After Venom won over box offices in 2018, Sony quickly started production on a sequel. While little is known about the film for sure, the end-credits scene in Venom made clear Cletus Kasady/Carnage would play a key role in the film. And the movie's newly announced official title, Venom: Let There Be Carnage, reflects that appearance. However, that title is also absolutely terrible.
Hollywood has had some terrible film names over the years. And one of those is Star Wars: Episode I: The Phantom Menace, which is also considered one of the worst films in the franchise. The title itself was considered pretty bad at the time for a number of reasons. Firstly, the identity of the movie's titular "Phantom Menace" isn't particularly clear, with some debating whether it's Palpatine or Darth Maul. While it's generally considered to be the former due to the way he plays both sides, he's not really the overt antagonist of the movie. The real menace is more specifically the political uncertainty he creates and exploits, which is a genuinely weird way to name your film. The movie itself also doesn't even live up to its confusing name, as it lacks the sort of flair you'd expect from the The Phantom Menace title.
However, Venom: Let There Be Carnage is genuinely a worse title. While the issue with Phantom Menace is that it's too subtle, Let There Be Carnage has the opposite problem. It is laughably over-the-top. And that's an issue, because Venom, as a series, has a darker tone than other superhero movies on the market. It's difficult to take a movie seriously when it's title is Let There Be Carnage. It's far more suitable for a heavy metal album name than a gritty anti-hero movie.
The title is also rather confusing. While it telegraphs Carnage's appearance in the film quite clearly, most superhero movie titles have avoided going that route. The production seemingly wanted to sell the film by emphasizing Carnage's presence, but in the process it created something that's long and obtuse.
Let There Be Carnage fails to be informative or sound cool, despite how hard it's trying, which makes it the first truly bad movie title in a very long time. Sony may, at some point, opt to change the movie's subtitle, especially considering the general reaction to it so far. Still, Let There Be Carnage is hardly a good indication the sequel to Venom will be a truly great film.
Directed by Andy Serkis, Venom: Let There Be Carnage stars Tom Hardy, Woody Harrelson, Michelle Williams, Naomie Harris, Reid Scott and Stephen Graham. The film arrives in theaters June 25, 2021.