Expectations were high for 'Joker' as it premiered at the Venice Film Festival last night, and it looks they've all been met as the first reviews coming in appear to be overwhelmingly positive.

The movie has - from the trailers released so far - drawn comparisons with the likes of Martin Scorsese's 'Taxi Driver' and 'The King of Comedy', and early reactions and reviews seem to back this up.

#Venezia76 The #Joker we fucking deserve. Rings of comedy, rings of fire. It's a circus, it's a carnival, it's a mayhem. Phoenix brings us dancing through this social disease and it's a triumph. #JokerMovie — Lorenzo Ciorcalo (@rotovisor) August 31, 2019

Jak-Luke Sharp, one of the critics at the Venice screening, argued that it was more closer to Scorsese's 'Mean Streets' than 'Taxi Driver' and praised Phoenix's performance as "phenomenal." Radek Folta of Polish website Movies Room described 'Joker' as a "twisted, brutal origin story of the most recognised villain in popular culture," and said it "will surprise the hell out of people."

#Joker is still under embargo, but let me just say that we need more actors like Joaquin Phoenix #Venezia76 #VeniceFilmFestival — Rob (@RobRuggio) August 31, 2019

Marvin Weichert of Yorck Cinemas said that he "can't imagine anyone stealing the Oscar from Joaquin Phoenix next year," while Austrian film magazine In Celluloid describe it as "a tragic masterpiece."

As it stands, 'Joker' is set for release in Ireland on October 4th and we'll hopefully have a review for it long before then.

For now, check out the latest trailer.