Monday 29 October 2018

Movie Review: Halloween 2018


Hey everyone, my name is Anthony and welcome to the final part of my movie review of Halloween special.

Well, i've done talking about a ventriloquist gone mad for haunting Halloween and a former reporter became a host from the Symbiote, we're reaching one genre that i haven't covered, Slasher movie.

Over decades, we're familiar of horror films with classic monsters, as time goes, many people in Hollywood or in indie films are making horror films in violence level, like Psycho in 1960, Night of the living dead in 1968 and few more in the old days. But then we have Halloween in 1978, this is the film that it gave birth of slasher genre and it is no wonder why it became a horror classic. But like we all know, its rather debatable that there's Black Christmas in 1974 that it may considered as the first slasher, but i digress.

For Halloween, not only it became the most successful horror film (since it was done in low-budget about $300,00 or $325,000), but also made an inspirational slasher films like "Friday the 13th", "Nightmare on Elm Street" or sometimes make fun of cliches like "Scream". Though if you ask me about the Halloween sequels, well, it went alright to S***. But don't worry, im not talking about those crappy sequels, there had been a reboot sequels like H20 in 1998 and the one that il talking about today.

"Halloween 2018" is... Well, a 2018 slasher film that was written/directed by David Gordon Green, produced by Malek Akkad, Jason Blum and Bill Block, and written by Jeff Fradley and Danny McBride.

Like i said before, when it comes to sequels, its a different story that most of them are alright to god awful that we don't wanna talking about. Unless you counted "Halloween 3: Season of the witch", it had nothing to do with the series, since it was poor attempt of anthology series. After Halloween 6 that it killed off the franchise, it was rebooted with sequels like the mentioned H20, but ended up badly which it also killed off after "Halloween Resurrection" (aka "Halloween: Busta Rhymes vs Michael Myers"). Except for Rob Zombie's Halloween, because they're also a different story.

So now we have a second sequel reboot, will this movie holds up to bringing slasher back, or is this film really deserve to be watched in sanitarium?

Well, lets find out.


The Story
After 40 years when Laurie Strode was saved by Sam Loomis from Michael Myers, Michael was taken to a new facility and Sam Loomis had passed away. The podcasters Aaron Korey and Dana Haines entered the facility for the interview of Dr. Ranbir Sartain for what happened and then they attempt to talking at Michael about the past, but refuses to talk. Later on, they also going to interviewing with Laurie Strode, but failed for bribing that she kicked out, since she's suffering PTSD after 40 years that she wants revenge over Michael. Meanwhile after the bus was sabotaged, Michael is escaped and murdered podcasters and some clerks in gas station, he wears back his classic outfit and going back to Haddonfielf, Illinois for killing spree and even targeting the Strode family, its up to Laurie has to save her family before the shape kills them.

Though its rather an interesting way to make a sequel of the first Halloween, ignoring all previous installments (especially without the mention of Michael Myers's survive from the fire, which is ridiculous that its more deader than gun shots.), i find the story feels more of a typical vengeful from the past, its like have we heard it before? Not only that, the movie also goes to a subplot to introducing Karen and Allyson, it may sounds interesting for them, if they could've give more development. Accept for Karen, but we'll got the characters later. And you're probably wondering about the plot element of babysit? Well, it has that, but it was only use for second act and thats about it, which it kinda feels like a filler. But the most unnecessary part is the party scene for a Allyson and her boyfriend, i know it supposed to give a character development, but does this have to do witht he plot? Nothing, its probably an obvious filler.

The story itself is nice for sequel of the first Halloween, but it would've been better for good development for maybe more backstory and possibly avoiding cliches. 

The Production
Since this is a horror slasher film with between 10 or 15 million dollars of budget, i find the presentation of this film is actually pretty nice.

At first, when i watched it, i was expected that it was filmed in California, but in reality, it was filmed in Charleston, South California. Kinda disappointed, but not a bad filming location of small town, gas station, woods and even Laurie's guard house. Speaking of Laurie's home, i find it to be pretty cool, like it has a secret room underground with guns and other stuff, the other room has a module of Myers's house and even trap doors. Its almost like she's putting traps, but not an actual traps, but more of trap doors.

