Venom: Let There Be Carnage
Eddie Brock struggles to adjust to his new life as the host of the alien symbiote Venom, which grants him super-human abilities in order to be a lethal vigilante. Brock attempts to reignite his career by interviewing serial killer Cletus Kasady, who becomes the host of the symbiote Carnage and escapes prison after a failed execution.
Despite a substantial budget of $110.0M, Venom: Let There Be Carnage became a box office success, earning $506.9M worldwide—a 361% return.
1 win & 6 nominations
Plot Structure
Story beats plotted across runtime
Narrative Arc
Emotional journey through the story's key moments
Story Circle
Blueprint 15-beat structure
Arcplot Score Breakdown
Weighted: Precision (70%) + Arc (15%) + Theme (15%)
Venom: Let There Be Carnage (2021) demonstrates precise story structure, characteristic of Andy Serkis's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 12-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 37 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.1, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Eddie Brock lives in a rundown apartment, his life and career in shambles after the events of the first film, struggling to coexist with the symbiote Venom who constantly demands to eat people and causes chaos.. Significantly, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 12 minutes when Eddie visits Cletus Kasady in prison for an interview. Cletus, a charismatic serial killer, specifically requested Eddie and shows him disturbing drawings that contain hidden clues to his victims' burial sites.. At 12% through the film, this Disruption aligns precisely with traditional story structure. This beat shifts the emotional landscape, launching the protagonist into the central conflict.
The First Threshold at 24 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 25% of the runtime. This demonstrates the protagonist's commitment to Eddie and Venom have a catastrophic fight that ends their partnership. Venom leaves Eddie's body, declaring their relationship over, and goes off on his own to experience freedom and find a new host., moving from reaction to action.
At 48 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 49% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Significantly, this crucial beat Carnage and Cletus reunite with Shriek and go on a killing spree, establishing themselves as unstoppable. The police recognize they need Venom to fight Carnage, raising the stakes and making Eddie and Venom's separation a life-or-death problem., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 72 minutes (74% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Carnage captures Anne and takes her to the cathedral. Eddie, alone and powerless without Venom, faces the reality that he cannot save Anne or stop Carnage by himself. His attempt at independence has led to catastrophic failure., illustrates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Synthesis at 77 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 79% of the runtime. Venom battles Carnage in an epic cathedral fight. Working together with true partnership, Eddie and Venom coordinate their abilities, rescue Anne, and ultimately defeat both Carnage and Cletus by exploiting Carnage's weakness to Shriek's sonic scream., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Venom: Let There Be Carnage's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 12 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs structural analysis methodology used to understand storytelling architecture. By mapping Venom: Let There Be Carnage against these established plot points, we can identify how Andy Serkis utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Venom: Let There Be Carnage within the action genre.
Andy Serkis's Structural Approach
Among the 2 Andy Serkis films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.2, reflecting strong command of classical structure. Venom: Let There Be Carnage takes a more unconventional approach compared to the director's typical style. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Andy Serkis filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional action films include The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, The Bad Guys and Lake Placid. For more Andy Serkis analyses, see Breathe.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Eddie Brock lives in a rundown apartment, his life and career in shambles after the events of the first film, struggling to coexist with the symbiote Venom who constantly demands to eat people and causes chaos.
Theme
Venom tells Eddie, "We can be the Lethal Protector together," introducing the theme of partnership and accepting each other despite fundamental differences to become something greater.
Worldbuilding
Eddie attempts to rebuild his journalism career while managing his volatile relationship with Venom. We see their dysfunctional domestic life, Eddie's ex-fiancée Anne has moved on with Dr. Dan, and serial killer Cletus Kasady requests Eddie for an exclusive interview from death row.
Disruption
Eddie visits Cletus Kasady in prison for an interview. Cletus, a charismatic serial killer, specifically requested Eddie and shows him disturbing drawings that contain hidden clues to his victims' burial sites.
Resistance
Eddie uses Venom's enhanced perception to decode Cletus's drawings, revealing the locations of his victims and making Eddie famous again. However, this success deepens the rift between Eddie and Venom as Eddie refuses to let Venom eat bad guys, causing increasing tension.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Eddie and Venom have a catastrophic fight that ends their partnership. Venom leaves Eddie's body, declaring their relationship over, and goes off on his own to experience freedom and find a new host.
Premise
The premise plays out: What if Eddie and Venom broke up? Meanwhile, during a final interview, Cletus bites Eddie and ingests a drop of Venom symbiote. The symbiote spawns Carnage, who bonds with Cletus, and they escape prison on a murderous rampage to find Cletus's lost love, Shriek.
Midpoint
Carnage and Cletus reunite with Shriek and go on a killing spree, establishing themselves as unstoppable. The police recognize they need Venom to fight Carnage, raising the stakes and making Eddie and Venom's separation a life-or-death problem.
Opposition
Carnage grows stronger and more destructive, targeting Anne to draw out Venom. Eddie and Venom must confront whether to reunite despite their differences. The opposition intensifies as Carnage plans to kill Anne and bond Shriek and Cletus in a twisted wedding at a cathedral.
Collapse
Carnage captures Anne and takes her to the cathedral. Eddie, alone and powerless without Venom, faces the reality that he cannot save Anne or stop Carnage by himself. His attempt at independence has led to catastrophic failure.
Crisis
Eddie confronts his lowest point, realizing he needs Venom and that their partnership, despite its challenges, is essential. He must humble himself and acknowledge that they are better together than apart.
Act III
ResolutionSynthesis
Venom battles Carnage in an epic cathedral fight. Working together with true partnership, Eddie and Venom coordinate their abilities, rescue Anne, and ultimately defeat both Carnage and Cletus by exploiting Carnage's weakness to Shriek's sonic scream.