This isn’t the first time Zombieland‘s Ruben Fleischer has likened his Venom adaptation to classic horror films, but he’s now reiterating their heavy influence.

“Among my influences were John Carpenter, David Cronenberg, even An American Werewolf In London,” Fleischer told Empire Magazine.

Columbia Pictures’ president Sanford Panitch made eyebrows raise back in 2017 when he also said that Venom will draw on the work of both Carpenter and Cronenberg while promising “more pop and fun.”

It’s easy to see where Carpenter’s The Thing and several of Cronenberg’s films would have influence over how the symbiote would look and feel. Hopefully, they’re really going for that “R”-rating.

Digressing, Fleischer further spoke about the unity of the alien symbiote and Eddie Brock, the host:

“Unlike most superheroes who get bitten by a spider or invent their own Batsuit, Venom is really the combination of two beings to create a third.”

The latter quote is an interesting one as he’s referring to the symbiote that binds itself to Tom Hardy‘s Eddie Brock. Once united, Brock’s body becomes host to the symbiote who has a voice and mind of its own. The two struggle throughout the comics to coexist and thus walk a fine line between hero and villain.

Back in 2017, Fleischer referred to the relationship as that of Jekyll and Hyde. “They become almost a third being, which is what Venom is,” Fleischer explained. “There’s a famous quote: ‘You’re Eddie Brock. I’m the symbiote. Together we are Venom.’”

The two will allegedly fight several other symbiotes on October 5, 2018, which sets the stage for the introduction of Carnage.