Hi friends! The ‘Venom’ trilogy, which has earned a special place in Hollywood superhero series, has come to the audience with its third and final chapter – ‘Venom: The Last Dance’! Starring Tom Hardy in the lead role, directed by Kelly Marcel, and starring Chiwetel Ejiofor, Juno Temple, Rhys Ifans, Peggy Lu, Stephen Graham, Alanna Ubach, etc., the film, which was released in theaters on October 25, 2024, on digital download on December 10, 2024, and on Netflix on January 21, 2025, is the fifth film in Sony’s Spider-Man universe. The 110-minute-long, PG-13-rated action, comedy, and sci-fi genre movie grossed $478.9 million at the global box office. How is this trilogy finale? How did the Eddie-Venom bromance and action sequences work out? Let's get into the review
Plot & Review:
'Venom: The Last Dance' picks up after 'Venom: Let There Be Carnage' (2021). Eddie Brock (Tom Hardy) and Venom are drunk at a bar in Mexico, and Eddie is the prime suspect in the murder of Detective Mulligan (Stephen Graham). Eddie plans to clear his name in New York, but they are pursued by the Feds, a military team led by General Rex Strickland (Chiwetel Ejiofor), and xenophages sent by Knull (Andy Serkis). Knull, the creator of the symbiotes, seeks to obtain the Codex and escape his alien prison. This codex is in Eddie and Venom, and their mission is to protect it. On this journey, they meet a hippie family (Rhys Ifans, Alanna Ubach), Dr. Teddy Payne (Juno Temple), Mrs. Chen (Peggy Lu), dance in Las Vegas, and add a road trip vibe with action in Area 51. The film focuses on the Eddie-Venom bromance, providing fun and emotional moments with their Jekyll-Hyde dynamic.
Tom Hardy delivers his signature charisma as Eddie and Venom, especially with laughs with dialogues like “Engage your core” and “Nice horsey.” The dance scene with Mrs. Chen in Las Vegas (to the ABBA tune ‘Dancing Queen’), the Venom horse sequence, and the climactic Xenophage fight theater will have you buzzing. The VFX and action scenes (Fabian Wagner’s cinematography) are excellent, and the climactic fight sequence is a goosebumps-inducing one.
However, the script (Tom Hardy, Kelly Marcel) feels rushed and predictable in places. The Area 51 and Knul subplots in the story are confusing with too many elements, and some scenes (the hippie family road trip) feel like unnecessary drags on the story. The character of Knul (Andy Serkis) is underutilized, his intentions unclear. Talented actors like Chiwetel Ejiofor and Juno Temple's roles are disappointing with limited arcs. The humor is forced at times ("Tequila!"), and the tone is inconsistent between goofy comedy and serious sci-fi.
Highlights:
Tom Hardy's performance: Tom Hardy carries the film on his single-handed shoulders as Eddie, Venom. His one-man buddy comedy, emotional depth (especially the climax montage) are a highlight for fans.
Action & VFX: The Xenophage fights, Venom Horse, Area 51 climax scenes are amazing in VFX, action choreography. The climax fight sequence elevates the thrill.
Eddie-Venom Bromance: Their bond, funny banter (“Sexiest Man” reference), emotional moments are the heart of the movie. Las Vegas dance, hippie family scenes give a feel-good vibe.
Comedy Moments: Mexican bar scene, Venom-Mrs. Chen dance, lines like “Nice Horsey” are laugh-out-loud funny, and work out as fan service.
Mid & Post Credits Scenes: Mid-credits scene hints at Sonyverse’s future, post-credits scene ends with a fun element.
Disappointing Things:
Chaotic Script: The Area 51, Knull, hippie family subplots in the story are confusing and rushed. The story lacks depth and gravitas.
Underutilized Characters: Knull (Andy Serkis), Strickland (Ejiofor), and Dr. Payne (Temple) are underdeveloped and disappointing.
Tonal Imbalance: The film oscillates between goofy comedy and serious sci-fi. Some of the comedic scenes feel forced, while some of the serious scenes feel out of place.
Predictable Plot: Elements like the multiverse and the Codex feel routine, serving the Sonyverse's future setup.
Draggy Runtime: Some of the scenes (the hippie road trip, the Area 51 subplot) drag unnecessarily in the 110-minute run, disrupting the pace.
How did the film work out?
‘Venom: The Last Dance’ gives fans an entertaining farewell with Tom Hardy’s charisma, Eddie-Venom bromance, excellent VFX, and a thrilling climax. Las Vegas dances, Venom horse, and funny banter create a fun vibe in the theater. However, the chatty script, underutilized characters, tonal imbalance, and predictable plot make the film a weak entry in the trilogy. The silly, campy flavor of ‘Venom’ (2018) and ‘Let There Be Carnage’ (2021) is somewhat missing in this film. It feels like Sony has compromised the story for the future setup, but the fan service and emotional closure provide a feel-good experience.