Venom: The Last Dance Review

The latest instalment of the Venom franchise is now playing in cinemas nationwide. The BTG Lifestyle team has seen the film, and here are our thoughts.

DEANO

I really wanted to like this movie. I enjoyed Venom. I guess Let There Be Carnage was technically a movie. But wow this third installment was a big yikes. And somehow, a fitting finale to a trilogy that should not have made it this far. But when you compare this series to Morbius and Madame Web, I guess the cream will always rise to just below the middle.

The performances were okay. Tom Hardy is still likeable (but he’s pushing his luck by doing three of these). Juno Temple was fine, but she and her traumatic backstory are seemingly in a different movie altogether. There were wholesome moments with Eddie and Rhys Ifans’ alien-obsessed Little Miss Sunshine family which I enjoyed. I’m happy that they focused less on Eddie’s love life and more on Eddie and Venom’s relationship, which provided some sweet moments. I would say Michelle Williams dodged a bullet but she was in two of these movies so she must still have some of that stink on her.

The writing really fails this movie: too many things are happening all at once, mysterious characters are just never explained, side characters with no depth are pivotal to the climax, and then there’s Knull. The god of the symbiotes, and apparently the villain of this movie, kicks things off with the most exposition-filled “I bet you’re wondering how I got in this situation” monologue that could have been an opening scroll if this was a Star Wars movie. Knull is wasted in this movie. As is Stephen Graham’s Toxin. They focused on the wrong things and because of that I got bored midway through the movie. Venom movies have always been bad but they were never boring: until now. This felt like a movie they needed to make because Tom Hardy had three movies in his contract. Toothless. Lackluster. A big yikes.

Overall, the Venom trilogy goes out like a turd in the wind. Thanks for the memories.(Oh lord, Kraven is going to be worse, isn’t it?)

Watch The Trailer for Venom Now

CINEMAN

The third instalment of Venom brings Tom Hardy back as Eddie Brock, still grappling with his unusual symbiotic relationship with Venom. The original 2018 Venom film managed to surprise audiences with its quirky mix of action and dark humor, leaning into the absurdity of its central character and balancing horror elements with a buddy-comedy feel. While it wasn’t a critical darling, the first movie charmed viewers with its unique tone, fresh visual effects, and Hardy’s comedic chemistry with Venom, proving that this anti-hero could carry his own story.

However, the sequel, Venom: Let There Be Carnage, struggled to capture the same magic. The plot felt thin and rushed, with an underwhelming villain and too many genre shifts. Despite its strong special effects and potential in Woody Harrelson’s Carnage, it left many fans feeling like the Venom franchise was losing its spark.

Now, with the third film, the creative team has poured effort into crafting stunning visual effects, which remain one of the film’s highlights. Each transformation feels both grotesque and hypnotic, raising the stakes for action sequences. Tom Hardy’s commitment to the role is commendable; he brings his all to every scene, making the dynamic between Eddie and Venom feel genuine and, at times, hilariously dysfunctional.

But while the visuals and Hardy’s performance deliver, the movie struggles to find its identity. It’s not clear if it wants to be a horror, a comedy, a family flick, a military action movie, a thriller, or a wild romp of a road trip movie. The narrative jumps around with tonal inconsistencies that disrupt any potential emotional connection, resulting in a messy, disjointed experience. For fans hoping for a return to form, Venom: The Last Dance leaves something to be desired, despite its undeniable technical achievements.

Overall Team Rating: 4/10