Posted in: Movies, Sony, Venom | Tagged: film, sony, venom

Venom Director Teases an Unrated Version and Horror Influences

Published Fri, 14 Sep 2018 15:50:00 -0500

Sony Pictures is betting the Spider-Man farm on Venom next month. Thus far people are really unsure what they can expect from a movie like this. Logan and Deadpool proved that there is an audience for R-rated superhero movies but Sony officially decided to give Venom a PG-13. This wouldn't be the first time a comic book movie got a PG-13 when it probably should have been rated R with the other example being The Wolverine. Does that mean there is an unrated version of Venom in the works? Director Ruben Fleischerspoke to Fandango and couldn't confirm an unrated version but didn't rule it out either.

I wouldn't rule anything out. We'll have to see where it lands, I guess, but I wouldn't rule anything out.

Venom might be a Marvel character and could have a connection to the MCU but that doesn't mean this is a Marvel movie. Fleischer explains that he wanted this movie to be completely different from what we normally see in superhero movies.

When I set out to make the movie, I wanted to distinguish the film tonally, and I wanted to make a darker, grittier, kind of edgier comic book movie that also has a strong horror element, which is inherent to the character and the comic. Those were the aspects: darker, edgier, grittier. I think Tom Hardy embodies all of those qualities. The combination of Tom, Venom the character, and then the look of the film, which we really tried to make look, like I just said, edgy and gritty and dark and grounded of this world.

One of the things that has people worried about Venom is how much of a connection it's going to have to Spider-Man. At the moment no one can even confirm whether or not Spider-Man is even in the same universe but Fleischer thinks Venom can stand on his own as a character.

Venom is a standalone character who has so much attitude, menace and ferocity. He's also really funny in the comics and in our movie. He's a really compelling guy that can completely stand on his own. When he's played by Tom Hardy, and Eddie Brock is his partner, that relationship is enough for one movie. It's about these two entities coming together and forming one. That's a really exciting and satisfying relationship that is unique to a comic book movie and also very captivating.

"Funny" is not a characteristic we usually associate with a character like Venom but Fleischer says that classic 80's horror movies were part of his inspiration when it came to getting the tone right for Venom.

As a comic book fan, I've seen all the comic book movies. I didn't have to watch them specifically for this. I was more interested in the kind of classic '80s horror movies. American Werewolf in London was a big influence on me, just because of the experience of being taken over by another. You know, [David] Cronenberg and John Carpenter, I just love his classic horror movies. Aesthetically, the director of photography and I talked a lot about the look of those films. Those were probably the ones that come to mind first as far as the look and the feeling of the movie.

Tickets are Venom are now on sale and the early numbers say the movie could bring in up to $80 million its opening weekend. When the embargo comes down and the reviews come in that could really impact those numbers one way or another.

Summary: When Eddie Brock acquires the powers of a symbiote, he will have to release his alter-ego "Venom" to save his life.

Venom, directed by Ruben Fleischer, will star Tom Hardy, Riz Ahmed, Jenny Slate, Reid Scott, and Michelle Williams. It will be released on October 5th.

Enjoyed this? Please share on social media!