Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		4.5
Audio		5.0
Extras		5.0
Overall		4.0

Venom 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov February 28, 2025

Piers Haggard's "Venom" arrives on 4K Blu-ray courtesy of Blue Underground. The supplemental features on the release include new program with editor/second unit director Michael Bradsell; new program with makeup artist Nick Dudman; new program with critic Kim Newman; archival audio commentary by Piers Haggard; vintage promotional materials; and more. In English, with optional English SDH, French and Spanish subtitles for the main feature. Region-Free.

"You don't touch anybody, unless I say so. I will tell you what to do. When to do it. What to say. I will tell you when to breathe." "The little bastard kicked me".

They have a plan that will change their lives forever. They will kidnap an American boy (Lance Holcomb) living in London after his wealthy mother leaves him to his grandfather (Sterling Haydon, The Killing) for a few days and then demand to be paid a large amount of money. After the ransom is delivered, they will release the boy and quickly leave the country. They are Jacmel (Klaus Kinski, Nosferatu the Vampyre), a German criminal with a long record, Louise (Susan George, Dirty Mary Crazy Larry), who works as a maid in the house where the boy and his mother live, and Dave (Oliver Reed, The Brood), who is employed as a driver.

The plan works as intended, until the boy visits a local store and is accidentally given a black mamba instead of a harmless pet snake. Not long after he returns to the house, the black mamba bites Louise and escapes from the box where it was kept. For a while Jacmel and Dave attempt to remain focused on the job, but after the police surround the house and toxicology expert Dr. Marion Stowe (Sarah Miles, The Servant) is brought to make it very clear that they are trapped with the deadliest snake in the world, they are forced to begin improvising.

Piers Haggard’s Venom is based on a novel by Alan Scholefield that cannot possibly be equally effective. Indeed, words simply cannot accurately describe what one experiences when one sees the close-ups of the black mamba and then repeatedly endures the very moment when the deadly snake attacks and bites its victim. The mind's reactions to these images will always be more intense, unleashing an uncontrollable shock effect that one feels throughout one’s entire body. (This whole experience can be even more intense if one has a natural fear of snakes).

These reactions -- and let’s make it clear that even if one isn’t afraid of snakes, one will absolutely react when the black mamba attacks -- are what make Venom worth seeing. What happens between the criminals, the kid, his grandfather, and the authorities has been covered, and much better, in countless other films where criminals kidnap a valuable target and then demand a ransom. In other words, the real star in Venom is the elusive deadly snake, and what one really wants to know is what happens to it before the final credits roll.

Kinski and Reed look good together -- interestingly, according to director Haggard they did not get along well during the shooting process -- but it has to be said that occasionally the former visibly struggles with his lines. If Venom was a German production shot entirely in German, at some point Kinski almost certainly would have switched to overdrive mode, ensuring that the drama becomes much darker and a lot more intense. As it is, Venom at times feels a bit dated, in a way a lot of British thrillers from the late 1970s and early 1980s do.

The visuals from inside the house can be quite eerie, especially when light is restricted. Also, occasionally the camera imitates the movement of the black mamba, which is quite the nifty trick.

Venom was lensed by award-winning cinematographer Gilbert Taylor (Repulsion, Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope). The intense soundtrack was created by the always reliable Michael Kamen (Die Hard, Die Hard 2).

Venom 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Blue Underground's release of Venom is a 4K Blu-ray/Blu-ray combo pack. The 4K Blu-ray and the Blu-ray are Region-Free.

Please note that some of the screencaptures included with this article are taken from the 4K Blu-ray and downscaled to 1080p. Therefore, they do not accurately reflect the quality of the 4K content on the 4K Blu-ray disc, including the actual color values of this content.

Screencaptures #1-26 are from the Blu-ray.
Screencaptures #30-35 are from the 4K Blu-ray.

Venom made its high-definition debut with this release, also produced by Blue Underground, in 2016. I thought that the film looked quite inconsistent on it because its visuals had obvious traces of filtering. On a big screen, delineation, clarity, and depth were often unconvincing. This combo pack introduces an exclusive new 4K makeover of the film, sourced from the original camera negative. In native 4K, the 4K makeover is presented with Dolby Vision and HDR grades. I viewed the native 4K presentation with Dolby Vision and later spent time with the 1080p presentation on the Blu-ray, and I can comfortably state that both produce vastly superior visuals. In fact, in many areas, darker and well-lit, the gap in quality between the new 4K makeover, viewed in native 4K or 1080p, is as significant as the one you will typically observe when an older DVD master is upgraded with a proper new Blu-ray master (2K or 4K). To be clear, on the 4K makeover, the visuals do not boast only better delineation, clarity, and depth, their entire dynamic range is different, meaning that there is a wide range of improvements that affect everything from shadow detail to color reproduction and fluidity. I tested multiple areas, but primarily darker ones, and all of them were healthier, revealing a lot more information, and boasting a much better organic appearance. Color reproduction and balance are improved as well. In native 4K, all colors look a tad lusher, though I think that the 1080p presentation is just as pleasing. The only area where I felt that some additional work could have been done to strengthen the visuals is grain exposure. Some minor encoding optimizations could have been introduced because there is a lot of darker footage where light is captured in ways that tend to make some of the grain appear slightly looser than it is. I did not see any distracting age-related imperfections, such as large cuts, marks, debris, warped or torn frames.

