Review: Venom


Set in Louisiana, surly trucker (Rick Cramer) gets into an auto accident with the local voodoo woman, who just happens to be carrying snakes that hold some evil souls. Put the two together and hey, presto! You got yourself a seemingly unstoppable, zombie trucker killer who preys on the young folk in the area, including the voodoo lady’s granddaughter (Meagan Good). Agnes Bruckner and Jonathan Jackson are an on-and-off couple, whilst a slumming Bijou Phillips plays the resident tart (a big stretch, no doubt). James Pickens Jr. and Method Man play the local law enforcement.



2005 film from director Jim Gillespie isn’t exactly the giant killer snake film the title implies, instead it’s a mixture of voodoo horror, zombie flick, and Gillespie’s own “I Know What You Did Last Summer”. Thankfully, it’s better than the aforementioned slasher yawner, but still not all that great. Call it “I Know What You Did Last Summer Down on the Bayou”.



Aside from a few unnecessary jump cuts, Gillespie at least proves he knows how to lens a film, with help from cinematographer Steve Mason (“Strictly Ballroom” of all films), and this is a surprisingly atmospheric, visually impressive film. Very good music score by James L. Venable, as well. Look out for the scene where a house is literally taken apart, ala “Razorback”. Very cool. It’s the script that is lacking here, it’s pretty ho-hum, even if it does combine a voodoo slant with a slasher plot. The characters are stock and not the slightest bit interesting. Most of them aren’t even likeable, save for the lovely Bruckner, the best actor in the film (kudos for at least one unexpected character death, though). The film also isn’t very gory, though the killer sure is brutal. Most of the red stuff happens off-screen.



It’s not the worst horror flick out there, but nowhere near a classic. At least it’s short, that’s to be thankful for. The lacking screenplay by Brandon Boyce (“Apt Pupil”, “Wicker Park”), Flint Dille (Inexplicably, “An American Tail: Fievel Goes West”!), and John Zuur Platten prevents this one from ultimately being worth all that much.



Rating: C+

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