Film Review: "Venom" (2018).

"Embrace your inner anti-hero" with Venom. This superhero film directed by Ruben Fleischer, written by Jeff Pinkner, Scott Rosenberg, and Kelly Marcel, based on the Marvel Comics character of the same name. It is the first film in Sony's Marvel Universe. Journalist Eddie Brock is trying to take down Carlton Drake, the notorious and brilliant founder of the Life Foundation. While investigating one of Drake's experiments, Eddie's body merges with the alien Venom - leaving him with superhuman strength and power. Twisted, dark and fueled by rage, Venom tries to control the new and dangerous abilities that Eddie finds so intoxicating.

Sony first began developing a Venom film after the character made his cinematic debut in Spider-Man 3 (2007). However, the project fell into Development Hell, with various iterations. Shortly after the franchise was rebooted with The Amazing Spider-Man (2012), the film was announced once again, though this time within continuity of the Webb series. After the negative reception of The Amazing Spider-Man 2 (2014) was released, Sony and Marvel decided to once again reboot the franchise and place a Venom spin-off on hold. In March 2016, the project was again revived as a standalone film launching its own franchise, unrelated to Sony and Marvel Studio's new Spider-Man films. A year later, Sony set the film with a October 5, 2018 release date, with Rosenberg and Pinkner penning the script. Adi Shankar and Adam Wingard were both shortlisted to direct before Fleischer was ultimately chosen in May 2017. In the same month, Tom Hardy would star as the titular character. Loosely based on Venom: Lethal Protector and Planet of the Symbiotes, the film is also influenced by the film of John Carpenter and David Cronenberg, as well as An American Werewolf in London (1981) and Ghostbusters (1984). By October, Michelle Williams, Riz Ahmed, Scott Haze, Jenny Slate, and Reid Scott rounded out the cast. Principal photography began in October 2017, in Atlanta, New York City, and San Francisco. Inspired by 20th Century Fox's success with Deadpool (2016) and Logan (2017), the film was initially slated for an R-rating. However, this was changed to a PG-13 much to the chagrin of many fans, in order to allow more possible crossovers.

The film stars Hardy, Williams, Ahmed, Haze, Slate, and Scott. Hardy gave a terrific performance as the titular anti-hero. Despite their best efforts, Williams, Ahmed, Haze, Slate, and Scott's performances were no match for Hardy's, and came off as rather dull due to given very little to properly flesh out their characters and to do.

Though Hardy gives his all, he can't help Venom overcome a cliche-ridden script and familiar narrative. It's an O.K., not great, Marvel movie that tells the early story of the villain-turned-anti-hero, and attempts to make it climax in a perfect coupling with the start of another MCU-style universe. Hardy is capable of carrying even the most ridiculous effort, he singlehandedly makes the film an excellent start to the 2018 Fall season.

Simon says Venom receives:

See my reviews for Gangster Squad and Spider-Man: Homecoming.