The Venom trailer is dominating discussion at the moment, and unfortunately, it isn’t necessarily of the positive variety.
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Now, it is important to note that this newest footage is listed as a teaser trailer, which is by nature not supposed to give away the farm. Still, fans don’t seem to be reacting well to it overall, and while there are a few reasons why there is one that sticks out more than most.
That would be the fact that Tom Hardy, who plays Eddie Brock in the film, is never actually shown with the Venom symbiote. The symbiote itself is shown, however, amongst a few different containers at one particular sequence in the trailer. There is also a part of the trailer that shows a black substance moving through Hardy’s veins in his neck.
That’s all well and good, but there are plenty disappointed that he never fully appears in the costume. There’s a variety of opinions about the subject, which ranger from pure outrage to the understanding fans who acknowledge that CGI work hasn’t even had a chance to make much headway, and since the suit will be mostly CGI, there was little chance it would appear in the first trailer
That’s all well and good, but many on social media aren’t letting it slide, and question whether it was right to release a trailer at all if their lead character wasn’t ready for primetime. Some reactions have been particularly harsh or comedic, and we’ve collected some of the standout reactions here.
Hit the next slide to see the harshest reactions to the Venom trailer!
Matthew A. Cherry
Sometimes a GIF can express what words can’t, and a trailer without Venom actually in it was the perfectย fit for one. Cue an expression rollercoaster of joy, shock, and then anger.
*Letโs debut a Venom teaser without showing Venom*
โ Matthew A. Cherry (@MatthewACherry) February 8, 2018
The Internet: pic.twitter.com/e8kpehvj6l
“*Let’s debut a Venom teaser without showing Venom*
The Internet:”
Greg Wyshynski
Some used it an opportunity to try and envision the meeting where this teaser trailer was hashed out, throwing in some other movie comparisons for good measure.
“Sir, should we put Venom in this Venom trailer?”
โ Greg Wyshynski (@wyshynski) February 8, 2018
“DID THEY PUT DINOSAURS IN THE FIRST JURASSIC PARK TRAILER?”
“Yeah, like, all of them.”
“OK … WELL…. THE CGI ISN’T READY BUT BLACK PANTHER IS NEXT WEEK AND TOM HARDY’S BACK AND NECK ARE ITS OWN SPECIAL EFFECT.” https://t.co/zdhmUzYqrE
“Sir, should we put Venom in this Venom trailer?”
“DID THEY PUT DINOSAURS IN THE FIRST JURASSIC PARK TRAILER?”
“Yeah, like, all of them.”
“OK … WELL…. THE CGI ISN’T READY BUT BLACK PANTHER IS NEXT WEEK AND TOM HARDY’S BACK AND NECK ARE ITS OWN SPECIAL EFFECT.”
Gamespot
A jab can hurt even more when the person throwing it uses your own footage against you, and that’s exactly what Gamestop did, using the ending of the teaser as a perfect reason to their post.
When you realize Venom isn’t in the Venom trailer. pic.twitter.com/3Ywb473T3a
โ GameSpot (@gamespot) February 8, 2018
“When you realize Venom isn’t in the Venom trailer.”
Robbie Collin
It’s easy to understand why there are some viewers disappointed at no actual appearance of Hardy in costume, but the poor CT Scanner did nothing to get dragged into this argument right?
I mean, if *I* were doing a Venom trailer Iโd probably tease the actual symbiote, since itโs what makes the character fun and unique and lots of people donโt know about it? But maybe thereโs a big audience for Tom Hardy in a CT scanner ยฏ\_(ใ)_/ยฏ
โ Robbie Collin (@robbiereviews) February 8, 2018
“I mean, if *I* were doing a Venom trailer I’d probably tease the actual symbiote, since it’s what makes the character fun and unique and lots of people don’t know about it? But maybe there’s a big audience for Tom Hardy in a CT scanner ยฏ\_(ใ)_/ยฏ”
Arminies
Arminiesย decided to put the trailer in perspective, comparing it to Marvel’s upcoming Captain Marvel film, and gauging the reaction if it were similar to Venom.
IMAGINE for a second that Tomorrow we get the First Captain Marvel Teaser Trailer And it features No Suit, flight or her powers… You would all fn destroy Marvel for it and headline โCaptain Marvel in development Troubleโ would be the headlines. Thatโs #Venom
โ Arminies ?? (@Arminies) February 8, 2018
ย
“IMAGINE for a second that Tomorrow we get the First Captain Marvel Teaser Trailer And it features No Suit, flight or her powers… You would all fn destroy Marvel for it and headline “Captain Marvel in development Trouble” would be the headlines. That’s #Venom”
Arminiesย would add another jab later, comparing the trailer to Mission Impossible clips.
