Venom: The Last Dance – Botched ending hurts infamous Sony-Marvel trilogy

Venom is one of Spider-Man’s most formidable foes—an alien symbiote that attaches to a host and feeds off their dark side. Tom Hardy embodied the role perfectly in the first Venom film (2018), prompting Sony to turn Eddie Brock's story into a trilogy.

The second film, Venom: Let There Be Carnage, despite featuring one of the best comic book villains of all time, saw a tonal shift as Brock and Venom’s relationship took on a comedic, buddy-comedy vibe reminiscent of Mark Wahlberg and his talking bear in Ted. Filled with forced comedic moments that didn’t serve the story, the sequel diverged from the dark, brooding tone of the original.

Going into Venom: The Last Dance, I expected more of the same, but with a darker edge due to the choice of villain, the ultimate symbiote baddy—Knull. Safe to say, my expectations were pretty much in line with what I witnessed.

What Worked

Hardy’s performance as Eddie Brock is the film’s most vital asset. He portrays him as a disheveled antihero often seen in cargo shorts and a Hawaiian shirt, making him look like a superhero who never quite fits the part. His talent makes these films watchable, though one wonders if a more ambitious project might showcase his skills better. At its heart, Venom: The Last Dance is a road trip movie.

Eddie starts on the run in Mexico, hoping to reach New York, but ends up in Nevada, where Dr. Teddy Payne and General Rex Strickland run a secret symbiote research program near Area 51. This journey feels less like a cohesive adventure and more like a disjointed series of plot points.

As Eddie and Venom draw Knull’s attention, they encounter the Xenophages—monstrous henchmen who can only locate them when Venom is in complete form, creating striking visuals that, unfortunately, aren’t utilized often enough.

The film embraces its chaotic style, balancing intentional humor with unintentional silliness. Themes of regret and mortality are briefly touched on, only to be dismissed by a montage set to Maroon 5, suggesting any attempt at seriousness is just for show. Viewers may feel strung along by a series of events that lack depth and resolution.

What Didn’t Work

Venom: The Last Dance opens with the villain Knull explaining his background, but his story remains confusing, presented through abstract visuals that add little clarity. Played by Andy Serkis, Knull is a powerful being predating the universe, betrayed by the symbiotes—including Venom. He remains isolated in a swamp, dispatching monster minions to do his bidding. This setup gives the impression that much of the plot is simply paving the way for future films, leaving viewers unsure about any actual conclusion.

The film hints that one of the main characters may need to die, but this potential twist is obscured by unrelated side stories about Dr. Payne’s brother and a quirky family led by Rhys Ifans. These distractions reduce the stakes, while Venom’s meta-comments about "multiverse fatigue" seem like awkward attempts to stay relevant in a saturated genre.

Although marketed as the trilogy's conclusion, the film hints at more villains to come, perpetuating the cycle of unresolved storylines. It raises the question: Were any Venom films genuinely memorable or carried by Hardy's unique portrayal alone? Another question raised is the casting of Rhys Ifans, who previously played the Lizard in Andrew Garfield's The Amazing Spider-Man, potentially confusing viewers by appearing as an unrelated character here.

Even though this film claims to end the trilogy, it seems to hint at more villains to come, creating a cycle of unfinished stories. Were any of the "Venom" films truly good? The first was somewhat enjoyable, mainly because of Tom Hardy's unique character portrayal, turning the story into a quirky buddy comedy. The sequels have leaned heavily into silliness, featuring funny moments like Venom cooking breakfast or dancing to ABBA—elements that feel more like jokes than serious storytelling.

Verdict

The film is refreshingly short, running at around 90 minutes. While Venom: The Last Dance has some fun moments and nostalgic charm, it ultimately fails to provide a satisfying ending to the trilogy, leaving audiences with more questions than answers.