Let There Be Carnage Review: Is Andy Serkis’ Sequel Better or Worse Than the Original Venom?

Venom: Let There Be Carnage (2021) knows exactly what brought audiences to the first movie: Tom Hardy arguing with himself while an alien inside his body threatens to eat people. This time, director Andy Serkis turns up the madness and introduces one of Spider-Man’s most dangerous enemies.

But does the sequel improve on Venom (2018), or does it simply throw more CGI at the screen and hope for the best?

What Is Let There Be Carnage About?

Eddie Brock (Tom Hardy) is struggling to balance his journalism career with life alongside Venom, the alien symbiote living inside him. Their relationship becomes even messier when Eddie interviews serial killer Cletus Kasady (Woody Harrelson).

After coming into contact with Eddie’s blood, Cletus develops a symbiote of his own: Carnage. With the dangerous Frances Barrison, also known as Shriek (Naomie Harris), at his side, Cletus becomes a serious threat.

Eddie and Venom must stop the new villains while trying to fix their own dysfunctional partnership. Apparently, saving the world is easier than agreeing on dinner.

Tom Hardy Is Still the Main Attraction

Hardy remains the movie’s biggest strength. His Eddie is awkward, frustrated, and increasingly exhausted by Venom’s behavior. Meanwhile, Venom acts like an overexcited roommate who has never heard the words “personal space.”

Their arguments create some of the funniest moments in the film. The sequel also gives their relationship more emotional weight, exploring what happens when two partners who need each other struggle to live together.

However, the constant bickering occasionally feels repetitive. The joke works, but the movie sometimes keeps telling it long after we’ve laughed.

Is Carnage a Good Villain?

Woody Harrelson brings wild energy to Cletus Kasady. He’s unpredictable, creepy, and clearly enjoying his freedom from normal human behavior.

Carnage looks dangerous and delivers the destructive action fans expect. His battles with Venom are among the movie’s biggest attractions.

The problem? The film doesn’t spend quite enough time developing Carnage beyond his violence. He’s an exciting opponent, but a little more character depth could have made the final showdown even stronger.

Action, Comedy, and Visual Effects

Andy Serkis keeps the story moving, and the shorter runtime helps the film avoid the bloated feeling of some superhero blockbusters. The action is loud, colorful, and packed with monstrous transformations.

The comedy is deliberately ridiculous. If you enjoyed the original’s unusual mix of horror, superhero action, and buddy comedy, this sequel understands the assignment.

Still, the rapid editing and heavy CGI can make some fight scenes visually confusing. The movie is entertaining, but it doesn’t always make the most of its impressive characters.

Is It Better Than the Original Venom?

In my view, the sequel is slightly better at delivering the experience its fans want, particularly when Eddie and Venom share the screen. It has a clearer comedic identity, a memorable new villain, and a major mid-credits surprise.

However, the original Venom gives its story more room to establish Eddie’s transformation and his unusual partnership with the symbiote. The sequel is faster and funnier, but its plot feels thinner.

Critics were divided, too: Rotten Tomatoes lists a 58% critics score and an 83% audience score, reflecting the movie’s stronger appeal to many viewers than to professional reviewers.

Final Verdict

Rating: 7/10

Venom: Let There Be Carnage is a fun, fast superhero sequel that delivers Tom Hardy’s chaotic performance and a satisfying Venom-versus-Carnage showdown. It isn’t a deep comic-book masterpiece, and the story could use more breathing room, but it knows how to entertain.

Who should watch it? Fans of the original Venom, comic-book action, dark comedy, and the Spider-Man universe.

Is it worth watching? Absolutely—especially if you enjoy Eddie and Venom’s bizarre partnership. Stay for the mid-credits scene, too. It’s one of the film’s most important moments.