by Christian Grullon, Contributing Writer
The third movie in the Venom trilogy has finally hit the big screens. It feels like it was a decade ago when Tom Hardy first portrayed the classic Spider-Man villain in 2018. Written by and directed by Kelly Marcel, The Last Dance is the conclusion to the trilogy.
Sony’s Spider-Man-less universe has been quite a punching bag, given that it is about Spidey villains without Spider-Man. Well, technically, that’s not true. Madame Web had Peter as an infant, but that’s about it. From the start, Venom: The Last Dance takes viewers back to the direct complexities of Eddie Brock and Venom.
To make things interesting, the final installment finds Brock as a fugitive on the run from a ruthless secret Black Ops organization after the events of Venom: Let There Be Carnage, directly after the post-credits scene of Spider-Man: No Way Home. The film executes the duality of their relationship, showing both conflict and bonding.
Also, Knull (Andy Serkis), the dark and powerful creator of the Symbiote race, has sent a small army of Xenophages after Venom to fulfill his deadly endeavors. One clear thing is Tom Hardy’s love for Eddie Brock and Venom. Hardy embodies this love and pours it into being the co-writer, as well as the main protagonist. The banter between Eddie and Venom is better than ever, making this the most comedic film in the trilogy.
Venom looks really good character-wise, and is swept up in a lot of action sequences. Highlights of the action are the fight with some lowlife criminals harming dogs, and an exhilarating chase scene that sees Venom control multiple animals, and a final battle with outstanding imagery. One of the highlights of the film is redemption and belonging — each character and symbiote goes through their own transformation, especially Eddie.
But the film is not without its flaws. At times, the plot is very rushed, and there should have been more opportunity for character development. While some subplots are interesting, it unfortunately takes away from the main narrative, leaving some aspects of the movie unresolved. The film adds new characters, such as Rex Strickland (Chiwetel Ejiofor) and scientists Dr. Payne (Juno Temple) and Dr. Sadie (Clark Backo). While the movie does its best to give them some room, their story falls flat.
In conclusion, Venom: The Last Dance does wrap up with some action, dark humor, and Hardy’s dedication to the character. However, it struggles with pacing, plot issue development. It’s the kind of film to see just once.
Rating: Didn’t Like It
Venom: The Last Dance is currently playing in theaters
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