Venom Let There Be Carnage is the first disappoint in the Autumn film season. I had my concerns about this film, and I had almost no expectations, but from the PG-13 rating to the drastically short run time I knew this film was going to be in trouble.

While in certain respects this film does certain things better than the first, it tragically also does things even worse. The films tone is all over the place, trying to be comedic yet maintain it's dark tone. Half or more of the jokes don't land, and are terribly placed.

Tom Hardy is great as Eddie Brock/Venom as expected, Woody Harrelson is great as Cletus Kasady/Carnage. Yet that is the most praise I can give Carnage, because he is extremely watered down to fit this PG-13 rating. When Carnage was revealed it should have been terrifying, I should have been shaking in my seat. He has the presence, and the acting from Woody Harrelson carrys it, though disappointingly falls flat.

None the less there's still enjoyment to be had from this film. Great cinematography, CGI, score, all these things elevate the film. What should've been, what could've been a dark horrifying thriller of a film depicting these characters accurately instead falls on it's face due to short run time, terrible pacing, and incompetence or unwillingness from the studio to push the PG-13 rating or go for the R rating.

Although there is excitement to be had from the implications of the mid credit scene, I am personally still left with concerns for the future.

4/10.