Venom: The Last Dance – A Disappointing Finale to the Venom Trilogy
Picture Courtesy : Sony Pictures
When the first trailer for Venom: The Last Dance, directed by Kelly Marcel, dropped, my excitement was admittedly low. Although initial reviews seemed promising, raising my hopes, I’m here to say they were overly generous. This final chapter, in my opinion, is easily the weakest entry in Sony’s Venom trilogy.
Starting with the special effects—the strongest part of this movie—they still fall short of the high standards set by the first two films. The effects feel scaled down, likely due to budget constraints, and for a movie bidding farewell to Venom, his screen time feels sparse. The plot conveniently limits his full transformation for much of the movie, giving us a mere ten minutes of Venom in full form. While there are some cool action sequences, they lack the impact needed for a final installment. On a positive note, the designs of the new symbiotes were visually impressive and featured some exciting, unique fight sequences, but they weren’t explored deeply enough to create any real stakes.
Emotionally, the film has its moments, but they could be stronger. Tom Hardy’s portrayal of Eddie Brock and his bond with the Venom symbiote remains one of the series’ highlights. The movie does attempt to give closure to this bond with a few emotionally resonant scenes, but they get lost among the many competing subplots. Either a longer runtime or fewer distractions could have allowed more focus on Eddie and Venom’s relationship, making the finale feel more significant.
Humor also takes a bigger role this time around, but it’s a mixed bag. If you enjoyed the campier moments from the second film, like Venom’s rave sequence, you might appreciate this installment’s comedic tone. However, the film struggles with tonal balance, often wavering between a lighthearted superhero comedy and a serious, emotional conclusion. This inconsistency makes the storytelling feel clumsy, as it’s unsure of what it wants to be.
Overall, Venom: The Last Dance feels like a missed opportunity. Sony once again fails to fully capitalize on the potential of these characters and their unique dynamic. I’d rate this movie a 1 out of 5. For dedicated fans, it may be worth watching for closure, but it’s not essential to catch in theaters. Waiting for its inevitable streaming release would be just as satisfying.