Since this is a horror slasher film, you're probably wondering about the body counts? Well, the body counts are kinda similar from before, but probably brutal. Especially some body counts shown whats happening, such as the scene where the shape smashes a victim to the wall, stabbing a victim through the throat or even where he opens his hands that he drops several teeth, which my only guess he brutally killed one victim by tearing off teeth, right?  And for the mask, its pretty obvious his mask remains the same as we all know and love. The mask was done in life cast to make it looks aged and weathered, i find the mask itself is nice way for continuation after 40 years to make it looks dirtier and maybe more disturbing.

However, since the presentation of cinematography looks pretty nice and slightly disturbing, but sometimes it gets too dark. I know it was supposed to have more suspenseful in the dark, but its just that sometimes we may barely see anything for whats happening, especially through the night. I know it maybe unnecessary for nitpicking about dark cinematography, but thats just my own problem since i watched Godzilla 2014. But probably the most annoying part of the movie (for obvious cliche) is the use of fake jumpscares, i mean we're building up to see what's going on next like the attack or even the reveal body count, but sometimes it used out of nowhere like some characters randomly appears in front of main characters or even cheap pranks.

The production of this movie is pretty good and kinda nostalgia, even if some parts of presentation might have some flaws.

The Characters
After 40 years, we expected to see how our old characters have a new development and the new casts?

For starter, we have our famous protagonist Laurie Strode (played by Jamie Lee Curtis), from before she's student and being called for babysitting Tommy that we all know, she's somewhat independent and nervous. In this year's sequel, she's suffering PTSD over Michael Myers after decades, which it droves her very mad that she wants to kill him. I find her changing persona actually works that we're rooting for her that we like see her beating up at the shape, its like H20, but at least she didn't change her name.

As for Michael Myers (played by Nick Castle for minimal of acting and James Jude Courtney for stunts), there's not much else to say, he's a silent murderer who's targeting at Strode family his reason of pure evil. Unlike in final act what we see the villain's face, you can see his face a bit from the first act. when we saw his face (don't miss it if you blink), he looks terribly aged since he's been in sanitarium. Though there's some subplot that he said one word, but that didn't happen, which totally unfair that we like to hear it, but then again, he's a silent killer.

And you're probably wondering about Sam Loomis that most characters mentioned? Sadly, he didn't make appearance, which we all know he's famously played by Donald Pleasence. However, he was written off as a mentioned character, because Donald was passed away in 1995 (the year of my birth).

As for the new casts? Well, they're rather bellow average to describe them.

For starter, we have a new psychiatrist named Ranbir Sartain (played by Haluk Bilginer), he's a replacement from Sam Loomis, though i find him to be not bad, but he's not as great than Loomis for interesting lines and his appearance slightly small. Though Haluk did a nice job, but again, Ranbir wasn't feel believable as Loomis.

Then we have Karen Nelson (played by Judy Greer) though she's rather a typical mother, but she did gave her character development from the past that she was dealing with bullies and trained herself, its a nice development, but why can't she joined her mother Laurie for a fist fight against Michael, i guess she's been aged that she doesn't want to break her wrists. But to be fair, i might say Judy did a nice work of her role.

As for Karen's daughter, Allyson (played by Andi Matichak), though im assuming that she's supposed to be the next Laurie Strode in the movie, but she's rather a lame character. She's just a generic girl who sees a boy to fell in love, before walked away from early cheat. Talk about the most cliche development ever. Though Andi did alright, but her development is forgettable.

As for the rest, there's aren't anything to say, which if you've seen most of slasher film, most of characters has a typical personalities and do like any teenagers do, smoking pot, drinking and sexing. But those are like golden rules that if anyone does that, they'll be killed off.

Unless there's one kid that i think he's smart is Julian Morrisey (played by young Jibrail Nantambu), despite a typical kid, but he's probably knew the babysitter Vicky (played by Virginia Gardner, and not to be confused with the one with a same name from "The Fairly Odd Parents" show.) does like any teenagers do. Which Spoiler Alert, Vick is obviously a body count from the shape.

