Venom 2: 10 Mistakes Sony Must Avoid This Time

Name three Venom characters besides Eddie Brock. Go. Quick. You have five seconds.

Who came to mind? Be honest. Riot? Fair enough, but can you name his human host? What about Eddie Brock's girlfriend? There's also a scientist woman... and... um... You see the problem.

It's a shame, too. Riz Ahmed is an underrated talent deserving of movie stardom and Michelle Williams is an indie darling. Both are woefully miscast. Ahmed's Carlton Drake may not be a moustache-twirling caricature of evil, but he isn't believable as a man willing to put scientific endeavour ahead of morality. He's too damn nice in his role. But nothing more.

Williams' resultant lack of impact is perhaps more to do with her character having nothing to do but exist purely as The Love Interest. Another female character wasted.

Then there are the others: the stereotypical rock music fan who plays his music too loud; Drake's endlessly angry head of security; and Anne's new boyfriend who we're supposed to hate because he's not Eddie. Not only that, but we're only given a glimpse of Woody Harrelson, an actor who oozes on-screen charisma.

Give us a cast of characters we care about, and a movie studio has an enduring story we can watch again and again.