Venom

Venom, released in 2018 and directed by Ruben Fleischer, stars Tom Hardy as Eddie Brock, an investigative journalist whose career is on the brink. His life is turned upside down when he becomes the host of an alien symbiote, Venom. This dual existence grants Eddie superhuman strength and abilities, transforming him into a lethal protector with a unique sense of right and wrong. As Eddie and Venom become intertwined, they struggle to coexist while halting a greater threat posed by the malevolent Carlton Drake and his organization, Life Foundation. The film blends elements of horror, action, and dark humor, offering a fresh take on the often-villainous character from the Spider-Man universe.

Venom garnered mixed reviews from critics and audiences alike. On Rotten Tomatoes, it holds a 30% rating, with the general consensus being that the movie is 'a tone-deaf, unevenly plotted comic book mess that squanders a capable cast and some decent ideas.' However, fans often appreciated the film for different reasons. Over on IMDb, it has a more favorable rating of 6.6/10, indicating that general audiences found it more enjoyable than the critics did. Metacritic's score of 35/100 aligns with the critical mien, stating that while Tom Hardy's performance was noteworthy, the film struggled with pacing and tonal inconsistencies. Variety praised Hardy's 'energetic and magnetic portrayal' of Eddie Brock/Venom but criticized the film for 'clunky dialogue and an underwhelming supporting cast.' Meanwhile, The Guardian offered a voice of dissent with a two-star review, noting that the film 'feels neither genuinely dangerous nor exciting, veering awkwardly between horror, action, and comedy.' Rotten Tomatoes audience score, interestingly, was higher, showing that while critics were harsh, the general audience found the film had merits such as its humor and chaotic fun.