The characters are rather bellow average with some characters is nice to see them again (like Laurie and Michael), while the new casts had some nice development (like Karen), but others are forgettable or even ditsy as the first Halloween, but at least some characters didn't overusing the word "Totally" for drinking game, otherwise il be dead from alcohol poiso-- Oh wait, im not into a alcohol drinker.

And now for my final opinion of this film
Overall, "Halloween 2018" is a welcome return to celebrating 40th anniversary, but i don't think i would call it a best sequel, with the story is interesting, but done before, the presentation is pretty nice, despite of darkness cinematography and an annoying jumpscares and the characters are fifty-fifty with reprising role and some new characters aren't as interesting.

Though some say is a pretty good film for bringing back the old slasher since 1978, but others believe its a chasing in of the franchise. For me, again, its a nice return, but would've been better what we like to see. If you're a fan of slasher or Halloween series, i'd say give this one a watch, if not, just stick to the original one. But to be fair, the box-office was success that it was already announced to make a sequel and there's a rumor about the return of "Friday the 13th", thanks to the success.

I give this movie 6.5/10.

So this concludes of my Halloween special of movie review,  if you guys have your opinion or any suggestions, let me know at comment bellow and support me on KO-FI.com/blackevil.

Thanks for reading, and im Anthony, signing out and Happy Halloween everyone.

Monday 22 October 2018

Movie Review: Goosebumps 2 Haunted Halloween


Hey everyone, my name is Anthony and welcome back to my movie review in Halloween Special.

From three years ago, i talked about Goosebumps the movie, which the horror children stories is considered famous for some scary story and some bizarre one. When they adapted to the movie, it was pretty original and i liked it.

Looking back, i find it rather not bad, its rather above average that despite originality concept, but would've been better for some characters and a quality effects. Ever since it was successful, its no surprising that they're gonna make a sequel Mr. Stine has to dealing cursed books again.

"Goosebumps 2 Haunted Halloween" is a 2018 horror comedy film directed by Ari Sandel, produced by Deborah Forte and Neal H. Moritz, and written by Rob Lieber and Darren Lemke (for story).

Like i said, i wasn't grew up with these books as a kid, but i remembered saw these from my old school that i picked a random books of Goosebumps for my curiosity read. And after three years, Columbia came in to taking over for a sequel after Village Roadshow Pictures made a first one.

So, with all that said, will this movie will make a fun spooky sequel, or is it deserves to be banished to the book?

Well, lets find out.

The Story
It started with a girl named Sarah who's on attempting to going into Columbia University for her short story, while her young brother Sonny was doing a science project about Nicolas Tesla's tower. But one day, Sonny and his best friend Sam going on for a treasure hunting from the abandoned house after their phone call, once they're picking up trash in their box, Sam founds a chest that it only has a book, once he and Sonny opened the book, they unexpectedly notice a dummy name "Slappy" is out of the book secretly comes alive and his goal is to bring Halloween to alive for rampaging the village, its up to Sonny, Sam and Sarah to stop Slappy with a book once and for all.

Although its a not bad story for Halloween, but the biggest problem is that the story is recycled from the first movie for the same story, but slightly different. In the first film, its about the creatures from the book comes alive, here its Halloween theme. From before, we expected that the sequel should be even more original like maybe about a another new story for the book, but nope, they ended up being unoriginal by suing the same story element from before. But it may home some subplots, like where our heroes has to save Sarah and Sonny's mother from Slappy or even calling R.L. Stine for help.

Though the subplot are slightly good, but it just that the story is just unoriginal, it feels like the first film, but with Halloween theme.

The Production
For the presentation itself of the movie, its like you borrowed the same work from the first film with of course, Halloween.

Obvious aside, at least its rather nice looking. The location is like before with village, small town and forest briefly. Not only them, but also an abandoned tower from Nicolas Tesla, not bad, even though its like a typical mad scientist castle, but more modern. And like before, it takes place in a very long night, even though its a one in a half hour film.

