What is there to say about Sony’s Spider-Man Universe? A franchise that once ruled the world has now become a mixed bag of incredible highs and abysmal lows. On one hand, we have films like Across the Spider-Verse and Spider-Man: No Way Home, which joined the ranks of the original trilogy as some of the most successful superhero films ever. However, on the dark side of the coin, we have box-office disasters such as Madame Web and Morbius that make audiences question whether Sony’s properly handling the Marvel sandbox of webslinging heroes and villains. Which has led to the final installment of the Venom series. Venom: The Last Dance.
Don’t worry….this isn’t the end of the Spider-Man universe from Sony, as Kraven The Hunter is just around the corner, and Spider-Noir is currently filming with Nicholas Cage. Instead, this is the closing chapter of the Tom Hardy-led franchise featuring the lethal protector in all his glory, leaving nothing to speculation except for the obvious comic book stingers at the end. The Venom trilogy is messy, with a strong beginning and a convoluted second act. However, Venom: The Last Dance is the best of the franchise, ending the trilogy on a bittersweet note with hopes for a clearer future ahead for Sony’s Spiderman Universe.
Directed by Kelly Marcel, who also wrote the screenplay and developed the story with star Tom Hardy, Venom: The Last Dance promises one final adventure between Eddie Brock and his beside symbiote friend. While this is Marcel’s directorial debut, this is her third time writing for the Venom series, ending the story on her terms. Is Venom: The Last Dance worth your time? As someone who loves superhero films, my answer will always be yes, but let’s explore what this film brings to the table and how it should be seen in theaters before it’s gone!
[Warning: Spoilers from Venom: The Last Dance are below!]
Eddie Brock is on the run in this Sony Spider-Man film
After the events of Venom: Let There Be Carnage, Eddie Brock (Hardy) is in a lot of trouble, like so much trouble that the entire world is looking for him. Hiding out in Mexico (after Spider-Man: No Way Home, where he traversed the multiverse), large targets are painted on the intrepid reporter and his alien friend. With his face pasted all over the television, hiding out is no longer an option, and Eddie’s only solution is returning to New York City and potentially clearing his name.
It turns out he’s owed a favor. Returning to New York seems like the safest plan for the fugitives; however, doing so will prove difficult. Knull (Andy Serkis) is on the hunt for Venom, who holds the key to releasing him from his cosmic jail. Weaved into the symbiote’s DNA is the codex, the key to the King in Black’s return, and his minions, large killer beasts called Xenophage, will stop at nothing to retrieve it.
Surviving won’t be easy, and it will take everything from Eddie and Venom to do so, but that doesn’t mean they won’t have some help. From a traveling family searching for alien life to scientists studying symbiotes at Area 51, there are no bounds to those willing to help our dynamic duo stay alive. His strength and tenacity will be tested as the world comes crashing down around Eddie. Can he survive the onslaught of Knull and the Xenophage? Will he make it to New York and start life fresh? And most importantly, will Venom see Lady Liberty in all her glory?
A messy story still delivers fun in Venom: The Last Dance
Like the other Venom films, The Last Dance is plagued by a messy story that, when examined too closely, has more holes than Swiss cheese. It begins with the idea that making it to New York City will solve all of Eddie’s problems, which already sets the tone of idiotic thinking from Eddie Brock. In a world where you can’t fly on a plane or rent a car without ID and notifying the authorities, how exactly are you supposed to traverse North America to get to NYC? Why not head south, seeing you’re already in Mexico, and begin a new life? Come on, Eddie, you’re a good reporter and have shown above-average intellect; what does going back to New York actually do for you?
However, it quickly becomes apparent that New York City doesn’t matter to the story. In fact, they almost stop mentioning it altogether by the time the Xenophages arrive on the scene to capture Eddie and Venom. Sure, Venom mentions quite a few times that he wants to see the Statue of Liberty, but it becomes more of a gag than an essential point to the narrative. Instead, Venom: The Last Dance becomes a chase, hunting down Venom for something that has been in his DNA for a long time.
Why is Knull trapped? Who knows, as it’s never addressed in the film. Why is he hunting Venom now, seeing that he’s been bonded with Eddie for a while? It’s a great question that the film just brushes aside. In this aspect, the story of Venom: The Last Dance completely falls apart, lacking any true narrative on which to build a cohesive story.
And yet, this film is undeniably fun, especially when you get into the third-act action. The need for a narrative feels less important as the Xenophages come to Earth and the other symbiotes come out to play. By that point, we’re locked in fully to the action sequences, which are the most impressive aspects of this film. The symbiotes look cool and how each one has a different fighting technique allows for variation in their attacks, making the action stunning to the eyes instead of a slog of CGI.
Would I have liked a tighter story for the last Venom film? Absolutely, as it doesn’t make much sense and leaves you wishing for something more. That being said, Venom: The Last Dance isn’t unenjoyable, in fact, it’s easily the best film in the Sony Spider-Man sandbox if you don’t include the Marvel Studios co-productions. This maybe isn’t saying much when you look at some of the other films that Sony has made with the Spider-Man characters, but I can honestly say that I had a good time seeing this on the big screen, as I’m sure most who go to see it will.
That doesn’t mean it doesn’t have problems, because it clearly does. The film feels chunky, and transitions between scenes feel odd at times. Some characters, such as Mrs. Chen (Peggy Lu), feel shoehorned into the story when cameos from other characters might have given the film better emotional resonance. Why wasn’t Michelle Williams in this film? Every film needs more of Williams, but it felt incredibly obvious that her presence was missing.
Sure, Juno Temple was fantastic as Dr. Teddy Payne, who is the clear replacement for Anne, but the film spent almost too much time on the character and not enough. She’s underdeveloped in so many ways, except to drive home the fact that she was struck by lightning and lost her brother. I think the better choice would have been to bring back someone from the past films in who the audience has already emotionally invested instead of throwing a slew of new characters into the final film, which doesn’t give much room for that same type of investment.
Venom: The Last Dance is worth a trip to the movies
The biggest takeaway here is that Venom: The Last Dance is an enjoyable superhero, and in the end, isn’t that what going to the movies is for? Audiences want to be entertained and see something fun, which this film does in spades. I left the theater feeling like I had a good time, and everyone else did too. So grab your tickets, get a large bucket of popcorn, and see Venom: The Last Dance before it waltz its way out of theaters!
Venom: The Last Dance is now in theaters.
Learn more about the movie, including how to buy tickets, at the official website.
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