Venom: The Last Dance (Full Movie 2024)

By Science Fiction

Venom: The Last Dance (2024): A Chaotic, Campy Farewell to Eddie and Venom

Introduction

Venom: The Last Dance (2024), directed by Kelly Marcel, marks the final chapter of Sony’s Venom trilogy, starring Tom Hardy as Eddie Brock and his symbiote partner, Venom. Released on October 25, 2024, this superhero flick in Sony’s Spider-Man Universe (SSU) leans hard into the goofy, bromantic charm that defined its predecessors while juggling a messy plot and a teased future for the franchise. Despite mixed reviews, it’s a wild ride for fans. This post dives into the film’s plot, themes, performances, and its place in the trilogy.

Plot Summary

Picking up after Venom: Let There Be Carnage and a brief MCU cameo in Spider-Man: No Way Home, Eddie Brock (Tom Hardy) and Venom are fugitives in Mexico, wanted for the apparent murder of Detective Patrick Mulligan (Stephen Graham). Hunted by Earth’s military, led by General Rex Strickland (Chiwetel Ejiofor), and alien Xenophages sent by Knull (voiced by Andy Serkis), the symbiote creator imprisoned on Klyntar, the duo embark on a road trip to clear Eddie’s name. Their journey takes them from a Mexican bar to Las Vegas and Area 51, where scientists like Dr. Teddy Payne (Juno Temple) study symbiotes. A codex in Eddie and Venom’s bond holds the key to freeing Knull, forcing a heart-wrenching decision in a chaotic third-act showdown.

Themes and Tone

Bromance and Sacrifice

The heart of Venom: The Last Dance lies in Eddie and Venom’s odd-couple dynamic, often compared to a married couple or Thelma & Louise. Their bickering, laced with dark humor, carries emotional weight as the film explores sacrifice and loyalty, culminating in a bittersweet finale that resonates despite the script’s flaws.

Corporate Franchise Building

The film struggles with Sony’s attempt to expand the SSU, introducing Knull as a Thanos-like threat for future projects. This focus on setup dilutes the story, with critics noting it feels like “a real-time AI render of ideas” from writers with clashing visions, prioritizing franchise expansion over narrative coherence.

Camp vs. Seriousness

The trilogy’s signature camp shines in moments like Venom possessing a horse or dancing to ABBA’s “Dancing Queen,” but the film wavers between goofy comedy and self-serious sci-fi, creating tonal whiplash. This inconsistency frustrates some, though fans find the chaos endearing.

Performances and Direction

Tom Hardy’s dual role as Eddie and Venom remains the trilogy’s backbone, delivering a “roiling one-man-band” performance with physical comedy and gravelly-voiced charm. His hungover, disheveled Eddie is both hilarious and sympathetic, though some reviews note he seems tired, perhaps reflecting the production’s strain. Chiwetel Ejiofor and Juno Temple are underutilized as one-note military and scientist characters, while Rhys Ifans steals scenes as a hippie dad in a surprisingly touching subplot. Kelly Marcel’s directorial debut is visually coherent but criticized for sloppy editing and pacing, with action sequences ranging from thrilling to murky CGI sludge.

Action and Visuals

The film’s action peaks in a gory, well-choreographed third-act battle at Area 51, with Xenophages—spider-like creatures with shredder-like mouths—adding visceral horror. Visual effects are an improvement over past entries, especially in creative symbiote designs, though some CGI-heavy fights feel cluttered. Standout sequences, like Venom’s horse-riding rampage or an airplane battle, deliver the “dumb, mindless fun” fans expect, though the PG-13 rating limits the gore’s potential.

Reception and Box Office

Venom: The Last Dance scored a 40% on Rotten Tomatoes from 218 reviews, with audiences giving it a 77% Popcornmeter score, reflecting the series’ trend of critics panning it while fans embrace its silliness. It grossed $478.9 million worldwide, the lowest of the trilogy but still profitable against a $120 million budget. Posts on X highlight fans loving the “cheesy, campy” moments, like a Vegas dance sequence, while others lament the “boring franchise antics” overshadowing Eddie and Venom’s charm.

Strengths and Weaknesses

The film shines when focusing on Eddie and Venom’s banter, with moments like a Space Oddity sing-along with a hippie family adding unexpected heart. The introduction of new symbiotes and Knull’s comic-accurate design excites comic fans. However, the convoluted plot, underdeveloped supporting characters, and erratic pacing drag it down. Critics call it a “grand failure” and “cacophony of unfinished ideas,” with Sony’s focus on SSU expansion undermining the trilogy’s closure.

Why Watch It?

For fans, Venom: The Last Dance is a flawed but fun send-off, delivering the trilogy’s signature humor and action. It’s best enjoyed as a “turn your brain off” popcorn flick, with Hardy’s performance and absurd moments like Venom’s Vegas antics making it worth the ticket. Available on Netflix or for rent on Fandango at Home, it’s a must for those who love the series’ campy charm, but newcomers may find its messiness off-putting. Stick around for two credit scenes—one hinting at Knull’s future, the other less essential.

Final Thoughts

Venom: The Last Dance is a messy, overstuffed finale that still captures the chaotic joy of Eddie and Venom’s partnership. While it stumbles with a half-baked plot and Sony’s franchise ambitions, Hardy’s gonzo performance and the film’s unapologetic weirdness make it a fitting, if flawed, trilogy capper. Have you seen it? Share your thoughts below or check out fan reactions on X!