Venom, directed by Ruben Fleischer, ventures into the superhero genre with a unique approach that blends elements of action, horror, and comedy. The story follows the protagonist, Eddie Brock (played by Tom Hardy). Eddie is a journalist who, in an attempt to investigate allegations against the Life Foundation, loses his whole career after an interview with the foundation. Six months later, Eddie comes across the foundation again. This time however, Eddie finds a Symbiote, a type of alien that attaches to a host’s body. This incident causes Eddie to get into trouble with the leader of the Life Foundation, Carlton Drake (played by Riz Ahmed). Eddie and the Symbiote Venom must work together to stop Carlton from continuing his plans.
The special effects in Venom are well done, especially in the sequences that showcase the symbiote’s powers. Venom’s ability to shapeshift, extend limbs, and morph into various forms is brought to life with fluid CGI that makes the action scenes visually striking. The climactic battle between Venom and Riot, another symbiote, is particularly intense, although it occasionally suffers from the common superhero movie problem of being overly reliant on CGI, which can make the action hard to follow at times.
A unique part of the movie is its ability to have a mix of action, horror, and comedy. Like any typical superhero movie, there are the iconic fight scenes between the hero and villains. Some of the fight scenes lean more into the grotesque and violent side, while also adding a bit of suspense to make it seem more like a horror film in the way some scenes progress. The film also adds comedy into the mix which, when done right, can make an action movie have a unique feel to it. The humor between Eddie and Venom adds another layer to the film, building the relationship between the characters.
In conclusion, Venom is a fun superhero film that stands out for its action and darker tone. The film’s unique take on the anti-hero genre and the intriguing Eddie-Venom relationship make it worth watching for fans of comic book adaptations. It’s a movie that doesn’t take itself too seriously, embracing its weirdness and delivering an enjoyable, if somewhat uneven, ride.