Venom: The Last Dance – A Disappointing Finale for Tom Hardy’s Venom Trilogy
The final installment in Tom Hardy’s Venom trilogy, Venom: The Last Dance, attempts to wrap up the story of Eddie Brock and his symbiotic counterpart, Venom. Picking up after the events of Venom: Let There Be Carnage, the film sets the duo on the run. Yet, as The Last Dance unfolds, it quickly becomes evident that it falls short in delivering a memorable finale, failing to leverage key characters like Knull and missing out on the opportunity to deepen the relationship between Eddie and Venom. Here’s a closer look at where The Last Dance stumbles and how it impacts the future of Sony’s Spider-Man Universe.
Venom vs. Knull: The Missed Opportunity
One of the biggest expectations fans had for The Last Dance was the introduction of Knull, the Symbiote God, a powerful antagonist from Marvel Comics. Building on the success of Let There Be Carnage, which featured the formidable villain Carnage, a confrontation with Knull seemed a fitting and climactic end for the trilogy. Unfortunately, Knull’s presence is hardly felt throughout the movie, as he is relegated to a minor setup for what appears to be a possible future installment, perhaps involving The Sinister Six. Instead of a thrilling showdown, the plot sees Eddie and Venom on the run from a lesser alien creature sent by Knull and, disappointingly, from the military in an underdeveloped side story.
A Road-Trip Plot That Falls Flat
The Last Dance tries to add a “road trip” feel to Eddie and Venom’s journey, moving from Mexico to Nevada. However, this travel-centric plot is continually interrupted by scenes tied to a confusing Area 51 subplot, which only detracts from the main story. These diversions introduce underdeveloped characters and forced foreshadowing, diluting the narrative’s pacing. The road-trip premise had potential, offering a chance for Eddie and Venom to explore their dynamic further, yet it feels awkwardly executed and ultimately adds little to their story or character development.
Stagnant Character Development
By the third film in the series, Venom: The Last Dance reveals a crucial flaw: the franchise seems unsure of how to evolve Eddie and Venom’s relationship. From the start to the end, neither Eddie nor Venom demonstrates significant growth. Their interactions, once comedic and charming, now feel redundant and predictable. The humor that once set the tone for their relationship now lacks originality and spark, falling short in creating any new emotional or comedic depth for audiences.
Weak Writing and Questionable Character Decisions
The writing in The Last Dance has received criticism for its lack of cohesion and depth, which isn’t surprising given this is the fifth movie in Sony’s Spider-Man Universe to exhibit such issues. Characters often act in ways that make little sense or contradict previous storylines, as if their actions are mere plot devices rather than true character choices. Eddie, for example, expresses guilt over killing, a reaction inconsistent with his behavior in prior films where he and Venom have dispatched enemies without remorse. The inconsistency detracts from the narrative, leaving viewers struggling to suspend disbelief.
An Underwhelming Climax and Disappointing Post-Credits Scenes
The third act of The Last Dance culminates in a sequence of action scenes that, while visually appealing, lack emotional weight or engagement. The dramatic high point of the story is predictable, and it fails to deliver a satisfying conclusion for the trilogy. Adding to the disappointment are two post-credits scenes that feel trivial and disconnected from the film, offering no meaningful hints or excitement for the future of the franchise. For fans expecting a memorable and rewarding end, The Last Dance falls disappointingly short.
Venom’s Future: Is the End Near?
Despite the mixed reception of previous films in Sony’s Spider-Man Universe, including Let There Be Carnage, Madame Web, and Morbius, each has offered its own brand of entertainment—even if unintentionally. However, The Last Dance seems to lack even that redeeming “so-bad-it’s-good” appeal. While fans of the franchise might find nostalgia in Eddie and Venom’s journey, this installment offers little to keep their interest alive.
Looking forward, Sony’s Spider-Man Universe appears uncertain. Kraven the Hunter is set to release soon, but there is palpable apprehension surrounding its quality and reception. The financial failure of Morbius and the indefinite shelving of several other projects has cast doubt on the future of this cinematic universe. Even with The Sinister Six rumored to be in development, the once-promising Venom series now appears to be running on empty.
Final Thoughts: A Disappointing Conclusion to Venom’s Story
While Venom: The Last Dance isn’t the worst superhero movie ever made, it struggles to leave a positive impression. What could have been a thrilling end to Eddie and Venom’s story instead feels like an uninspired addition to Sony’s Spider-Man Universe. For fans of the franchise, the film’s lackluster execution and missed potential are hard to ignore, and as the trilogy comes to an end, the question of Venom’s future in the universe looms larger than ever.
With hopes now set on Kraven the Hunter and an uncertain path ahead, The Last Dance serves as a reminder that even popular characters like Venom need strong storytelling to leave a lasting legacy. Whether Sony will deliver this in future projects remains to be seen, but for now, fans are left with a trilogy finale that, regrettably, doesn’t do justice to the characters or their journey.