As for the monsters, though Slappy was done in traditional puppet, which is pretty cool and the design looks always great like the previous film or even the book. While the rest was all done in CGI by Sony Pictures Animation. some of monster designs looks pretty cool like living jack-o-lantern, a witch or Walter which im pretty he was done in motion capture. And some are over the top, like a giant spider made out of balloons. And the quality that some times are nice looking, but others feels rather video game-ish. But hey, at least their CG effect is a lot better than Hotel Transylvanian 3.

The production of this film is like before, but with some are creative design, but other wasn't as good looking.

The Characters
However, this movie didn't brought back some previous cast, it goes with new casts, but they're probably cliche.

First is Sonny (played by Jeremy Ray Taylor) is even though a main hero, but he's more like a nerd for a science project based on Tesla's story. But to be fair, i find that he's rather interesting than the previous main hero who's rather lame.

Next there's Sam (played by Caleel Harris), he's simply Sonny's best friend, but i felt that he's an under-developed sidekick. Though Caleel seems to be older to playing as a kid, but i did a not a bad job of his acting.

Then we have Sarah, Sonny's older sister (played by Madison Iseman), i find her to be rather ok, she started a typical sister who didn't care much, before she gets better, since she's getting started for her own story. Even though i find that despite nice development, but also a flawed character.

And finally, we have a main antagonist, Slappy the dummy (voiced by Mick Wingert). I find him a pretty cool character, he's like Goosebumps version of Chucky with supernatural power and plan to taking over with monsters. Sadly, Jack Black didn't reprise his voice of Slappy, instead it was Mick Wingert, which i find his role isn't that great than Jack.

Speaking of Jack, fictional R.L. Stine (played by Jack Black) returns in the movie, but sadly, he's a throw away character who appeared from second to third act, i mean he's rather a pretty cool fictional character based on real life R.L. Stine, but instead, he barely show up until he comes for a help, damn shame.

And the rest aren't much else to say, because most of them are pretty cliche, like Sarah and Sonny's mother Kathy (played by Wendi McLendon-Covey) who's a mother that she didn't know or care anything whats going on (typical mothers in various films...), Tommy (played by Peyton Wich) who's a generic bully that he has no purpose of the plot (sorta), Mr. Chu (played by Ken Jeong) is not only a typical neighbor, but he's also decorative (to be honest, i think he's rather a cool character, despite of lame name) and Walter (played by Chris Parnell) who's a love interest of Kathy, but being victimized to become an enemy.

The characters are slightly better than before, but they could've make a better development to avoiding cliche.

And now for my final opinion of this film.
Overall, "Goosebumps 2: Haunted Halloween" is a bellow average film, with recycled story, a nice presentation and rather a bellow average characters. This movie feels like they running out of ideas by using the same story then adding Halloween theme as an extra ingredient in order to make money. Though some of monsters and some characters are nice to see or rooting for, but i have like no other ways to say for positive note. I don't really recommend to watch this movie, but i'd say stick to the first movie or maybe stick to the book series. But if you're a fan of Goosebumps or even a fun Halloween film, i'd say its for you with pre teens.

I give this movie a 4.5/10. I don't recommend it, but at least this isn't a film that it made me wanna pull my hairs out.

So this ends of my movie review, if you guys have your opinion or any suggestions, let me know at comment bellow and support me on KO-FI.com/blackevil.

But tune it next time, we're reaching at the final part of my Halloween Special, involving a man in sanitarium who seeks revenge over a former babysitter who happens to be a lost sister...

Til next time.

Monday 15 October 2018

Movie Review: First man

Warning: The following Review contains Spoiler. Readers discretion is advised.


Hey everyone, my name is Anthony and welcome back to my movie review. But this is not part of Halloween Special, but il promise that il going back at next Monday.

Anyway, when you're a kid, are you fascinated about science going to space, a planets or even a station? Well, im one of those since my childhood. Because ever since you like some cultures like Star Wars, Star Trek, Transformers and more. But in a very old days, there was real thing that they we can go to space for the first time since 1961 with the late Soviet name Yuri Gagarin. Though it made a big deal to going in space, but none can compare one of the most famous and the most talk about true story we've ever heard.