Venom 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There are three standard audio tracks on this release: English Dolby Atmos, English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1, and English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0. Optional English SDH, Spanish, and French subtitles are provided for the main feature.

The Dolby Atmos track was created exclusively for this combo pack, so I decided to view the entire film with it. It is very nice. Several action sequences clearly have a wider dynamic field, so I would say that they become more effective with it. I am unsure the dialog benefits in any meaningful way, but some viewers may disagree. Regardless, I think that it is a good new option to have on this release.

Venom 4K Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

4K BLU-RAY DISC

• Commentary One - this audio commentary by director Piers Haggard was also included on Blue Underground's old DVD release of Venom. It is quite wonderful. Haggard spends a great deal of time explaining how difficult it was to manage the egos of the actors he had to work with, how various sequences were shot (and some things he could not do because the script was negotiated in a certain way), what specific lensing choices were made to have some visuals look as spooky as they are, etc.

• Commentary Two - this exclusive new audio commentary was recorded by critics Troy Howarth, Nathaniel Thompson, and Eugenio Ercolani. The commentators rightfully point out that at the time when Venom was made none of the leads were A-listers (for various reasons), and discuss Piers Haggard direction, some changes that were made when Alan Scholefield's novel was adapted, some of the darkly comic overtones that permeate the narrative, the efficiency of Michael Kamen's soundtrack, the film's reception, etc. Also, there are various bits of information about the careers and work of different cast members.

BLU-RAY DISC

• Commentary One - this audio commentary by director Piers Haggard was also included on Blue Underground's old DVD release of Venom. It is quite wonderful. Haggard spends a great deal of time explaining how difficult it was to manage the egos of the actors he had to work with, how various sequences were shot (and some things he could not do because the script was negotiated in a certain way), what specific lensing choices were made to have some visuals look as spooky as they are, etc.

• Commentary Two - this exclusive new audio commentary was recorded by critics Troy Howarth, Nathaniel Thompson, and Eugenio Ercolani. The commentators rightfully point out that at the time when Venom was made none of the leads were A-listers (for various reasons), and discuss Piers Haggard direction, some changes that were made when Alan Scholefield's novel was adapted, some of the darkly comic overtones that permeate the narrative, the efficiency of Michael Kamen's soundtrack, the film's reception, etc. Also, there are various bits of information about the careers and work of different cast members.

• Featurettes -
  
  Fangs For The Memories - in this new program, editor/second unit director Michael Bradsell recalls how he was hired to work on Venom and discusses the abrupt departure of Tobe Hooper, who was initially hired to direct the film. Bradsell also comments on his interactions with Piers Haggard, who was chosen to replace Hooper and finish the film. In English, not subtitled. (27 min).
  
  A Slithery Story - in this new program, makeup artist Nick Dudman explains how he was offered to work on Venom and discusses his first tests with Toby Hooper and consequently what he did for Piers Haggard. Dudman also comments on his interactions with Oliver Reed and Klaus Kinski, which were drastically different. In English, not subtitled. (27 min).
  
  Mamba Memories - in this new program, critic Kin Newman discusses the tone and style of Alan Scholefield's novel (and highlights several more like it), how the material from the novel was transferred to Venom and some major changes that were made, the visual style and identity of Venom, the unusual cast that was gathered for it, and Tobby Hooper's departure and Piers Haggard's arrival. In English, not subtitled. (24 min).
  
  Pick Your Poison - in this new program, author and critic Allan Bryce, editor of The Dark Side magazine, discusses the era in which Venom emerged and explains why he considers it a special British genre film. Bryce also references several other films featuring bad snakes, like Sssssss and Spasms. In English, not subtitled. (16 min).

• Trailer - original trailer for Venom. In English, not subtitled. (2 min).

• Teaser Trailer - original teaser trailer for Venom. In English, not subtitled. (1 min).

• TV Spots - three original TV spots for Venom. In English, not subtitled.
  
  1. TV Spot One (30 sec.)
  2. TV Spot Two (30 sec.)
  3. TV Spot Three (30 sec.)

• Poster & Still Gallery - a collection of original posters, press book clips and articles, stills, lobby cards, VHS covers, and DVD covers. The collection was compiled by Gregory Chick.

• Cover - reversible cover with original poster art.

• Booklet - 18-page illustrated booklet featuring Michael Gingold's essay "Filmmaking Bites: The Twisting, Turning History of "Venom".

Venom 4K Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Killer snakes can be seen in plenty of different genre films, like Sssssss and Anaconda, and usually they are not special. The black mamba in Venom is a rare exception because the camera does some pretty interesting things to imitate its movement and deadly attacks on its targets. So, for my money, Venom is as creepy as far more authentic genre films like Calamity of Snakes. Blue Underground's combo pack introduces a lovely new 4K makeover of it, presented with an exclusive new Dolby Atmos track and several exclusive new bonus features. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.