now, more than ever, Eddie and Venom have to bring it to save the world.

Hardy as Eddie is going to win over people in the role because of the humor he brings to the role. The relationship he has with Venom is unique because of their ability to communicate and both have a line of sarcasm that is entertaining. Of course I’d prefer Hardy in his role in the television series Taboo, the cable series Peaky Blinders and the film DUNKIRK. It isn’t that I think his role in VENOM isn’t good, it was just predictable and I think I’m getting to old to sit in a theatre for predictable.

Williams as Anne broke character and lost me the minute Anne broke up with Eddie with a simple walk away. Yea girl, I believe you’d do that in real life…nope! This role just didn’t do her any favors (and neither did that short Catholic school girl skirt she ran around in) but I’m sure we’ll see it in the next VENOM movie.

Ahmed as Drake is instantly unlikeable but at least he hasn’t a problem with that. There isn’t anything redeeming about his character and Ahmed makes sure we see that without batting an eye about it. I like Ahmed and have seen his roles become more and more expanded. The mini-series The Night Of truly gave Ahmed the lift and notice that I was thrilled for.

Slate as Dr. Skirth is daring to go against a powerful boss and it will cost her. Scott as Dr. Dan is oddly alright with an ex-boyfriend showing up out of nowhere but has a reason to freak out when something wicked jumps out of an MRI machine. Haze as Treece is a shark on wheels and his goal is to do whatever it takes to get Eddie and Drake’s extra-terrestrial guest back into his lab.

Other cast include Peggy Lu as Mrs. Chen, Malcolm C. Murray as Lewis Donate, Sope Aluko as Dr. Collins, Wayne Pere as Dr. Emerson, and an appearance by Stan Lee.

VENOM is an action packed film filled with humor, car chases, creatures and sarcasm from both humans and not-so-human. In the vein of all Marvel movies I’m sure fans will be happy to see another character go from page to screen.

For me, I went along for the ride but didn’t feel like I got anywhere by the end of it (and trust me I have to call my son now and ask about a character I don’t know about). This film seemed so busy trying to make the audience laugh while keeping the action going, it seems someone forgot to write a strong script.

What kept me going was Tom Hardy (and not just because I adore him). It’s because he held his own in a film that needed to be held up by something good. He made me laugh and jump once or twice. I feel like this is a dark DEADPOOL and lawd knows no one, not even Mr. Hardy, is going to take my heart away from that man in a red suit (and we aren’t talking about Santa Claus).

So go, enjoy and move onto the next Marvel movie. When Venom 2 comes out, let us hope that Marvel will get their storyline together and remember that special effects don’t make an entire film.

In the end – embrace your inner anti-hero!

Friday's Line-Up Include Zombies, a look at HALLOWEEN and a BUMBLEBEE

Jeri Jacquin

It's Friday and that means we are at the halfway point of San Diego Comic Con 2018 - yet it doesn't feel like it! That's a good thing because it's another early morning gathering up badges, laptops, phone (with extra charger) and water, water and more water.

Friday is also the day fans of the zombie world are hoping to get answers about their favorite characters but let us not jump ahead too much. The first panel of the morning is the DR. HORRIBLE'S SING-ALONG BLOG brings a reunion of Joss Whedon, Jed Whedon, Nathan Fillion, Felicia Day and Maurissa Tancharoen back to celebrate the 10th Anniversary of the show. To be honest, anytime Nat Fillion is on a panel I will be there with bells on, he's hilarious!

AMC brings a double dose of zombies with FEAR THE WALKING DEAD and the cast panel to talk about where the show left off midseason and the shocker that everyone is still talking about. Scott M. Gimple, Robert Kirkman, Gale Anne Hurd, Dave Alpert and executive producer Greg Nicotero give fans teasers as the show prepares to return to finish out the season on August 12th.

There wouldn't be a FEAR THE WALKING DEAD without the next panel of AMC's THE WALKING DEAD with Andrew Lincoln, Norman Reedus, Danai Gurira, Melissa McBride and Jeffrey Dean Morgan with new executive producer Angela Kang. Let us hope the issue of Rick's coming or going will finally be put to rest in a room where 7,000 people won't misunderstand. Kirkman, who was on the IMDB boat with Kevin Smith earlier said about Lincoln’s departure, "It's looking that way. It does make the differences between the comic and the show more pronounced. But at the end of the day, it's about Andrew Lincoln. This is a human being. This is someone I have known for almost a decade, somebody that I love. He's been sweating in Georgia, away from his family, for so long."

After promising that Rick Grimes' end will be extremely satisfying, he continues with, "He [Lincoln] cares about his fans. He cares about the show deeply. He wants to do something special on the way out. We have something amazing planned. I wouldn't want to spoil anything, but anybody who has been a fan of his journey, who loves Rick Grimes, who loves the world of THE WALKING DEAD; you're going to want to see what we do."

