Venom: The Last Dance: Unsatisfying End of a Franchise

Director: Kelly Marcel

Starring: Tom Hard, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Clark Backo, Juno Temple,Rhys Ifans and Juno Temple

Run time: 109 mins

Well, here we are with Sony’s latest installment in the Venom franchise, The Last Dance. Yes, it has some cool effects, humor, and various forms of symbiotes, but it has some shortcomings that make it not such an impactful swang song as it tried to be. Some critics are comparing it to the critically and social media paned Madem Web, which falls in the category of one of the worst comic book movies ever made. I don’t think it’s that bad; I do think it’s not good. 

The Dynamic Duo Returns:

The film’s greatest strength lies in what people love about the Venom franchise: the continued development of the symbiotic relationship between Eddie Brock and Venom. Tom Hardy returns to his iconic role with his signature blend of humor and intensity, while the CGI-enhanced Venom remains as charismatic and unpredictable as ever. Their banter and playful interactions highlight the film, but there are moments where you get the feeling this is it for them, and they are almost near the end. Especially when they talk about family and wanting to visit places like New York, but it’s overshadowed by the rest of the film.

Other Players

Now, I have to admit that Chiwetel Ejiofor’s acting as Rex Strickland was good, but he’s good in pretty much everything he does. He reminded me of his role in Serenity as the militant badass who takes on all comers. So, I had no complaints about his part in the film, besides some of his decision-making, which I won’t talk about because it will spoil the movie. 

Juno Temple and Clark Backo both played scientists who worked the symbiotes in a secret facility in Area 51, which had some backstories but really had no impact on the film. I felt their stories, especially Dr. Payne’s story, were useless for the character arc. There was no need for any screen time for her origin story in a flashback, just a short exposition to justify the reasons for her character’s arc, because the film made her character would be more important than she is. 

Stephen Graham returns in the last Venom film as detective Patrick Mulligan, who has absorbed a symbiote himself in the form of Toxin. Now, I was expecting a bit more for this character, and I do like his use as a messenger. The filmmakers make Toxin look awesome, but the character didn’t have much screen time, and I was not happy with the use of the character in the final act. 

Rhys Ifans plays Martin Moon, an alien-infatuated hippie who is traveling to Area 51 with his family. Honestly, this family is one of the best parts of the film because of the ridiculousness and humor they provide. Even their dog had funny moments. I found it interesting that they used Ifnas in a Venom film after he played The Lizard in The Amazing Spider-Man. 

Fear the Knull?

If you love comic books, you know how badass Knull is and how important his character is to Marvel hell the Necrosword that Gorr the God Butcher possessed in the MCU’s Thor: Love and Thunder belonged to Knull. The sword was destroying Gods, so you can imagine what he’s capable of. This is why, going into the screening, I imagined Knull would not make his way to the earth because he’s too powerful, and Sony hasn’t set up its universe to tackle such a big antagonist. 

It was cool seeing Knull live-action. With his limited screen time, he looked pretty intimidating and menacing. However, once they showed his face, it reminded me of one of those cutscenes from video games from the early 2000s, and it was not visually appealing. 

I felt like they treated Knull like Galactus in Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer. Positioned as a huge threat but not kept from coming to earth with a disappointing storyline. 

Action-Packed Thrills:

The Last Dance is entertaining in the action department, but we’ve seen some of the action in previous films. From underwater chase scenes to intense battles with Knull’s dragon monsters, the film delivers some moments of thrills and excitement. This is more so seen in Act Three when more symbiotes join the free. 

The visual effects are hit-and-miss at times. The symbiotes were good, but when it came to Knull, the effects felt like I was watching a cut scene from a video game. Not sure what happened with the budget and the creative team, but I was expecting a little more especially with Andy Serkis’s involvement. 

Story Telling and Pacing

There are some inconsistencies in the film’s storyline, especially when Venom mentions that he must not be in full form or the threat to humanity may spot him, but then, for some reason, he transforms for no reason but to have fun. 

There are also unfinished and useless storylines in this film that seem to have served better in another film or not at all. The film also has some moments where it slows in pace and drags at a snail’s pace. 

A Familiar Formula:

While the film offers a fresh take on the Venom formula, it ultimately feels like more of the same. The plot is predictable, and the stakes don’t feel as high as in previous installments. The ending, while intending to capture the same emotional effect as Logan, just doesn’t meet its mark.

Conclusion:Venom: The Last Dance is a decent addition to the Venom franchise, offering fans another dose of action, humor, and the iconic pairing of Eddie Brock and Venom. It’s not the best film in the franchise, but it’s still worth seeing how they end the franchise in the form of a matinee viewing or wait to stream. Its questionable CGI at times, unnecessary character exploration, and inconsistent plot rated the film 6/10.