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Although Sony Pictures currently has three live-action films set in its own Spider-Man universe, 2018’s Venom is still his best. Compared to The venom following Let there be carnage in 2021 and 2022 Morbius, the dynamic film starring actor Tom Hardy in the lead role is by far the superior film Sony has produced so far. While this alternate universe outside of the MCU may not have its own Webslinger yet, it certainly launched a solid Lethal Protector.
By director Ruben Fleischer, 2018 Venom provided a first look at the Sony Spider-Man universe that Sony Pictures intends to fill with some of Wallcrawler’s most iconic villains (and perhaps a version of Spider-Man himself one day). Still, starting with Eddie Brock and Venom was as surprising as it was exciting given the character’s enormous popularity in comics and past portrayals. To that end, here are 10 things that Venom The film is doing well, making it the best film in the Sony Spider-Man universe produced so far.
ten Venom has a unique origin story
Although the titular Venom symbiote may originate from space, the character’s overall origin is actually two stories rolled into one. First of all, Venom focuses heavily on Hardy’s Eddie Brock and his life as an investigative reporter living with his girlfriend in San Francisco. However, a series of mistakes leads Brock to lose everything before crossing paths with the Venom symbiote, himself having his share of feeling rejected among his own type of symbiote. As such, Eddie and Venom’s respective backgrounds and commonalities make them a perfect connection as host and symbiote debuting in this new universe.
9 Venom doesn’t take itself too seriously
While Venom has its intense moments and monster horror elements, it doesn’t take itself too seriously either. It’s here that Venom carries much of its charm as Eddie Brock hilariously struggles to adjust to his new life as a human host to an alien symbiote. While there are some great moments of humor, they never overshadow the overall narrative of the film as Eddie and his new significant other evolve into the classic Marvel Comics anti-hero.
8 Venom’s action scenes have great creativity
One of the best parts of Venom is his symbiote-filled action, especially when Eddie allows his other to take over as they become Venom. However, there are some very creative moments in which Eddie and his symbiote work more in tandem without needing a complete transformation. This includes the awesome motorcycle chase where Eddie is pursued by the Life Foundation seeking to recover the symbiote. As Eddie rides, his symbiote reaches out with its black tendrils, creating obstacles and even launching Eddie high into the air while ensuring its new host stays on the bike.
7 Tom Hardy’s performance is perfect
While Venom has its flaws such as pacing and a two-dimensional villain, the love for Tom Hardy’s Venom performance has been largely unanimous. Allowed to run wild in humor and intensity, Hardy’s simultaneous portrayal of Eddie Brock and the Venom symbiote is incredibly impressive. This is definitely one of the best Marvel performances in recent memory, especially outside of the larger MCU franchise.
6 Eddie Brock’s relationship with the Venom symbiote
To that end, the developing and somewhat toxic relationship between Eddie Brock and Hardy’s Venom is quite entertaining, both when they’re united in a common goal and when they disagree and bicker like a old married couple. Not only do they push each other, but their growing bond as host and symbiote is on full display from the moment the symbiote chooses Brock and is inadvertently freed from the Life Foundation. They really have a great dynamic with their shared past as outcasts while still having their own distinct personalities.
5 The work of Venom’s Origins (despite the absence of Spider-Man)
The most surprising thing about Sony Pictures launching its new universe with Venom was the lack of an official Spider-Man. Indeed, Spider-Man is an integral part of the Venom Saga in the original comics, having been its first host before the symbiote bonded with Eddie as the truly perfect host. That’s why Venom looks like he does on the page with Spider-Man-like eyes and the giant white spider logo.
However, the 2018s Venom managed to weave a faithful origin for the character that didn’t include Peter Parker or any other version of Spider-Man. This gave Sony time to create a stronger foundation for its universe before launching a new Webslinger or somehow integrating Tom Holland’s MCU Spider-Man at some point. While this disappointed some, the ability to make Venom’s origin work reasonably well without Spider-Man is nonetheless impressive. Likewise, it’s better not to mention Spider-Man than to misreference him, as the 2022 film proved. Morbius and its post-credits scene.
4 2018’s Venom is better than previous versions
Compared to Topher Grace’s Venom who was rushed and piled up at Sam Raimi’s house Spider-Man 3, Hardy’s Venom is much better. Not only is he larger and bulkier as seen in the original comics, but he also looks stranger and more natural in his own movie compared to the previous live-action version. As such, it was certainly a plus for 2018. Venom given the broad consensus that Spider-Man 3 The symbiote just didn’t look good, especially after Tobey Maguire’s impressive Spider-Man wearing the symbiote, having been given an intimidating black suit compared to the typical red and blue.
3 Venom Movie Adapts Powerful Source Material
Much of 2018 Venom the story is adapted from Marvel Comics Deadly Protector scenario where Eddie Brock moves to San Francisco. There, Eddie and Venom effectively became for the first time an anti-hero doing more good than bad while remaining quite monstrous. It also involves the Life Foundation and its experiments on other symbioses (including the film’s main antagonist, Riot). As such, Venom did a pretty good job adapting and riffing on one of the character’s most popular arcs from the original comics.
2 Michelle Williams as Anne Weying/She-Venom
Although she could have been used more in the film than she was, Michelle Williams’ Anne Weying was a very dynamic love interest in Venom having been with Eddie initially before moving on and finding someone else after Brock caused him to lose his job. However, she still cared about Brock and even united with the Venom symbiote to save Eddie, becoming She-Venom, just like in the original comics. As such, she was certainly presented as a more compelling love interest than others in the superhero genre, offering only hope that Brock might one day get her back if he could just redeem himself.
1 Venom Delivers Awesome CGI Symbiote Mayhem
CGI in the 2018s Venom is very impressive. The mix of Eddie Brock and his symbiote as they bond in different stages is visually captivating, as is Venom in his iconic, fully transformed state. Likewise, the final battle between Venom and Riot is breathtaking as the symbiotes clash while their hosts throw their own punches amid the chaos before Venom ultimately emerges the victor. While Let there be carnage has its own dynamic symbiote brawls, seeing it in live-action for the first time with 2018’s Venom is quite special.