"First Man" is a 2018 biographical film directed/produced by Damien Chazelle, produced by Wyck Godfrey, Marty Bowen and Isaac Klausne, and written by Josh Singer.

Even though it said to be based on the book of "First Man: The Life of Neil A. Armstrong"
by James R. Hansen, but we're always believe this film was based on the true story about our late astronaut named Neil Armstrong who's the very first man for going to the moon. Although this is not the only film about a plan to the moon, such as "Apollo 13", nut in opposite direction where they wanted going to the moon, but didn't make it due to the broken oxygen supply and electric power as they struggling to going back to Earth.

So now we got this film that we ask our question, where did it began about the first man on the moon, is accurate or perhaps a poorly written film for cash-in?

Well, lets find out.

The Story
It started in 1961 where Neil Armstrong worked as a test pilot of  X-15 flights, but failed several times, causing him to be temporarily grounded, and his daughter Karen is sadly died shortly from brain tumor. However, Neil decided to joining NASA Astronaut Group 2 with his pal Elliot See, but four years later (1965), it went down again where not only the Soviet  Alexey Leonov done the first EVA Voskhod 2, but Neil lost his friend Elliot from T-38 crash. After the devastation, Neil and his pilot David Scott working together with Gemini 8 and it was successful, even though it had a divided reception, including his wife Janet. And finally the mission to the moon where Apollo 1 was supposed to be the first time, but failed from the electrical wire causes to light on fire and explosion in the cockpit, resulting a plan B for Apollo 11 with Neil and Buzz Aldrin and the rest is history.

Though il apologize for the spoiler, but come on, its simply predictable for the story to follow from real event. Anyway, i find the story itself is rather interesting to see where did Neil began before to the moon. The movie mainly focus on Neil's mission in NASA with Gemini 8 to Apollo 11. The direction of the movie is pretty nice for how it goes. Even though its a 2 hours film. But my nitpick of the film is a subplot of the Neil's family about his drama from the past and semi separation from his wife, which i know they want to see the reception of Neil's wife and the kids about the mission, but i felt that its kinda unnecessary and probably dragged on.

The story is how it goes that we like to know Neil's pre-mission of the moon, its simply good, but sometimes the subplot could be a bit too much.

The Production
Before we get the presentation, but we're going to take a little bit of origin. The development was started back in 2003 that it was originally to be directed by the legendary badass actor/director Clint Eastwood with Warner Bros, though this is not the first time he made a space mission called "Space Cowboys" in 2000. Unfortunately, that idea won't happened with Eastwood, that is until it was taken over by Universal and DreamWorks, especially with Josh Singer came in to rewrite the script of the story.

For the presentation, it looks pretty cool for how it takes place in 1960's, i mean it looks really nice with the 60's stuff around, especially with a recreation of Armstrong's home, even though the house is feels a bit modern-ish. The space scene like Gemini 8 is pretty intense which it might be obvious for the use of CGI, which it looks pretty cool for represent, even if its not a fan with some scene with Armstrong's training or even the spinning Gemini 8 scene for a motion sickness, like when i saw them, i was a bit dizzy from a lot of shaky stuff. Speaking of it, another nitpick of the film for me is the shacking camera, which is a pretty cliche development, which makes it even more annoying to watch. As for the moon landing, it was filmed on local rock quarry at night, which it is pretty hard to filming to pretend the characters are in space, but its a nice filming for a tricky effect. One last thing to say, the music of this movie is very nice.

Though the production is nice and beautiful looking, sometimes some of stuff feels like a rollercoaster of intensity in space.

The Characters
Though i like to give the info and my thought of the characters in various movies, but its rather a difficult story for this one.

First is Neil Armstrong (played by Ryan Gosling), he's likely the main focus of the movie that we're routing for his mission, especially he's famously know as the first man in the moon in history with NASA. For Ryan's role, i find he did a nice job and probably nice fit for his look. But hey, at least he deserves better than Blade Runner 2049.

Then we have Neil's wife named Janet Shearon (played by Claire Foy), though Claire might have a nice look and a not bad acting, but i felt that they use her a bit much for her reaction about the mission and the argument for what's happening, especially where she didn't realized about Armstrong's traumatic loss of his best friend and his dead daughter.

