Long-anticipated ‘Venom: The Last Dance’ finally saw its theatrical release and set off quite a wild rollercoaster of fan and critical receptions. Gracing the latest entry in Sony’s Spider-Man Universe, the film sees Tom Hardy don the tights once more as anti-hero Eddie Brock and his symbiotic alter ego Venom for what looks to be, arguably, his last dance in the character’s tights.
A Bold New Direction
Helmed by Kelly Marcel, the film introduces a darker plot that further pushes Venom and Eddie Brock into uncharted emotional territory. Reactions are mixed early on, but it would appear ‘The Last Dance’ has action, humor, and heart; the shift in tone for the franchise is touted by some as a positive, while others see it as a negative.
Indeed, some have come out to praise the visual effects and Hardy’s performance in the film, with one such fan hailing it online as “a perfect blend of chaos, emotion, and humor.” Others liked the darker tones of the film, saying it was a nice evolution for the character.
Mixed Critical Reception
While fans celebrated the return of Venom, some critics expressed misgivings concerning the pacing and tone of the film. The storyline is always consistent, as critics find that the pace of some subplots was rushed. Others said that while Hardy’s performance remains a highlight, the movie’s attempt at balancing emotional depth with over-the-top action did not always work.
As one critic noted, “Tom Hardy gives it his all, but it feels like the movie is trying to do too much all at once. Entertaining, sort of disjointed.”
Surprises and Easter Eggs
The premiere did confirm that ‘The Last Dance’ is full of big cameos, Easter eggs toward other characters within the Spider-Man Universe. There were indeed fans who speculated that such instances could open up a pathway towards setting up future crossovers.
Is This the End for Hardy’s Venom?
With the film being touted-essentially-a possibly final chapter in Hardy’s Venom saga, speculation has gone rife on what the future of Tom Hardy in the role would be. Sony, for its part, hasn’t said this is his last outing as the character, which would leave the door open that he might pop up in some other future ventures.
Box Office Expectations
More or less, everyone is keeping their eyes on the box office for how ‘Venom: The Last Dance’ will perform, with its official release just around the bend. Its predecessors enjoyed great numbers at the box office, and Sony is working hard to make sure all that momentum is replicated from the previous two films. Worldwide, the movie is set to hit the screen on 25 October 2024, and is expected to take a flying start right from the opening weekend.
IMAGE SOURCE- Sony Entertainment
