I understand that not everyone might agree with my opinion, but I’m not a huge fan of the Venom movies. These films were a big success, and because of that, they opened the door for other poorly thought-out projects like Morbius and Madame Web.
But the problem starts even earlier, with the whole concept of a Venom movie that doesn’t first establish Spider-Man. As a fan of comic books, it’s hard to ignore this misstep.
Venom’s entire purpose as a character is to be the opposite of Peter Parker, a darker and more dangerous version of Spider-Man.
That’s why he’s called Venom—he’s the poisonous side of the superhero world, connected to the idea of spiders and their venom. Without Spider-Man, Venom’s origin just doesn’t make much sense.
The first Venom movie, which came out in 2018, was a huge missed opportunity. It didn’t do nearly enough to make the audience care about Eddie Brock, the human who bonds with the alien symbiote, or the symbiote itself.
Tom Hardy played Eddie Brock, and while Hardy is a talented actor, the script just didn’t give him enough to work with. The movie tried to be fun and engaging, but it fell short, leaving fans with a film that felt like a watered-down version of what could have been. Still, it made a lot of money, so a sequel was inevitable.
The second movie, Venom: Let There Be Carnage, was a small improvement over the first, but not because it was necessarily a better movie. It was just so silly that it ended up being entertaining, even though it didn’t make much sense.
The film leaned into the absurdity, and that made it somewhat enjoyable in a “so bad, it’s good” kind of way. The humor was more on point, and the action was bigger and louder, but the story still left a lot to be desired.
Now we have Venom: The Last Dance, the third and final movie in the trilogy. It manages to start off strong, giving us the best version of Eddie Brock and Venom that we’ve seen so far.
But as the movie goes on, it gets bogged down by too many issues that take away from the positive aspects of the film. In the end, while it’s probably the best of the three, it still feels like a bit of a mess.
The Plot of Venom: The Last Dance
The movie picks up right after the post-credits scene of Spider-Man: No Way Home, which teased Venom’s involvement in the multiverse. Oddly enough, though, Venom: The Last Dance decides to completely reshoot that scene for some reason, which feels unnecessary and confusing.
Now back in their own universe, Eddie and Venom are on the run from the law. They’re also being hunted by a secret black ops organization that wants to capture Venom for their own purposes. On top of that, a powerful new villain named Knull, the creator of the symbiote race, has sent a group of deadly creatures called Xenophages to track down and kill Venom.
The premise sets up an action-packed story with plenty of room for excitement. Venom is still adjusting to life with Eddie, and their dynamic is one of the highlights of the film. They bicker and argue like an old married couple, but underneath the banter, there’s a genuine bond that’s grown over the course of the trilogy.
This time around, their relationship feels more natural, and the humor lands better than in the previous films. Tom Hardy, who co-wrote the movie, clearly has a lot of love for the character of Venom, and that passion shines through in his performance.
Tom Hardy Shines in His Dual Role
One thing I can’t criticize is Tom Hardy’s dedication to his role as both Eddie Brock and Venom. He plays both characters with a level of commitment that shows how much he cares about bringing them to life on screen.
Even in the weaker moments of the trilogy, Hardy has always been a bright spot, and Venom: The Last Dance is no exception. He fully embraces the weirdness of the character, and it’s clear that he’s having fun with it.
The movie does a better job than its predecessors in making Eddie and Venom more likeable anti-heroes. They aren’t full-on villains, but they aren’t your typical superheroes either. Their moral compass is a bit skewed, and they don’t always do the right thing for the right reasons.
But that’s part of what makes them interesting to watch. This time, their banter is sharper, and the film is easily the funniest of the three. There are even some surprisingly emotional moments between Eddie and Venom that work well despite the absurd situations they find themselves in.
The action scenes also stand out in this film. Venom: The Last Dance has the best action sequences in the trilogy by far. The first major fight scene, where Eddie and Venom take on a group of low-level criminals, is a highlight.
It makes great use of both Eddie’s human skills and Venom’s alien abilities, creating a dynamic and exciting fight that shows how well they work together.
Later in the film, there’s a thrilling chase sequence where Venom takes control of several animals, which adds a creative twist to the usual superhero chase scene. And of course, the final battle is filled with impressive visuals and unique imagery that make it stand out from the typical third-act fight in superhero movies.