As for the rest, there aren't much else to say, they're a lot of characters, which like i said before, the movie mainly focus on Neil Armstrong, though it may have some characters for a team work, like Buzz Aldrin (played by Corey Stoll) for Apollo 11 and David Scott (played by Christopher Abbott) for Gemini 8.

To be fair, the acting is pretty good, despite for some moment with pause before the line, which i know its a dramatic biographical film, which they could've be a little bit realistic than slowing down, even for 2 hours long movie.

The characters aren't as much important for more info. But like i said, the movie is mainly focus on Neil himself that we can't wait to see.

And now for my final opinion of this film.
Overall, "First Man" is good movie that i can say and its nice to see how it goes before the famous Apollo 11. The story is nice, the presentation is beautifully done, the direction is interesting and the casts are not bad. Even though the movie takes a lot of time before the moon mission, like Gemini 8 which it is pretty intense to see. Even if the subplot is a bit too much for the family and the shaky camera is probably annoying for intensity from plane incident to space mission. don't give me wrong, its pretty cool how it looks, but i don't want it too much for anyone with motion sickness.

If you're pretty curious where did Neil Armstrong began before Apollo 11, maybe this one is for you.

Il give this movie a 7/10. It may not be my favorite film based on true story, but its really nice to see how it depicts.

So this ends of my movie review, if you guys have your opinion or any suggestions, let me know at comment bellow and support me on KO-FI.com/blackevil.

Thanks for reading, and im Anthony, signing out.

Tuesday 9 October 2018

Movie Review: Venom

*starts in the alleyway*

Corporate Driver: *being tossed to the wall and tries to running away* Oh no...!! Get away from me!!

Anthony: *seriously walks at CD*

Corporate Driver: *crawls back* Go away...!! *grabs a empty bottle and throws on his knee*

Anthony: *gets hit but a bottle and tripped on the ground in pain on his knee*

Corporate Driver: *gets up and approaching him* Now, how'd you like that apple, kid?

Anthony: *grabs his throat, mysteriously healed and grows bigger to transforming into Venom*

Corporate Driver: No... No!!!

Venom (Anthony): Eyes... Lungs... Pancreas... So many snacks... So little time...

Secretary Driver: Hey you freak!! *grabs her gun to shoot him, but didn't effect from symbiote's body* Huh?!

Venom (Anthony): *looks at her then throws CD at SD like a rag doll and runs away by climbing on the wall to go back home*

Corporate Driver: Argh...! What the hell was that...?!


Hey everyone, my name is Anthony and welcome my new movie review with Halloween special. For this special, i decided to do three parts of my movie in this month of October, minus one called "First Man", which it has nothing to do with my Halloween special, because i will talk about next week.

Anyway, from many years ago, i always a huge fan of Spider-man to see various villains that we all know, like Vulture, Doctor Octopus, Green Goblin, Electrode, The Lizard or even Symbiote. When the 80's kicked in, comics are started to focus with dark with violence, disturbance and possibly fan-service, since in the late 70's where Gwen Stacy tragically died from Spider-man's (supposed) saving her from Green Goblin, causing the end of Silver age.

Since i like some Marvel characters like Spider-Man, Iron Man, Captain Marvel, Black Widow, Deadpool or The Punisher, but the one is like my number one favorite Anti-hero is Venom. Created by David Michelinie and Todd McFarlane (Yup, the same guy who created Spawn), Eddie Brock was started lone, stressed and depressed person where after he got fired from Daily Globe for making fake news about the wrong identity, not only he got fired, but also lost his apartment and his wife, that is until he was unexpectedly bonded by Symbiote in the church to seeking revenge at Spider-man and the rest is history.

Since we love Venom, we really want to see Eddie/Venom on the big screen. Such as Spider-Man 3 and it was...  Yeah, its not a very good casting choice with Topher Grace, an absolute embarrassment of our favorite character...  But after several years, we heard a report that Sony is gonna make a standalone movie with Venom and having Tom Hardy as a main role.