I have a feeling there will be tons of questions for the cast and those in the know but trust me when I saw that after all the years of covering THE WALK DEAD panels - they give nothing away, are very vague and relish in watching us all become grumpy at not getting answers. That being said, it is still fun!

To lighten the zombie mood a little, CBS's hit show STAR TREK: Discovery brings of journey of the U.S.S. Discovery. The cast and producers bring the panel to talk about what to expect for the next season.

Universal Pictures is bringing two of the most anticipated films to their block with M. Knight Shyamalan's GLASS and David Gordon Green's HALLOWEEN. In GLASS, Bruce Willis, James McAvoy and Samuel L. Jackson return in the characters that have been destined to meet up and I am thrilled beyond reason to see how it all plays out. HALLOWEEN reunites Laurie Strode with Michael Meyers and how it plays out forty years later. I'm going to bet Laurie is much tougher and wiser than Michael could ever imagine, plus I think Jamie Lee Curtis is awesome!

Paramount Pictures brings an early Christmas with BUMBLEBEE along with director Travis Knight and star Hailee Steinfeld and the story of the most adorable and probably slightly more famous than Optimus Prime - the yellow wonder that is Bumblebee.

The evening continues with Sony Pictures first bringing VENOM and Tom Hardy playing the title role means that fans will be flocking to see how he plays the role of duality. Speaking of duality - the creator's of Spiderman will be bringing their wisdom to fans who want to know so much more about their webbed icon and a look at the upcoming animated movie with Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse.

AMC has the final say of the evening with the hit series PREACHER and a panel of stars including Dominic Cooper, Ruth Negga, Joseph Gilgun as well as the show's producers Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg. It's time to talk season 3 and what direction is the story going to take for another season.

In Ballroom 20, ComicCon wouldn't be the same without a peak inside THE BIG BANG THEORY Writers' Room where fans can get a sneak peek are some of the highlights of season eleven and prepare for the series return for season 12 this fall. Perhaps you are looking for something more, well viking-ish? Then the History Channel happily brings you the hit series VIKINGS along with Kathryn Winnick, Clive Standen, Alexander Ludwig, Alex Anderson, Georgia Hirst and Michael Hirst who is the creator/writer of this amazing show. Of course I am a little partial being a huge fan of the show (p.s. I miss you Ragnar!)

One of the most anticipated events at ComicCon is the Hulu World Premier Screening of CASTLE ROCK. This is a collaboration of J.J. Abrams and Stephen King hometown horror. After the screening is the panel including executive producers Sam Shaw and Dustin Thomason along with the amazing cast of Sissy Spacek, Bill Skarsgard, Melanie Lynskey and Jane Levy to talk about this small American town full of disturbing events.

Marvel Television brings Olivia Holt, Aubrey Joseph, Emma Lahana, Ally Make and Joe Pokaski and their new series MARVEL'S CLOAK & DAGGER. Bringing footage and panel discussion, Marvel fans have another show to be thrilled about.

At the Indigo Ballroom Hilton San Diego Bayfront, Cartoon Network brings the best to celebrate 10 years of ADVENTURE TIME. Another fan favorite, THE VENTURE BROS. takes questions from fans about there seven seasons on air. My personal favorite, ROBOT CHICKEN is back for it's always hilarious return to ComicCon with Seth Green, Matthew Senreich, Douglas Goldstein, Tom Root, Breckin Meyer and Tom Sheppard. This panel is always unexpected and hilariously entertaining.

More hilarity follows as BOB'S BURGERS brings some of my favorite voices to panel with H. Jon Benjamin (also of ARCHER fame), Dan Mintz, Eugene Mirman, John Roberts, Kristen Schaal, Larry Murphy and David Herman bright never-before-seen footage and a panel that always has me laughing to the point of tears. Following hot on its comedy heels is ARCHER and H. Jon Benjamin, Aisha Tyler, Jessica Walter, Chris Parnell, Amber Nash and Lucky Yates to make sure that when it's all said and done, our funny bones will never be the same.

The 30th Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards overlooks 31 categories to recognize comic creators for their work. Also presented are the Russ Manning Promising Newcomer Award, Bob Clampett Humanitarian Award, Bill Finger Award for Excellence in Comic Writing, and the Will Eisner Spirit of Comics Retailer Award. It's going to be a fantastic evening of celebration!

The evening, for me at least, is topped off with a trip to the Horton Grand Theatre for a 25th Anniversary showing of Tim Burton's THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS screening.

Now it's time to rest up as Saturday means more panels, more presentations and more people flocking downtown with their families to have an amazing experience like no other. This is as it should be because San Diego Comic Con is an adventure that has now ventured outside the Convention Center and spilled into the streets in such an awesome way that I constantly tell people to put on their comfy shoes, water up, hop the trolley and make an amazing weekend out of this.

Till Saturday!