Venom: Let There Be Carnage – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

Venom: Let There Be Carnage

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

movie2021Action, Sci-Fi

35%

WISE Score

Avg. Tomatometer

Symbiote buddy-comedy meets serial-killer carnage—it's loud, messy, and critics mostly shrugged.

5.9/10

58%

83%

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Venom: Let There Be Carnage

movie

PG-13, 2021, Action, Sci-Fi

35%

WISE Score

Avg. Tomatometer

Symbiote buddy-comedy meets serial-killer carnage—it's loud, messy, and critics mostly shrugged.

5.9

58%

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5.9/10

58%

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Screenwise Verdict

Look, this is what it is: a loud, chaotic superhero sequel that critics found mediocre and audiences found... fine. The 58% critic score and 49 Metacritic aren't great, and the 5.9 IMDb rating tells you this isn't essential viewing.

For teens 14+ who are into Marvel-adjacent chaos and don't mind serial killer villains, it's 90 minutes of CGI battles and Tom Hardy talking to himself. It's not enriching, it's not particularly imaginative, and it's definitely not safe for younger kids given the violence and dark themes.

The Eddie/Venom buddy dynamic has some humor, but ultimately this is forgettable popcorn fare. If your teen is begging to watch it because they loved the first one, it's not going to rot their brain—but don't expect much beyond spectacle. There are better superhero movies out there.

Age Fit

Best for teens 14+ who are into superhero action and can handle dark themes, violence, and serial killer content. Adults who enjoyed the first Venom might find this a decent (if forgettable) sequel.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

This sequel leans heavily into violence, dark themes, and chaotic energy. Eddie and Venom's relationship has some buddy-comedy elements, but the overall tone is aggressive, with serial killers, prison breaks, and symbiote battles. Limited modeling of cooperation or emotional health—mostly destruction and mayhem.

Imaginative

The symbiote concept offers some creative sci-fi potential, and the visual effects of symbiote transformations are inventive. However, the story is formulaic superhero sequel fare—villain escapes, hero fights villain, big CGI battle. Doesn't invite much curiosity or creative thinking beyond 'cool alien powers.'

Safe

PG-13 rating likely (Common Sense Media suggests 14+), but this has significant violence, body horror elements with symbiotes, serial killer themes, and intense action sequences. The Carnage character is genuinely disturbing with graphic implications. Not something you'd want a young child stumbling into. For its target teen/adult audience, it's within expectations, but definitely not safe for younger viewers.

Enriching

Minimal cognitive or ethical growth here. It's popcorn entertainment focused on spectacle over substance. Critics gave it 58% and Metacritic scored it 49—mediocre marks. The Letterboxd 2.5/5 and IMDb 5.9 suggest even fans found it just okay. No meaningful themes about responsibility, growth, or empathy—just symbiote smashing.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

If your teen loved the first Venom, this delivers more of that chaotic symbiote energy
Tom Hardy commits fully to the weird Eddie/Venom dynamic, which has some genuinely funny moments
The visual effects are solid—symbiote transformations and battles are creative eye candy
Shorter runtime (around 90 minutes) means it doesn't overstay its welcome

⚠

What to Watch For

Serial killer protagonist (Cletus Kasady/Carnage) with disturbing backstory and violent behavior throughout
Intense action violence, body horror with symbiotes, and dark tone—definitely not for younger kids
Critics were lukewarm at best (58% RT, 49 Metacritic)—this is popcorn fluff, not quality cinema
Common Sense Media recommends 14+ for good reason

Conversation Starters

"What do you think about Eddie and Venom's relationship? Are they friends or just stuck together?"
"The movie shows a serial killer as a main character—how did that make you feel?"
"If you had a symbiote, what would be the hardest part about sharing your body with another being?"
"Why do you think critics didn't love this but audiences gave it higher scores?"

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