"Venom" is a 2018 superhero film directed by Ruben Fleischer, produced by Avi Arad, Matt Tolmach
 and Amy Pascal, and written by Jeff Pinkner, Scott Rosenberg and Kelly Marcel (only for screenplay).

When i first heard about it, i was anticipating to see it and hope it will be better than Spider-man 3. From the development, the film was supposed to be a spin-off from Sam Raimi's Spider-man, but it got scrapped due to the decline from the third installment. But since Disney is already own Marvel, it will be pretty difficult to have Venom in MCU, since Sony own the rights. so, they decided to making their own Marvel Universe aside from MCU. And we're expected that the film was supposed to be R-Rated, since was known to be a anti-hero for murdering any bad guys like Deadpool did, but it was tone down to PG-13, which the potential is about to be concerned before the release, but hoped for the better.

So, with all that said, will this standalone holds up for Sony's first Marvel Universe film, or is it really deserves to crawling away from a high pitch frequency?

Well, lets find out.

The Story
It begins where a ship from "Life Foundation" was crash landing in the forest of Malaysia, they originally has four alien beings called "Symbiotes", but one of them broke out to bonding one pilot to breaking out of ambulance. Meanwhile, we introduce our main hero names Eddie Brock, who works as an investigation reporter of the news. However, while reporting of Life Foundation, he was on interview with the founder name Carlton Drake about their experiment, but also about the lawsuit that Drake doesn't want to hear about, which ended up where Brock confronting that he wants the truth, but the damage was done that he got fired and a break up from his love interest name Anne Weying. Six months later, he was on his own and wishes to be better than Life Foundation, but meets one scientist name Dora Skirth, but Dora wanted to talk to him for the secret truth about the foundation, which they're making experiment with Symbiote, which she asks him to check in, he accepted (despite the blame from the first meet) that she let him break in to see the evidence, but not before one subject was begging to break free, he did, but gone wrong when the Symbiote transferring at Brock. After that, he's starting to losing his control where he proceeds to eating his foods or even driving insane that he wanted to call for help. Despite that, he was also being targeted by Life, which they want the one Symbiote that Brock was bonded, its up to Eddie for not only survive himself, but also keeping Symbiote for its reason.

I find that the story itself is rather interesting, even though it would've give more interesting development, especially about the Symbiotes aside from Venom and Riot, say bonding at someone for the hosts, but no, they let one of them died from the lack of oxygen without the important host. But as far that i know, it rather focuses Eddie Brock and his Symbiote Venom for the development, but other times the writing could be questionable, especially some dialogues like "Going down to the street, like a turd in wind", like what the heck is this meaning?? And some moment are ended up with a filler, like the scene where Eddie sent a message to the news station for some reason, but does this have to do with the plot? Nothing. But of course, they even add some sense of humor lines, which i did chuckle from either a dialogue or even some moment, like where Eddie doesn't want to jump down, but using an elevator, which Venom is not very please for his "Pussy" decision, i mean i have to admit, it made me laugh.

The story and writing is not bad, but i wish if they could give more development to make it more interesting like the army of Symbiotes.

The Production
Since this is the first Sony's Marvel Universe film, how's the presentation holds up?

First of all, the filming location is actually nice, since it takes place in San Francisco, California. Which i guess they're following the setting from the comic that instead of New York (for only Spider-Man), it goes to SF for Venom like in his own comic "Venom: lethal protector". Then they also film the other location to pretend that its Malaysia, even though it was filming not only Francisco, but also Atlanta and New York. I don't know, maybe its the limit of their budget without going in Malaysia.

The action scenes are pretty cool from chasing in the forest, attacking the SWAT and the bike chase scene. Though the bike scene is probably cliche, but i find it to be pretty creative with Symbiote. As for the Symbiotes, i find the effects of these are pretty cool and kinda creepy, way better than the one from Spider-Man 3 they it moves like a crawling hands, even though it looks ok, but the effects in this movie is probably more better for the quality and their creepy moves. Sometimes, the movie gives us a jumpscare, such as when Eddie went in pain from high pitch frequency or where Riot was transformed and probably acting like Christian Bale's Batman. However, i heard that they're originally doing a motion capture to playing as Venom and Riot, but due to the difficulty for the physical and the facial, they decided to changed it in CG, the CG effect of Venom and Riot are not bad that i can say, but at least their designs are better than Spider-Man 3.