“You can actually take any Tom Cruise action film from the last 4 years, take the clips of him running and riding a bike and edit it to be just like the Venom trailer and no one would know lol”
Mr. Gojira95
You know it’s bad when Spider-Man 3 gets used as an example to aspire to. To be fair though, he did reveal he was joking, but the point still stuck.
When Spider Man 3 showed more Venom than the new teaser. pic.twitter.com/RTf03zZsI1
โ Mr.Gojira95 (@MrGojira95) February 8, 2018
“When Spider Man 3 showed more Venom than the new teaser.”
Brian Lynch
No one puts things into perspective like Ian Malcolm, and I dare you not to read this in his voice.
Ah, now eventually you DO plan to have Venom in your, in your VENOM movie, right? Hello? pic.twitter.com/4yHXRY38f6
โ Brian Lynch (@BrianLynch) February 8, 2018
“Ah, now eventually you DO plan to have Venom in your, in your VENOM movie, right? Hello?”
Heather Antos
One of the criticismsย is the generic feeling of the action here, which doesn’t feel distinctlyย Venom in nature. Heather Antos had several thoughts on the matter.
I’m very curious to learn more about the audience the Venom marketing team thought that trailer was for…
โ Heather Antos (@HeatherAntos) February 8, 2018
“I’m very curious to learn more about the audience the Venom marketing team thought that trailer was for…On the one hand, it’s a Venom movie. So they can “count” on Spider-Man & Venom fans seeing the film no matter what. On the other hand…not seeing even a tease of Venom whatsoever?
That’s…risky at best.
It just came across as the most generic sci-fi action film trailer that’s ever been made…”Tom Hardy. Running around. He looks stressed. Insert Michelle Williams here. Is that Riz Ahmed? Who cares?! There’s a generically white sci-fi lab filled with sciencey stuff! Don’t forget about the existential monologue overlaying the whole thing!”
Also…it’s not a demon. It’s a symbiote. Read a book.”
Rob Cabrera
There are other fans who get the whole “teaser” aspect of it all, but they are still disappointed with the lack of one killer shot.
Re: #Venom trailer.
โ Rob (@RobCabrera) February 8, 2018
I get that Sony either doesn’t want to or can’t show much, but if you’re gonna drop a trailer full of nothing you have to have at least ONE shot that makes me go “Whoa! You have my attention.”
There was nothing like that. ?
“Re: #Venom trailer.
I get that Sony either doesn’t want to or can’t show much, but if you’re gonna drop a trailer full of nothing you have to have at least ONE shot that makes me go “Whoa! You have my attention.”
There was nothing like that. ?”
Matthew Buck
Others don’t see the point of releasing a trailer if it isn’t ready withย at least one shot to entice fans and viewers alike.
If it’s too early to even show a single shot of the title character in your trailer… maybe just don’t release a trailer? #Venom
โ Mathew Buck (@FB_BMB) February 8, 2018
“If it’s too early to even show a single shot of the title character in your trailer… maybe just don’t release a trailer? #Venom”
“That might be the most hilariously botched trailer I’ve ever seen. A real shrug of nothing. Hell, I think most people will think it’s called V because they’re not *that* familiar with the character. #Venom”
Matt
If fans are made about Venom not appearing in the trailer, imagine what they would feel like if he didn’t appear in the movie until the end of the entire film.
Imagine this:
โ Matt (@arealhumanbean_) February 8, 2018
What if, in the Venom movie, Eddie Brock never fully becomes Venom until the final scene of the film. Basically, it’s just Tom Hardy spazzing out through out the whole movie. pic.twitter.com/iHilTtDHLR
“Imagine this:
What if, in the Venom movie, Eddie Brock never fully becomes Venom until the final scene of the film. Basically, it’s just Tom Hardy spazzing out through out the whole movie.”
UNILAD Film
The Spider-Man movie references continue with this one of J. Jonah Jameson, played by the talented J.K. Simmons.
Seriously where is he? #Venom trailer pic.twitter.com/qQq32m02Cr
โ UNILAD Film (@UNILADFilm) February 8, 2018
“Seriously where is he? #Venom trailer”
Exhibitor Relations
Exhibitor Relations feels it all comes down to first impressions, though there are exceptions to that rule.
You get one, ONE chance to make a first impression. Okay, maybe two, but that’s it. Well, three, but seriously, no more than that. Let’s hope Sony is hiding more than they’re showing. VENOM.
โ Exhibitor Relations (@ERCboxoffice) February 8, 2018
“You get one, ONE chance to make a first impression. Okay, maybe two, but that’s it. Well, three, but seriously, no more than that. Let’s hope Sony is hiding more than they’re showing. VENOM.”
STEEL
Sometimes you just have to look to Office Space to sum things up perfectly, and thankfully it didn’t disappoint.
Is it just me, or…???#Venom pic.twitter.com/dWyMsZhAbi
โ STEEL? (@SuperheroSteel) February 8, 2018
“Is it just me, or…???
#Venom”