The overwhelmed bachelor journalist, Eddie Brock, and his viscous alien body buddy, Venom, meet a dangerous imposter and struggle to contain the resulting collateral damage. Carnage is another symbiote, a sort-of repeat from the first film, only this time with a genetic connection to the titular slime monster and a convicted serial killer (Woody Harrelson) in the copilot's chair. Filled with rage, his human component feels betrayed by Brock and frustrated by the system, while the crimson-hued alien aspect behind all the big VFX shots hates Venom for... uh, reasons. Together, they bust an ex-girlfriend out of super prison and blow stuff up while Brock and Venom work through some relationship drama and walk separate paths for an ill-timed stretch.

All the best bits are where the main characters, co-habitating a single body, bicker amongst themselves and cause a wacky public scene. The film knows this is what we're after, dives straight in with a hilarious opening sequence inside a bathroom stall, and then runs with that idea for most of the first act. At that point, plot intrudes and we're stuck waiting through a dull splitsville storyline that never really works because the previous film already told us they literally can't survive without each other. Harrelson's scenes as bad guy of the month also under-deliver. Given his success in similarly unhinged roles (Zombieland and Natural Born Killers, for example), I'd hoped he could bring some fire to the part, but there aren't many scenes where he isn't masked by some manner of syrup or hamstrung by dumb, cryptic ramblings. Even on the rare occasions he's allowed to breathe, to add a little exposition, it's all so flat and trite... troubled youth, teased at the mental hospital, torn away from his soul mate... we've seen this story a dozen times already.

I'm digressing here. This isn't an irredeemable picture. The effects are strong, especially for the new villain. The inner dialogue between cerebral host and visitor is just as fresh and appealing as it was the first time, although that's also limited by bland story decisions. There's a lot of nondescript goop-on-goop action, though, and the cast hasn't been distinguished enough to carry its own weight. Both major problems from Venom 1 which still persist in Venom 2. The good bits are exciting and unique, but the bad bits are redundant and boring. Another missed opportunity.