VENOM – Rated PG-13 – 1 hr. 52 mins.
DIRECTOR: Ruben Fleischer
WRITERS: Scott Rosenberg, Jeff Pinkner, Kelly Marcel and Will Beall
Based on the Marvel Comics by Todd McFarlane and David Michelinie
STARRING: Tom Hardy, Michelle Williams, Jenny Slate, Riz Ahmed, Reid Scott and Woody Harrelson
As we venture into the life of investigative reporter Eddie Brock (Tom Hardy), he is living the high life with his fiancé, Attorney Anne Weying (Michelle Williams). When Eddie is asked to interview the Scientific genius Carlton Drake (Riz Ahmed), Brock can’t help himself but the ask the pressing questions about the experiments that Drake is conducting…and the ties to his pharmaceutical companies too.
Pushing a little too hard in the wrong direction with his questioning of Drake, Brock finds himself in lots of hot water, and now without a job, a luxurious apartment, or a significant other…
When Dr. Dora Skirth (Jenny Slate) decides to enlist the help of Brock to disclose the experiments that Drake is conducting ~ as they have veered way of course~ she ultimately sets Brock up to face the demon organic mass from another universe that Drake has had under wraps…this leaving Brock too find a way to live with, and accept his new internal friend, Venom…
I give VENOM a rating between MUST SEE ON THE BIG SCREEN and WAIT AND CATCH THIS MARVEL FLICK ON DVD! Hardy is awesome as the investigative reporter fighting with his new internal “parasitic friend” Venom. Williams is good too, playing the fiancé that is forced to move on from Brock’s craziness, even though she is still madly in love with the guy. Add in the perfect playing of scientific mad man Drake by Riz Ahmed, and scientist in way over her head Dr. Dora Skirth, played by Slate, plus the good Dr. Dan, played by Scott, and you have one twisted, and darker than normal Marvel flick, that will keep you guessing the whole time to see how this creeper of a film is going to play out! Is this the best MARVEL FLICK ever? Not even close ~ but I personally enjoyed it much more than I did last year’s THOR: RAGNAROK, with its forced humor, and less than enthralling storyline. And of course, you once again have to stay firmly planted in your seat till the credits are done rolling, because what would a Marvel movie be, if we didn’t find out at exactly where our newly formulated Good Guy Brock vs. Villain Venom are going to show up next…
Kathy Kaiser
MATINEE CHAT with Kathy Kaiser 