There’s no doubt that the Venom film trilogy has been one of the most beloved, epic, and masterful comic book movie sagas of our generation! Today we’re reviewing the saga’s final installment, Venom: The Last Dance, which released last October. Alongside Tom Hardy as Eddie Brock/Venom, the film stars Rhys Ifans as Dr. Curt Connors/The Lizard, Andy Serkis as Ulysses Klaw, and Chiwetel Ejiofor as Baron Karl Mordo.

The film opens with Klaw (Serkis), the villainous master of sound as seen previously in Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015) and Black Panther (2018). Following his crimes, the Avengers have banished Klaw to another planet (because that’s always a great solution for any problem, right?). But in space, Klaw has been plotting his revenge, starting with a plan to destroy the Earth’s greatest protector: Venom!

And, let’s be honest–Venom and the other symbiotes are really no match for a foe like Klaw! I mean, his power is sound, their weakness is sound–you do the math. It’s a lot like Wolverine somehow still thinking he can fight Magneto after all these years! Not his best idea. Maybe that’s why Klaw is just kind of hiding in the shadows in this movie and doesn’t do any actual fighting!

Soon after, we see get a real treat in a cameo from Horse Venom! Just like Widow in Across the Spider-Verse, Horse Venom is a multiverse variant in which a horse named Mister Ed Brock has bonded with an alien symbiote! Horse Venom was expertly portrayed by race horse Popcorn Deelites, with footage filmed before his death in 2022. Deelites was best known for starring in Seabiscuit (probably also a Spider-Man multiverse film, when you think about it!). Could all of this be a hint at a coming Venomverse movie? We hope so!

Another featured antagonist is Dr. Curt Connors (Ifans), who franchise fans will recognize as the villainous Lizard! After trying to turn all of New York into reptiles way back in The Amazing Spider-Man (2012), Connors has been (understandably) disgraced by the scientific community and is now an out-of-work hippie living on the open road. While on the run from the law, Eddie (Hardy) encounters Connors–and falls right into his trap! The sinister Connors proceeds to torture our hero with forced family road trips, mindless conspiracy theories, and even a sing-along to David Bowie’s “Space Oddity”! Parents, take note: this scene isn’t for the faint of heart.

The film’s major antagonist is Baron Mordo (Ejiofor), who (except for a multiveral variant) hasn’t shown up in the Marvel universe since Doctor Strange (2016)! And, since Marvel never really followed up on that post-credits scene first establishing him as a villain, he’s had a lot of time to reevaluate his priorities. Instead of “too many sorcerors,” Mordo has decided instead that there are “too many symbiotes,” and he’s joined the army in an effort to eradicate them! General Mordo uses his mysterious magical powers along with military might to try to hunt down Venom and the other symbiotes.

Some critics have argued that three villains are too many for a movie featuring Venom. Initially,
Sony was planning to keep it to just Klaw and the Lizard—but it seems like they wanted More,
Doe. I guess they hoped that this movie would be a success and help them bring More Dough!

Don’t worry, though–this movie isn’t just about villains and fighting! As everyone knows, no Venom-starring third act is ever complete without a musical dance number. In the middle of the movie, while letting loose at a casino in Las Vegas, Venom performs an entire song and dance routine to “Dancing Queen” by the A*Teens! (Think we’re joking? Go watch the movie for yourself!) Tobey Maguire and Topher Grace also show up to dance with Venom, with the incredibly cool trio then proceeding to dance to funky James Brown music down the streets of Vegas.

Overall, Venom: The Last Dance is a must-watch for any Marvel fan! Go check it out so you’ll be all caught up before Sony forgets this was supposed to be the last movie and decides to make another sequel!