Weak Subplots and Forgettable Side Characters
Despite these strong points, Venom: The Last Dance stumbles in several areas, particularly when it comes to its subplots and side characters. The movie introduces a secretive military organization that’s hunting Venom, led by a character named Rex Strickland, played by Chiwetel Ejiofor.
There are also two scientists, Dr. Payne (played by Juno Temple) and Dr. Sadie (played by Clark Backo), who are working for the military. While the movie tries to give these new characters some depth, their stories just aren’t interesting enough to hold the audience’s attention.
Rex Strickland is supposed to be a formidable opponent for Eddie and Venom, but his character feels underdeveloped. Chiwetel Ejiofor is a talented actor, but he doesn’t have much to work with here. The same goes for Juno Temple and Clark Backo, whose characters are both given quirky personality traits that don’t add much to the story.
One of them is obsessed with Christmas for no apparent reason, which feels like an attempt at humor that doesn’t quite land. These side plots take up far too much screen time, pulling focus away from the more engaging parts of the film.
Knull, the movie’s supposed big bad, also falls flat. Played by a talented actor, Knull should have been a more imposing and mysterious figure. Instead, the film reveals too much about him too soon, turning what could have been a menacing villain into a marketing tool to sell more tickets.
Knull’s presence in the film feels more like an afterthought than a fully realized threat. He’s introduced as the creator of the symbiotes and is supposed to be this all-powerful being, but the movie doesn’t give him enough to do. As a result, he doesn’t leave much of an impression.
The real villains of the movie are the Xenophages, a group of powerful, monstrous creatures sent by Knull to hunt down Venom. These creatures are terrifying in their brutality, especially for a PG-13 movie, and the way they kill their victims is shockingly violent.
However, they lack any real personality or motivation beyond their desire to destroy, which makes them less interesting than they could have been. They serve their purpose as physical threats, but they don’t add much to the story beyond that.
Plot Holes and Inconsistencies Weaken the Story
Another major issue with Venom: The Last Dance is the number of plot holes and inconsistencies that plague the story. The Xenophages, for example, are incredibly inconsistent in how dangerous they are.
In one scene, they’re inches away from killing Eddie and Venom, but in the next, they seem to forget about them entirely. The movie can’t seem to decide how powerful they should be, which makes the stakes feel less real.
This inconsistency extends to other aspects of the film as well. Certain plot points contradict ideas that were introduced in the previous films, creating a sense of confusion and disorganization.
It feels like the movie is constantly rewriting its own rules, which makes it hard to stay invested in the story. The Venom trilogy as a whole has struggled with continuity, but The Last Dance takes it to another level, making it difficult to follow the logic of the world the filmmakers have created.
Ironically, the fact that Venom: The Last Dance is the most inconsistent movie in the trilogy is perhaps the most consistent thing about the series as a whole.
These movies have always been a mix of highs and lows, with moments of brilliance followed by frustrating missteps. Venom as a character has always existed in this gray area between hero and villain, between serious and silly, and the movies reflect that in their unevenness.
Final Thoughts on the Venom Trilogy
So, is Venom: The Last Dance the best movie in the trilogy? I would say yes, despite its many flaws. It’s the most entertaining of the three, with better action scenes, funnier dialogue, and a stronger portrayal of Eddie and Venom’s relationship. There’s a lot to enjoy here if you’re willing to overlook the weaker parts of the film.
But at the end of the day, the Venom movies still feel like a missed opportunity. They never quite managed to live up to the potential of the character, and while The Last Dance is an improvement, it’s still not enough to make the trilogy truly memorable.
These films are like that kid on the little league baseball team who wins the “Most Improved” trophy. You appreciate their effort and can see that they’ve gotten better, but you know they’re probably not going to make it to the big leagues.
Venom: The Last Dance is a fun ride for fans of the character, but it’s unlikely to leave a lasting impression. With Sony continuing to expand its own universe of Spider-Man-related characters, it’s hard to say what the future holds for Venom.
But one thing is for sure: as long as Tom Hardy is involved, the character will continue to have a passionate and dedicated fan base.
