Venom is coming. And this take on the Marvel antihero isn’t your typical big-screen comic book story. This is a darker character with a less-than-perfect moral compass. How will Venom translate to the big screen, and what’s the movie about exactly? You’ve got questions. We’ve got answers. Here are five big questions about Venom:
What is Venom?
The short answer is that Venom is an alien symbiote with superpowers, and he fuses with Eddie Brock. The longer, weirder answer is that symbiotes (Venom’s species) are fluid, shapeshifting, god-like creatures that seek to bond with other living beings They can ooze through the pores of the host’s skin, or be absorbed by the body. The fun stuff is that they can turn into tendrils, sheets, and force tentacles out of their bodies, and even turn themselves into weapons.
Who is playing Venom?
Tom Hardy is playing both Venom and Eddie Brock, the alien symbiote’s human host. That makes sense, since Venom becomes a part of Brock, and the two merge together into one being. Hardy recorded his Venom lines each morning, would go into hair and makeup for Brock, and then while filming, the production sound mixer and playback editor would play Hardy’s Venom lines from earlier so he could act against himself. Through the aid of sound design, Venom’s voice will have a more monstrous and otherworldly tone to distinguish it from Brock’s normal, human voice.
Who is Venom’s nemesis?
Dr. Carlton Drake, played by Riz Ahmed, heads the Life Foundation and is Brock/ Venom’s main nemesis. He’s the one searching for symbiotes and deciding to illegally test them on humans. A symbiote he captured ends up fusing with Dr. Drake and together they become Riot.
So is Venom good or bad?
He’s both. By itself, the Venom symbiote would likely run amok, eating heads and devouring people’s organs simply because he’s hungry. But Brock is able to keep the symbiote in check, albeit tenuously. It’s a very push-and-pull relationship between the two. Brock tries to curb his passenger’s murderous impulses, but sometimes even Brock isn’t strong enough to stop Venom from eating a few people. The compromise they reach is that Venom can be as rough on people as it wants, as long as Eddie agrees it’s “bad guys” they’re doing it to. So while the character is acting on the side of good, it’s still a terrifying monster with highly questionable, bloody methods.
Is Venom a standalone movie?
Venom isn’t directly related to any other superhero movie out there. And while Venom is the story of one of Marvel’s most badass characters, it’s not part of any other Marvel movie universe we’ve seen. Down the road, we could see more movies in this same continuity, but for now, Venom stands alone.
Have more questions? For all the answers, see Venom on the big screen this October.