But of course, the main criticism of this movie is that it was supposed to be R rated movie that we like to see since the previous Marvel films of X-Men universe like Logan and Deadpool. But because they wanted to make a future crossover with MCU Spider-Man, they decided to tone the violent down with PG-13 rated, which again, causing a concerning potential that it'll fail. But the violent is kinda there, i mean there's some body count where Venom eating a victim's head off and some of dialogues with swearing, especially some moment with an F-bomb. I mean, are you sure you could, i don't know, change your mind to going back to R or something...?

The production of this movie is pretty cool kinda like MCU, but as i may agree with the fans, i still wish if this movie should've been an R-rated movie, even if they could've ask Disney for a violent content for Venom.

The Characters
We expected that this movie would have some likable characters? Well, its rather a mixed bag.

First is Eddie Brock, aka Venom (played by Tom Hardy, aka Bane from "The Dark Knight Rises"), we definitely agree that he's probably a likable character in the movie. As i said, he started a lone and a blamer for what he deserves better than Life Foundation. But when he got bonded by the Symbiote, everything went different to him, he's more like a puppet that he was forced to do so, including where he was forced to eat something or other times driving insane from his mind. Not to mention, Tom also providing the voice of Venom, and i think his voice is pretty cool for creepiness or even his dark sense of humor. Though i haven't seen either Mad Max Fury Road or even The Dark Knight Rises, but like i said, he's easily a better role in this movie.

Then we have our main antagonist named Carlton Drake (played by Riz Ahmed), i find him to be rather an average villain, he's just a typical big boss of his foundation to change the world with Symbiotes. Though Riz did a nice work, but his character would've been more interesting for maybe more development. and for a fourth Symbiote "Riot", im pretty sure you know who belongs to...

Speaking of "need more development", there are few others that i have no others to say. Anne Weying (played by Michelle Williams) who's not only Eddie's ex-fiancee, but also an district attorney, though Michelle did a not bad role, Dr. Dan Lewis (played by Reid Scott) who's a generic new love interest of Anne, but at least he's not a douchebag persona, but more a helper at Eddie's danger, Dora Skirth (played by Jenny Slate) who's a scientist who turned against the foundation secretly and yes, Stan Lee is always making his cameo in this movie, don't miss him if you blink.

The characters have a nice casts, but some of their developments would've been have a chance of likability like Tom Hardy's Eddie Brock.

And now for my final opinion of this film.
Overall, when it first came out, the critics gave a bellow average reception with poor tone and questionable writing. But i disagree with them, because... Its not the worst superhero film, its more like a big fat guilty pleasure like Suicide Squad. The writing is not bad, the story is interesting for the main focus of Brock, the presentation looks pretty cool (at least its not as overdose of darkness like Godzilla 2014 for cinematography.) and  characters are a mixed bag that some are great like Eddie Brock, but others are rather boring and would've been a well-written characters.

Like i said, i am disagree at the critics for how "bad" it is, i mean its not the worst superhero film ever made, i mean i had seen worse in this year which i won't compare, otherwise it'll make suffer PTSD. Does this film is recommend to watch?  Well, i'd say yes, its more likely a biggest request for Spider-Man fans, Venom fans and even Marvel fans as well. But i don't think il consider a perfect film like Infinity War or Incredibles 2. Its a good film, but with flaws that it should've been. But, i guess we have to wait that we like to see a rivalry between Tom Holland's Spider-man and Tom Hardy's Venom.

I gave this movie a 7.5/10. Go watch it if you want, which again, i recommend this one for first Marvel film outside of MCU by Sony.

So this ends of my movie review, if you guys have your opinion or any suggestions, let me know at comment bellow and support me on KO-FI.com/blackevil.

So tune it next two weeks later of Halloween Special, we're going back to land of horror kids story that they'll coming back for haunted Halloween...