--- title: "Venom: Let There Be Carnage: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/venom-let-there-be-carnage/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/venom-let-there-be-carnage" critics_score: 52 critics_reviews: 23 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Venom: Let There Be Carnage (2021): what the critics said Critics' score 52 from 23 reviews: 8 positive, 4 mixed, 11 negative. The reviews are divided, with negative verdicts outnumbering positive ones, but praise consistently centres on Tom Hardy and the squabbling relationship between Eddie Brock and Venom. Even several disappointed critics enjoy the comic timing and odd-couple friction. Supporters find the sequel brisker, stranger and more willing to embrace camp humour than its predecessor. For some, the affection beneath the bickering gives the film an unexpectedly touching centre. The disagreement is over how far that relationship carries a thin story and frequently muddled action. Reservations cluster around murky effects, underdeveloped villains and supporting characters left with too little to do; even favourable reviews acknowledge some of these weaknesses. The spread is wide: The Wrap finds a tender, exuberant superhero story despite the plot holes, while Vulture finds the repeated banter increasingly tiresome. The divide is less about Hardy’s commitment than whether the sequel gives his double act enough fresh material. ## Evening Standard — Charlotte O'Sullivan Rating 4/5. 15 October 2021. O'Sullivan finds the sequel a major improvement and an enjoyable return to the franchise. She praises its idiosyncratic character work and the energetic final battle, while noting that it leaves little time for CGI slug-fests. [Read the review](https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/film/venom-movie-let-there-be-carnage-review-sequel-better-tom-hardy-b960469.html) ## Little White Lies — Hannah Strong Rating 4/4/3. 15 October 2021. The review finds the sequel imperfect but sincere, chaotic fun. It praises Tom Hardy’s effortless rapport as Eddie and Venom, especially the film’s campy humor. [Read the review](https://lwlies.com/reviews/venom-let-there-be-carnage) ## Screen Daily — Tim Grierson Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 30 September 2021. Grierson considers it a substantial improvement over the 2018 original. The standfirst singles out that overall improvement, without naming a particular element. [Read the review](https://www.screendaily.com/reviews/venom-let-there-be-carnage-review/5163680.article) ## Los Angeles Times — Robert Daniels Fi1m's normalised score 72/100 (inferred from the text). 30 September 2021. Daniels finds the sequel touching, wild entertainment, though its action visuals and CGI-heavy finale undermine some of its drama. He especially praises the grounded, sharply edited breakup fight between Brock and Venom. [Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/movies/story/2021-09-30/venom-let-there-be-carnage-sequel-review-tom-hardy) ## Sight and Sound — BFI Fi1m's normalised score 68/100 (inferred from the text). 20 October 2021. The review finds the sequel strangely affecting despite its odd humour and repetitive plot points. It praises Tom Hardy’s performance as both Eddie and Venom for giving the film a believable emotional core. [Read the review](https://www.bfi.org.uk/sight-and-sound/reviews/venom-let-there-be-carnage-serves-strangely-affecting-superhero-sequel) ## IndieWire — Kate Erbland Rating C+. 30 September 2021. Erbland finds the sequel zany and entertaining, though it has not yet reached its full stride. She especially praises Tom Hardy’s comic performance and the film’s willingness to embrace its weird, silly side. [Read the review](https://www.indiewire.com/criticism/movies/venom-let-there-be-carnage-review-tom-hardy-andy-serkis-1234666951/) ## The AV Club — Jesse Hassenger Rating C+. 30 September 2021. Hassenger finds the sequel faster and funnier than its predecessor, but still underwhelming and ultimately cynical. He praises the comic-duo friction between Brock and Venom, while faulting the film for never getting gnarly or clever enough. [Read the review](https://www.avclub.com/venom-returns-in-the-faster-funnier-still-underwhelmi-1847760784) ## Slant Magazine — Wes Greene Rating 2/4. 30 September 2021. Greene finds the film lean but ultimately loud, incoherent, and pointlessly cruel. He praises the playful, satirical depiction of Eddie and Venom’s relationship, especially its early comic moments. [Read the review](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/venom-let-there-be-carnage-review-tom-hardy/) ## Empire — Ben Travis Rating 2/5. 14 October 2021. Travis calls the sequel a dispiritingly weak, frustrating film despite a few glimmers of promise. He praises Tom Hardy’s affinity for the dual role, while faulting the PG-13 restraint and muddled action. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/venom-let-there-be-carnage/) ## Radio Times — Hanna Flint Rating 2/5. The review gives the sequel two stars, suggesting it is a disappointing follow-up. It singles out the warped buddy-movie dynamic between Eddie Brock and Venom. [Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-151y58/venom-let-there-be-carnage/) ## Total Film — Jamie Graham Rating 2/5. 