Dove Review

Parasites are nasty. They’re inconsiderate, rude guests, and if someone is host to one, it’s not going to be a mellow visit. Such is the case in Venom.

Eddie (Tom Hardy) wasn’t looking to have an alien organism inhabit his body and mind, he was just looking for some answers regarding a shady medical/tech/space-exploration group. He does get answers, and some uninvited parasitic company by the name of Venom. Venom’s a strong alien, able to alter and stretch its form, speak into Eddie’s thoughts, and has one of those million-dollar smiles that might make someone’s skull a snack on their journey to stop the destruction of Earth.

Venom feels like a bit of a super-antihero tantrum, and somewhat similar to a toddler’s meltdown in aisle 3. It has a generally friendly and well-behaved formula which gets angry, throws a fit, screams, fights, calms down for a second, maybe learns something, and foreshadows more composed and calculated tantrums for the future. Like many tantrums, we may ask if it’s necessary. It doesn’t do much more than simply create a scene for people to watch. It is violent, laced with language, and has its moral compass in one hand, with a magnet in the other—going nowhere new. Rather than being more thought-provoking (or intriguingly ambiguous) regarding morality and evil, it is superficial and flimsy, flattening positive aspects.

It’s simple: a parasite wants a host, and Venom wants an audience. Dove.org does not approve Venom.

The Dove Take

Venom’s parasitic plot possibilities are confined in its violent, superficial anti-heroics and morality.

Dove Rating Details

0

Faith

The biblical story of Isaac is discussed with a deeply questionable interpretation.

2

Integrity

Many violent fights and wounds; some blood and scrapes; Venom eats people and animals,including crunching their heads away; discussion of biting the heads off people; a nasty legwound with blood and bone protruding; a character is impaled; Eddie/Venom eats live lobstersand garbage; a character eats a live eel; guns and shooting; explosions; discussions of violence;scared people are test subjects; people's bodies contort violently; people attack and threatenothers; car chases and crashes; various people, including a child are in treacherous situations;inhumane animal testing

3

Sex

The hero and his girlfriend live together; they kiss; have suggestive dialogue and jokes; begin to
undress; are seen together in bed; couples kiss; suggestive language and jokes

4

Language

Coarse language used throughout including occasional uses of d**n; b*tch, G*d/OMG, A**; Jesus's name is taken in vain three times; F*ck is used twice (once partially heard); frequent uses of H*ll, and Sh*t (nearly two dozen); other rude language is also used.

4

Violence

Many violent fights and wounds; some blood and scrapes; Venom eats people and animals,
including crunching their heads away; discussion of biting the heads off people; a nasty leg
wound with blood and bone protruding; a character is impaled; Eddie/Venom eats live lobsters
and garbage; a character eats a live eel; guns and shooting; explosions; discussions of violence;
scared people are test subjects; people's bodies contort violently; people attack and threaten
others; car chases and crashes; various people, including a child are in treacherous situations;
inhumane animal testing

2

Drugs

A character goes to a bar and drinks; has beer at home; alcohol at a restaurant.

3

Nudity

Some low-cut tops; characters undressing; a parasite covers people and creates something of a body around them, including a female character, and emphasizes an almost naked looking form.

3

Other

The parasitic relationship between the aliens and characters could be interpreted as almost
demonic, including the scary voice that speaks in their mind to do evil; emphasis on negativity; a villain who talks about God negatively (“God has abandoned us”) and relays the biblical story of Isaac in a questionable fashion; poor individuals are exploited; negative animal testing; disregard for human value; vomit; dark and negative songs, including lyrics regarding the devil and Hell; viewers sensitive to flashing lights should be warned of a scene with flashing lights.