VENOM: THE LAST DANCE

US, 2024, 109 minutes, Colour.

Tom Hardy,  Chiwitel Ejiofor, Juno Temple, Rhys Ifans, Stephen Graham, Clark Backo, Alana Ubach.

Directed by Kelly Marcel.

It seems that diehard Venom fans are quite pleased with this third film, the story of journalist Eddie Brock, Tom Hardy,, his being associated, Simbiotically is the word, with a parasite that lives inside him, Venom, transforming into a fearsome creature, helmet head and face, strong gnashing teeth, beyond pterodactyl wings… But, quite a conversational style voiced also by Tom Hardy, as an immigrant to the US, eager to see the Statue of Liberty and enjoy the American lifestyle, a gambling spree  in Las Vegas!

However, this is an episode which may not use many converts. In many ways, the film is frequently quite grotesque, not only Venom and his dark visuals as it takes over Eddie, but a grim opening, way beyond the extremities of the universe, a sinister Xenolphage who exhorts even more fearsome and ugly creatures to destroy a codex (actually inside Eddie and Venom) and annihilate the world.

Tom Hardy, who  contributed to the story with the writer of all three Venom films, Kelly Marcel, who now directs, tends to be fairly weary of it all while Venom is excited! And the film is very episodic, a kind of Roswell site about to be demolished, Chiwiltel Ejiofor is the military commander, Juno Temple an ambitious scientist, the exploits in the underground laboratories exploring parasites and Symbiotes. Eddie and Venom are in Mexico, board a plane (on the outside) for New York are involved in a sky high confrontation with monsters, falling to earth, and continually pursued by the military.

Then, cheerfully, there is a rather hippie family, led by Rhys Ifans, believing in aliens and eager to see them, giving Eddie a lift who befriends the family. But, Venom is eager for a Las Vegas experience, Sally playing the machines and losing.

But, everyone comes together at the site to be abandoned, all kinds of special effects, explosions, pursuits, mayhem… But, of course, the ending (for most if not all). A distraction came while watching the film, and a felt need for distractions for the reviewer, wondering what would God’s response be as God sat down to watch Venom, thinking about the wonders of creation and realising that it might be beyond divine powers to imagine such a grimly contorted scenario as this one!)

1. Venom in the Marvel Universe? Preceding films? The continuity? This film is a climax?
2. The theory of Symbiotes? Origins, appearance, creatures and monsters, helmet heads, teeth, tongues, wings, transformations? Linking with humans? Two personalities in one? With Eddie, his history, previous crises, the death of Patrick?
3. The opening, the extremes of the universe, grim and dark, the Xenophage, bound, voice, the other creatures, the mission, the target, the Codex? The mission to Earth?
4. Eddie, his personality, his link with Venom, Tom Hardy using both voices? In the bar, drunk, the drinks, the bartenders, the manifestations? The future, to leave Mexico, to go to New York, the Statue of Liberty?
5. Introduction to Teddy Paine, the dream, with her twin brother, to be an astronaut, the storm, his death, her waking, call to work, her work with the Symbiotes, Sadie as her assistant? Her interactions with Strickland? The laboratory, below the Earth, elaborate? The work, the samples? Investigations? Reviving Patrick, the interrogations, his information?
6. The situation with the plant, extensive, to be decommissioned, three days, the remnants?
7. The targeting of Eddie, the mechanisms for surveillance, tracking him? The squads available to Strickland, the pursuit, the fight on the plane, the helicopter and the military, dropping into the water, confrontation with them, their deaths? The consequences for Strickland? His return to the plant?
8. The encounter with the family, Martin, his background, preoccupation with aliens, gathering the family, travelling in the van, his wife’s support, the delight of the little boy, the questionings of the daughter? The encounter with Eddie, his friendliness, Eddie trying to keep Venom under control? The singing of the David Bowie song? The bonding, dropping Eddie in Las Vegas, giving him the $20?
9. The Las Vegas episode, Venom wanting to gamble, the lack of money, hitting the poker machines, the people observing? Eddie looking drab, the encounter with the man in the suit, Eddie looking respectable? The encounter with the friend, up to the apartment, Venom enjoying the dance?
10. Eddie, to the plant, with Teddy Paine, with Strickland, the encounter with Patrick and the explanations?
11. Martin, the family, arriving at the site, under the fence, on the tower, able to observe everything, the collapsing tower? The final disillusionment with aliens!
12. The buildup to the confrontation, the special effects, the creatures arriving, the commands of Xenophage, the staff, the destruction of the underground laboratory, on the surface, the Symbiotes escaping, making contact with Teddy Paine, the pursuit of Sadie?
13. The buildup to the final drama, Strickland being wounded, on the platform, his code and eyes, setting the destruction in process? The explosion and destruction?
14. The aftermath, Eddie, the hospital, separation from Venom? And the views of the Statue of Liberty?
15. The final credits, possibility for future Venom stories?