Venom (2018)

Venom, it turns out, is pure monster movie mayhem fun. Mostly due to a singularly entertaining performance by the indomitable Tom Hardy and partially due to the spirit of fun imbued by Zombieland director Ruben Fleischer. While the tone may be off-putting to those lulled into mediocrity by the current state of comic book films, I found it a refreshing fun night.

Venom's story is rather straight forward and follows the classic monster B-movie structure. But being simple doesn't mean it doesn't offer enough to entertain. Fleischer uses the tropes of the genre to give us a rocking good time. This sort of experimentation with expectations and genre is just what popcorn films need to be exciting again and Venom excites in its no holds barred madness. It's like a smack to the head for those thinking all superhero movies have to follow the same formula. Aping the classic Universal monster movies (certainly better than Tom Cruise's The Mummy did), Venom builds a thrill ride sort of adventure about a monster who may be what it takes to stop other monsters. Classic fun.

But the secret to what makes Venom truly work is Tom Hardy who owns this role. He plays two personalities as well as a hybrid with a mad clarity, giving each moment a distinctness and vitality which elevates the film and makes it all click.

For me Venom felt a bit tight and would love to have had it fleshed out even more. Perhaps we can see a bit more mayhem next time if audiences can embrace it enough for us to get more of the story of this Eddy Brock. I certainly would love to see what Hardy could do with more time to grow this character.

Venom
Starring: Tom Hardy, Michelle Williams, Riz Ahmed, Jenny Slate, Reid Scott
Director: Ruben Fleischer
Writers: Kelly Marcel, Jeff Pinkner, Scott Rosenberg,