The third instalment in the Venom saga sees Tom Hardy return to the role of the anarchic symbiote alien anti-superhero to thwart an alien invasion.  A wonderfully entertaining blend of comedy and sci-fi, the Venom movies achieve uniqueness amidst the wash of superhero movies that have flooded screens over the past two decades. 

Now on his third outing, one might worry that the franchise would struggle to offer something new but Venom: The Last Dance serves up some genius comedy, mostly thanks to Hardy’s frenetic portrayal of Eddie Brock (the host to the parasitic lifeform).  The film boasts stunning CGI effects and all the ingredients of a classic ‘creature feature’, with monsters scaling and decimating buildings.

Amidst the violence of Venom’s day-to-day munching of “bad guys”, there are some poignant moments in the movie that reaffirm the goodness of family life and the striving for justice.  There is also a slight nod towards the fascination with resurrection and the hidden world that opens up at the point of death.  (Note the way the Codex is formed when the alien has rescued the host from death – not unlike the bond between Jesus and the Father who raises him from death and is forever One with him.)

Finally, there is an interesting parallel with Spider-Man 3 (the Tobey Maguire franchise directed by Sam Raimi), in which Venom took over Peter Parker and there was a cringe-worthy dance sequence with a slightly dark emo Maguire.  Well, brace yourself for a very different dance sequence in Part 3 of this saga, as Venom “cuts a rug” in an unforgettable scene that doesn’t disappoint!

Venom: The Last Dance is a real popcorn entertainment movie but due to the comic violence and some of the language, it’s aimed at a slightly older audience than other movies in the genre.

Review by

Stephen Callaghan