US sci-fi action fantasy in which alien organisms are brought back to Earth.
Fleischer made a better comedy-horror with Zombieland, but Venom’s a decent buddy actioner. You might even laugh your head off...
Venom is neither triumph nor train-wreck. It’s a mediocre origin story, a superhero host that sadly fails to bond with its comedy parasite. Which is a shame, as there is enough here to to suggest it could have been a blast.
Much has been made of the 15-certificate, with many hoping for an ultra-violent film in the mould of Deadpool. But Venom most certainly isn’t that.
Nowhere near as edgy or exciting as it should have been.
Despite his uproarious splice of comedy and horror in Zombieland, director Ruben Fleischer fails to get a grip here.
Venom is riddled with the poison of dullness.
We will just have to put up with Venom in the Hollywood system and hope that the future instalments have a bit more oomph than is found here.
General release. Check local listings for show times.
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