After months of teasers and rumours, Venom has finally hit UK cinemas, albeit to some decidedly mixed reviews.
Like many other modern superhero movies, there is a post-credit scene to give the audience something to chew on while the await the inevitable sequel.
And *SPOILER ALERT* this post-credits sequence did not disappoint, giving comic book fans a glimpse of Woody Harrelson playing sinister super villain Carnage, aka Cletus Kasady.
Much like Eddie Brock himself, Kasady’s body was invaded by an alien symbiote. However, even when he was an ‘ordinary’ human he was still a dark and frightening character.
Before his symbiotic transformation, Kasady was a disturbed serial killer, who merged with Venom’s offspring Carnage during a prison breakout.
According to Marvel, Kasady has a much different relationship with his symbiote than divided Brock:
The symbiote amplified his psychotic nature making him even less mentally stable than he had been previously, and therefore even more dangerous.
An interesting note is that, unlike Venom, Carnage is a singular entity, referring to himself as “I” instead of “We”, because the symbiote has actually merged into Kasady’s bloodstream.
The post-credits scene in question truly sets the scene for the violent, destructive Kasady. A leather clad Brock can be seen biking up to a maximum security prison in San Quentin, preparing to visit a high security inmate.
There are Hannibal Lector vibes all round as Brock arrives at the prison, coming face to face with a red-headed Woody Harrelson in a straitjacket. It is clear even in this brief scene that this is no ordinary prisoner.
With a satisfying creepiness, Kasady can be heard warning Brock:
When I get out of here – and I will – there’s going to be carnage.
Despite their shared experiences of hosting an alien life force within their respective bodies, it is looking highly unlikely these characters will become best buds any time soon. While Brock tries to use his powers for good, Kasady has no desire whatsoever to change his murderous ways.
With his cool blue eyes and trademark southern twang, Harrelson is known for giving distinctive performances while grappling with some pretty heavy topics, from dystopian alcoholism to nihilistic murder investigations.
His performance as serial killer Mickey Knox in controversial black comedy Natural Born Killers (1994) remains notably chilling.
Harrelson would have no problem playing a character who – according to Marvel lore – murdered his own grandmother in his youth.
Those who have watched the post-credits scene have offered a wealth of opinions on the casting choice, with many approving of the choice of Academy Award nominated Harrelson.
One person tweeted:
Venom was actually lots of fun, Cant wait for Carnage to appear, Woody Harrelson is the perfect choice.
Another said:
Carnage is a psychopathic unemotional killer. Woody Harrelson is perfect for that role.
Do you think Harrelson was a good choice for this role?
Venom is now in UK cinemas, as of October 3, 2018.
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Jules studied English Literature with Creative Writing at Lancaster University before earning her masters in International Relations at Leiden University in The Netherlands (Hoi!). She then trained as a journalist through News Associates in Manchester. Jules has previously worked as a mental health blogger, copywriter and freelancer for various publications.