Given the base material (particularly Carnage), the decision to go PG13 hamstrings it from the start. The movie is schizophrenic in its conception struggling to choose between mass-market child-friendly and something darker which would make this story what it was destined to be. This echoes the struggle between Venom and Eddie, and the choice between comedic and thriller/action. In the end the producers could not or would not resolve any of these dilemmas and they attempt to please all the people and end up pleasing none.