Fans who enjoyed the silly dark comedy of the first film in the Venom franchise will once again laugh in this second edition that hit theaters on Oct. 1. It earned relatively positive reviews from most critics, with Roger Ebert giving it three stars and Rotten Tomatoes giving it a 60 percent positive tomatometer rating. Rotten Tomatoes audience score was more generous, giving it an 84 percent approval rating. 

Struggling journalist Eddie Brock, played by Tom Hardy, returns with his alien sidekick Venom to take on a new villian – serial killer Cletus Kasady played by Woody Harrelson. Other returning characters include Eddie’s love interest Anne Weying played by Michelle Williams, and her beau Dr. Dan Lewis played by Reid Scott. The actors proved to be both dynamic and entertaining while keeping their roles lighthearted and compelling enough to complement the film’s quirkiness.  

Harrelson did a particularly good job with portraying a deranged hillbilly who wanted nothing more to be understood while having the love of his life by his side. 

While the film is plenty dark, it lightens up the mood by poking fun at the archetypes that many of the characters represent, and for that alone I really appreciate it. For me, Harrelson’s character ends up the epitome of this.  

Much of the film is centered around the relationship between Eddie and Venom, which is sure to bring many chuckles to viewers. While I personally enjoyed the first film more, the sequel checks almost all of the boxes with what I look for in a film. It made me chuckle, the acting delivered, and I became invested in the characters. While it proved to be an enjoyable viewing experience overall, I do have a few critiques. It was a little predictable, a little rushed, and some of the humor was a little too try hard. While the script of the film may not be the most original, it’s a script that continues to please the audience it caters to, which is important.  

The film delivers both action and suspense, but at the film’s heart is a sentimental story about friendship which is a theme that I think most people can relate to. 

While the debate is still ongoing about which Venom movie is better, one thing that the audience seems certain of is their excitement for the upcoming third movie which viewers will see in a sneak preview of after the film’s credits.  

Overall, while this isn’t a perfect sequel in my mind, it is definitely fun and doesn’t try to be anything other than what it is: a dark but comedic blockbuster that is well worth the watch.