“Venom: The Last Dance” may have received a fair share of mixed or negative press, but I found it to be a surprisingly entertaining experience that exceeded my expectations. Tom Hardy remains a standout as Eddie Brock, bringing both depth and humour to the role. His portrayal, paired with his iconic, gravelly-voiced take on Venom, provides the movie with a consistent stream of humour and chemistry. The playful banter between Eddie and Venom adds a comedic edge that gives the film a distinct identity and had me laughing multiple times throughout.
You know exactly what you are going to get with the Venom movies and The Last Dance doesn’t fail to bring in what we have got used to with the previous movies, Eddie Brock and the Venom symbiote are drinking in a bar in Mexico, still on the run after their recent battle with Carnage. The murder of Patrick Mulligan (Stephen Graham) has made international headlines, with Eddie identified as the prime suspect. This forces him to set out for New York City in an attempt to clear his name.
Unbeknownst to both Eddie and Venom, a creature known as the Xenophage has begun tracking them. Recent events have caught the attention of Rex Strickland, a soldier overseeing Imperium, a government operation based at the soon-to-be-decommissioned Area 51. This operation focuses on capturing and studying other symbiotes that have fallen to Earth.
Mulligan, who was believed to have died in his encounter with Carnage, has survived. He is captured after being left for dead by another symbiote that evades Strickland’s soldiers. Mulligan is then bonded with one of the many contained symbiotes and is interrogated by Imperium to uncover the symbiotes’ purpose on Earth. Meanwhile, Strickland (Chiwetel Ejiofor) receives orders to bring Venom down.
Venom: The Last Dance has plenty of comedy and action to keep us entertained, it’s not the perfect movie but everything works. The effects look great and it’s nice to see some of the other symbiotes coming into the action in this final outing for Eddie and Venom.
Some great moments stick in my mind after seeing the movie such as the return of Mrs Chen (Peggy Lu) with a scene that sees Mrs Chen and Venom having that one last dance together before all hell breaks loose, it’s certainly one of those cute moments that lighten things up.
I enjoyed seeing Rhys Ifans in the movie as Martin, the character and his family pick up Eddie as they travel the “Extraterrestrial Highway” towards Are 51. We get to see a side of Eddie and Venom that we haven’t seen before and it certainly builds on the relationship they have.
Seeing it in IMAX was a decision I’d highly recommend to anyone considering watching it. The large format does justice to the movie’svisuals and sound design, creating a more immersive experience. Venom: The Last Dance features 40 minutes of IMAX’s exclusive Expanded Aspect Ratio (EAR), featuring up to 26% more picture than non-IMAX cinemas.
These scenes open the screen, allowing for broader and more captivating visuals. The underwater sequence, in particular, was mesmerizing; it felt like you were submerged in the scene, surrounded by water. This level of visual intensity showcases the movie’s technical strengths, and IMAX amplifies this experience significantly.
For fans of the Venom character or the previous movies, “The Last Dance” is worth a watch. It’s best approached with a sense of fun rather than seriousness—if you embrace the chaos and humour, you’ll have a great time. The film stays true to its origins as an entertaining, unconventional take on the superhero genre, so don’t go in expecting heavy drama or complex storytelling.
Does Venom: The Last Dance Have a Post Credits Scene?
And finally, for those who like a little something extra, stay through the credits. There’s both a mid-credits scene and a final end-credit scene that might surprise you and hint at exciting things for the future.
Photos courtesy of Sony Pictures.