In Venom: The Last Dance, we revisit the often-unfortunate Eddie Brock (Tom Hardy). Following a brief incursion into the MCU at the conclusion of Venom: Let There Be Carnage, he’s returned to his own reality and attempts to maintain a “low” profile. This proves challenging, given his symbiotic relationship with the volatile entity Venom, making inconspicuousness difficult regardless of the setting. Now, this unconventional pair faces a new adversary, the supervillain Knull. Each full transformation into Venom emits a powerful signature, detectable by Knull’s forces, who seek the codex that can liberate Knull from his imprisonment. Simultaneously, authorities pursue them, escalating the stakes considerably.
Sony‘s acquisition of the Spider-Man rights is well-documented, a deal that also granted them the potential to acquire all of Marvel’s intellectual property. In a strategic decision reminiscent of Bonnier‘s initial rejection of Astrid Lindgren, they declined this larger proposition. Subsequently, Sony entered an agreement with Disney/Marvel, integrating Spider-Man into Captain America: Civil War and subsequent films, including several well-received solo ventures. Retaining the rights to numerous Spider-Man villains, Sony conceived the idea of developing films centered on these characters – independent of Spider-Man.
Upon the release of the first Venom in 2018, I held reservations, but the casting of Tom Hardy proved inspired. He embodies Eddie Brock and Venom effectively, showcasing a strong understanding of the characters. Notably, a scene involving an aquarium in the original film demonstrates exceptional comedic timing. Consequently, Venom achieved success, leading to a sequel four years later. While the second installment wasn’t quite as compelling as the first, it still provided ample entertainment. Now, we arrive at the third, and possibly final, chapter in the saga of journalist Eddie Brock and his extraterrestrial companion.
Each Venom film has featured a different director, with Kelly Marcel, also the screenwriter for all three films, taking the helm this time. She has commendably prioritized practical environments and effects where possible. Tom Hardy remains perfectly cast, and his comedic delivery in conjunction with the overall absurdity remains a highlight of the Venom films. The action sequences are inventive and engaging, contributing to the film’s consistently brisk pace.
Regrettably, the film also incorporates some of the series’ less sophisticated moments. Mrs. Chen (Peggy Lu), the sarcastic shop owner from the first two films, reappears when Eddie encounters her in Las Vegas. While not entirely implausible, the subsequent impromptu dance sequence between her and Venom feels forced and undermines the established narrative. The very act of Venom revealing himself attracts unwanted attention, a point seemingly disregarded in this scene. Such moments of questionable judgment detract from the overall experience. The hero’s lapse in intelligence feels particularly jarring in this instance.
However, experiencing Venom: The Last Dance in Ultra-HD is undoubtedly a positive. Despite its occasional shortcomings, the film delivers considerable entertainment at its best. The UHD edition presents a pristine visual experience in 2160p with Dolby Vision. The CGI effects appear sharp and well-defined, with the scene featuring Venom suspended outside an aircraft being particularly impressive. The Dolby Atmos sound design is exceptional, and unlike many UHD editions, I found it unnecessary to increase the audio level. In fact, I needed to reduce the volume slightly from my standard setting. The audio is consistently immersive, reaching its peak during the climactic battle.
The release also includes a variety of bonus features and bloopers, but lacks a commentary track, which would have been a welcome addition.
In conclusion, Venom: The Last Dance is arguably less compelling than the original, but slightly surpasses the second installment. The inclusion of certain ill-conceived sequences detracts from the third film’s overall impact. Nevertheless, I recommend Venom: The Last Dance as a generally entertaining film, enhanced further by the UHD presentation. The future of Venom remains uncertain. Following the disappointing reception of Morbius and Kraven, Sony appears to recognize the audience’s preference for Spider-Man interacting with these villains. The hinted Sinister Six film seems unlikely to materialize. Hopefully, the fourth Spider-Man film, currently in production, will meet expectations, and perhaps even feature a crossover between Venom and Spider-Man.
SF Studios provided review copies for this evaluation. Providers of materials do not influence our editorial content. We maintain an independent perspective, prioritizing our readers and consumers.
