Venom: Let There Be Carnage - The scoop and digest

Ruben Fleischer steps aside for Andy Serkis to direct.

Tom Hardy - Eddie Brock/Venom

Woody Harrelson - Cletus Kasady/Carnage

Naomie Harris - Frances Barrison/Shriek

Stephen Graham - Patrick Mulligan

Michelle Williams - Anne Weying

Summary

In 1996, a young Cletus Kasady watches on as his lover Frances Barrison is transferred from St. Estes Home for Unwanted Children to Ravencroft.

Jumping to present day, Venom helps Eddie locate the bodies of Cletus's victims who have been missing for decades.

Consequently, the state of California reinstates the death penalty for serial killer to be executed by lethal injection.

Cletus goads Eddie, and during ensuing attack, the former manages to ingest part of symbiote.

Carnage (Venom's son) emerges through Cletus, allowing him to escape.

Anne persuades odd couple to put differences aside and save the day.

Mid-credits

After a blinding light transports Eddie and Venom's hotel room to another universe, they watch J. Jonah Jameson revealing Spider-Man's identity on the news.

Licking television screen, Venom excitedly utters 'This guy'.

YYYEEEESSSSS!!!!

Minimum carnage

Original had comedy, but this is definitely more committed to the cause.

The first half genuinely made me laugh and props to Hardy for another enjoyable performance.

Situation becomes preposterous when Venom (temporarily separated from Eddie), visits a nightclub and socialises with clientele.

One such rando is wearing a 'Kiss Me' mask, as seen in The Purge: Election Year.

Covered in glow necklaces, Venom grabs the mic and gives a rousing speech about aliens living together.

HA HA HA!

Once Carnage is introduced, quirkiness dissipates and uninspiring CG spectacles take centre stage.

Speaking of villain, they really dropped the fucking ball.

Monster fails to live up to his name and because of how Harrelson's character is written, we completely forget that he's supposed to be evil.

Shriek is given so little to do, I fail to see why she's even here.

Climatic battle inside Grace Cathedral bizarrely drags, but ends on an amusing note.

After Venom eats Carnage, Cletus tells Eddie he just wanted to be friends.  However, Venom exclaims 'Fuck this guy' and literally bites his head off.

For all my bitching, this is worth anybody's time for multiverse tease alone.