Venom: The Last Dance – A Review of Sony's Attempt at a Final Chapter

Sony’s third installment of the Venom series, Venom: The Last Dance, has aimed to give fans a climactic send-off. But according to critics and early reviews, including a detailed take by RNZ visual journalist Samuel Rillstone, this final entry appears to miss its mark. Venom: The Last Dance is a tale of Eddie Brock and his symbiotic counterpart Venom, running from the US military and alien assassins, only to face Knull—the symbiote god—who’s introduced with hopes of setting up future spinoffs.

Fans of Tom Hardy will appreciate his familiar, energetic performance, and the quirky relationship between Eddie and Venom remains as engaging as ever. However, the story itself, which Kelly Marcel both wrote and directed, lacks depth. The film’s attempt to wrap up with a heartfelt montage of the trilogy isn’t quite earned, leaving audiences with a lukewarm experience.

Venom The Last Dance – A Review of Sony's Attempt at a Final Chapter (2) — Venom The Last Dance – A Review of Sony’s Attempt at a Final Chapter (2)

The plot of Venom: The Last Dance builds around Eddie Brock (Tom Hardy) and Venom, who find themselves pursued by the US military and alien assassins sent by Knull, the symbiote god. Hardy’s dynamic portrayal of Eddie and Venom, coupled with their humorous exchanges, continues to be a standout. However, the storyline relies heavily on exposition and lacks depth, with numerous scenes involving filler content or overly dramatic moments that miss the intended emotional mark.

As Kelly Marcel shared in an interview, “You can’t really do the symbiote movies without [Knull], but he’s also way too big to be one and done.” Marcel tries to tease Knull as the Thanos of Sony’s Marvel universe, giving him a minor role here in hopes of greater narrative potential in future films. But for now, this “taster” introduction feels rushed and not well-integrated into the larger storyline.

Eddie and Venom

Tom Hardy once again brings Eddie Brock to life with a mix of unpredictability, charisma, and humor that captures the audience’s attention. Venom’s quirky humor and charm are what kept fans loyal throughout the trilogy, and these interactions remain the most beloved aspect of the series. Their bond reflects a unique symbiosis, turning their relationship into one of the series’ few redeeming features.

Yet, despite Hardy’s magnetic performance, the addition of Knull falls flat. This character, introduced as a major Marvel villain, deserves a deeper exploration—a massive storyline built around Knull’s lore. For those unfamiliar, Knull was created by Donny Cates and Ryan Stegman and introduced in Thor comics in 2013 as the god and creator of all symbiotes. His lore is massive: he created the “All-Black” Necrosword, wielded by Gorr the God Butcher (from Thor: Love and Thunder), and he even decapitated a Celestial, forging the symbiotes. But Venom: The Last Dance only grazes the surface of this backstory, ultimately underutilizing Knull’s character in this final installment.

External Link to learn more about Knull: Comic Book Resources on Knull’s Marvel history and Marvel.com’s Character Profile on Knull

Attempted Epic Conclusion – Did It Work?

Marcel tries to pull together a climactic moment by offering a trilogy montage of Eddie’s journey with Venom, intended to wrap up their shared experiences. Unfortunately, the payoff feels shallow and forced, as fans had little character growth or solid arc building over the three films to justify such an ending. Rillstone noted, “They’re trying to make it a big send-off emotional thing…but the story just happens, and then it’s done, and that’s it.”

In the end, Venom: The Last Dance attempts to emulate the grand scale of other Marvel films by introducing characters with rich lore, yet it fails to achieve the depth or resonance necessary to pull off an impactful send-off. This film might appeal to hardcore fans of the Venom franchise, but it struggles to stand alone as a satisfying film.

Venom The Last Dance – A Review of Sony's Attempt at a Final Chapter (1) — Venom The Last Dance – A Review of Sony’s Attempt at a Final Chapter (1)

Final Thoughts

The Venom trilogy, and especially this final film, is a testament to the challenge of creating a superhero franchise outside the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s established framework. Sony has proven that while they may create profitable films on a budget, they can miss the mark in crafting truly impactful stories. Even with a performance as compelling as Tom Hardy’s, a flimsy storyline and underdeveloped characters can render the final product underwhelming.

For fans on the fence about seeing Venom: The Last Dance, it may be worth waiting until it’s available for streaming. It’s unlikely to deliver the epic farewell that Venom fans might hope for, but if you’re a Hardy enthusiast, his performance remains the highlight.