Venom: The Last Dance attempts to build on the franchise’s foundation but ultimately falls short, leaving fans disappointed. Where previous films delved into Venom’s journey—first exploring whether he’s friend or foe, then diving into his backstory—this entry fails to bring anything meaningful to the table. Instead, it tosses in popular characters from the comics, like Knull, using them merely as plot devices without adding any real depth.

The film feels like a contractual obligation hastily put together, discarding the character development established in the first two movies. Running at around an hour and a half, it follows a loose, almost nonsensical plot. Knull, the primary antagonist, is after the “Codex”—a power source only formed when a human and symbiote die and are reborn. But while Knull’s goal seems ominous, it remains vague, and his motivations are barely fleshed out. Venom’s character is similarly stagnant; instead of the nuanced dynamic between Eddie and Venom that fans expect, the two are mostly in agreement, stripping the film of the quirky tension that defines their relationship.

The story also meanders into bizarre choices, including an inexplicable dance sequence. While a dance scene in the second film made sense within the “breakup” context, here it’s completely out of place. The film even brings in a family, with Rhys Ifans playing the father, who are irrelevant to the central story but take up considerable screen time. These tangents only serve to dilute the main plot, leaving the audience questioning why they’re there at all.

“Venom: The Last Dance” feels like a throwback to poorly executed superhero films from the ’90s—formulaic, underdeveloped, and unsure of itself. Unfortunately, it’s not the finale fans were hoping for. This film may appeal to those who enjoy simple action sequences, but for fans of Venom, it doesn’t do justice to the character or his story.