When Sony’s emo Spider-Man danced his way through the finale of Sam Raimi’s trilogy, it sparked a franchise reboot. In contrast, Venom: The Last Dance might be the funniest entry in its series, despite its familiar blend of absurdity and CGI overload. If Madame Web didn’t put an end to this spider-verse, it appears set to outlive even cockroaches (or a symbiotic alien).
Venom: The Last Dance kicks off in darkness (and with a hefty dose of exposition) as we meet Knull, the creator of the symbiotes, now imprisoned by his own writhing creations. Like the MCU’s Thanos, Knull is on a quest for the codex—a key to annihilating all life. Unfortunately for Venom and Eddie Brock (both portrayed by Tom Hardy), they possess what he seeks. After a brief detour into the MCU, they’re back in Sony’s realm (no time for an explanation here).
The film introduces a host of indestructible beasts—Knull’s minions armed with buzzsaw teeth reminiscent of the forgettable villains from Eternals. These creatures are on the hunt for the codex and aren’t shy about leaving a bloody path in their wake. Meanwhile, Eddie faces off against soldiers like Chiwetel Ejiofor’s Rex Strickland and Area 51 scientists such as Juno Temple’s Dr. Payne.
We’ve seen the likes of Area 51, universe-destroying mad kings, and CGI-heavy final battles before, often with more compelling villains. Ejiofor, in particular, has delivered stronger performances in films like Doctor Strange, making his one-dimensional role here feel like a missed opportunity.
However, what redeems this film is its humor. Much of the comedy springs from the buddy-banter dynamic between Venom and Eddie, as well as the fish-out-of-water subplot involving Rhys Ifans’ eccentric alien-hunter family driving their combi van to Vegas.
Sadly, Juno Temple isn’t given much room to showcase her comedic talent from Ted Lasso or dramatic skills from Fargo—her character feels underdeveloped. Ejiofor, known for his multiverse of depth, is similarly confined to a single dimension. The inclusion of actors like Ejiofor and Ifans, who have both played Marvel villains previously, only adds to the franchise’s murky continuity.
At this point in the series, if you’re still watching, it’s likely you’ve turned off your rational brain. Don’t question the dancing or how the untrained can handle a bazooka with ease. Venom might devour your brain, but rest assured, you’ll likely enjoy the wild ride.
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