14 October 2021. The critic finds the film entertaining in its character banter but ultimately undernourishing, with weak action. They praise the odd-couple dynamic between Brock and Venom, especially Venom’s club spotlight moment. [Read the review](https://www.gamesradar.com/venom-2-review-let-there-be-carnage/) ## The Hollywood Reporter — John DeFore Fi1m's normalised score 35/100 (inferred from the text). 30 September 2021. DeFore finds the sequel familiar and argues that its monster lead feels like a Marvel also-ran, despite the comic potential of the character. He praises the bantering chemistry between Eddie and Venom but criticizes the generic action and Michelle Williams’s sidelined role. [Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/venom-let-there-be-carnage-review-1235022883/) ## The Guardian — Benjamin Lee Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 30 September 2021. The critic finds the sequel disposable and mostly unfunny, calling its monster mayhem tiresome. Hardy’s committed performance is singled out as a bright spot, while the supporting cast and finale disappoint. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2021/sep/30/venom-let-there-be-carnage-review) ## The New York Times — Jeannette Catsoulis Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 30 September 2021. The review is negative about the sequel. It faults the film’s execution, though the inaccessible page prevents confirming which specific element the critic singles out. [Read the review](https://www.nytimes.com/2021/09/30/movies/venom-let-there-be-carnage-review.html) ## Vulture — Alison Willmore Fi1m's normalised score 20/100 (inferred from the text). 30 September 2021. Willmore finds the sequel a disappointing, slapdash repetition of the first film’s odd-couple joke. She praises Tom Hardy’s performance as a source of the original’s charm, but says the sequel overdoes the Eddie-and-Venom banter. [Read the review](https://www.vulture.com/article/venom-let-there-be-carnage-movie-review.html) ## Variety — Peter Debruge Fi1m's normalised score 15/100 (inferred from the text). 30 September 2021. Debruge finds the sequel incomprehensible, sloppy, and visually ugly, with little directorial vision. He acknowledges that it introduces Carnage, but criticizes the weak story, unconvincing effects, and missing-feeling scenes. [Read the review](https://variety.com/2021/film/reviews/venom-let-there-be-carnage-review-1235077693/) ## The Wrap Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 30 September 2021. The critic finds the sequel a bold, brisk, tender superhero story, despite its plot holes. They single out Venom’s exuberant comic voice and the film’s unconventional relationship at its heart. [Read the review](https://www.thewrap.com/venom-let-there-be-carnage-film-review-tom-hardy-woody-harrelson-sequel/) ## Consequence — Clint Worthington Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 30 September 2021. Worthington finds the sequel deeply, charmingly dumb, praising its focus on Eddie and Venom’s chaotic, bromantic relationship. He faults the thin villain characterization and murky visuals, while wishing Carnage and Shriek had more to do. [Read the review](https://consequence.net/2021/09/venom-2-review-let-there-be-carnage/) ## Digital Spy — Gabriella Geisinger Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 30 September 2021. Geisinger finds it a fun, campy action ride that delivers on its odd-couple premise. She praises the comic chemistry between Brock and Venom, while wishing the supporting characters had more room to develop. [Read the review](https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a37767981/venom-let-there-be-carnage-review/) ## /Film — Chris Evangelista Rating 7/10. 30 September 2021. The critic finds the sequel flawed but recommends it for its breezy, offbeat charm. Tom Hardy’s uninhibited performance and the sweet, queer-coded romance between Eddie and Venom are singled out as its heart. [Read the review](https://www.slashfilm.com/618980/venom-let-there-be-carnage-review-a-goofy-romantic-comedy-disguised-as-a-superhero-sequel/) ## Den of Geek — David Crow Rating 2/5. 30 September 2021. Crow finds the sequel an improvement over the first film but still a largely muddled, uninspired disappointment. He praises the goofy breakup-comedy scenes between Hardy’s Eddie and Venom, while criticizing Carnage’s underwhelming story and the distracting CGI. [Read the review](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/venom-let-there-be-carnage-review/) ## NME Fi1m's normalised score 40/100 (inferred from the text). The critic finds the sequel so-so, with Tom Hardy’s performance providing much of its energy. They praise the comic squabbling between Eddie and Venom but fault the muddled climax and vague queer representation. [Read the review](https://www.nme.com/reviews/film-reviews/venom-let-there-be-carnage-review-3070656) ## The Playlist — Rodrigo Perez Rating D-. 30 September 2021. The critic finds the sequel a chaotic, unpleasant mess. They single out its relentless Eddie–Venom squabbling and garbled sound mix as especially grating, while noting its brief runtime as a small plus. [Read the review](https://theplaylist.net/venom-let-there-be-carnage-tom-hardy-ridiculous-mess-review-20210930/) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/venom-let-there-be-carnage.md