Oh Venom, My Venom. Originally introduced in Marvel Comics' The Amazing Spider-Man #252 forty years ago, he was initially one of Spider-Man's three main villains but, over time, has become more of an antihero rather than a true villain. Venom is an alien symbiote that can perceive or feel things and has an amorphous, liquid-like form. It survives by bonding with a host, usually human.
In 2018, Venom, starring Tom Hardy (Mad Max: Fury Road) as Eddie Brock/Venom, premiered as part of Sony's Spider-Man Universe (SSU) and grossed over $850 million worldwide. Three years later, the sequel, Venom: There Will Be Carnage, while not as successful as its predecessor, made over half a billion dollars. The final film in the trilogy, Venom: The Last Dance, debuted last October and has earned $475 million to date. Sony is set to release the film for home entertainment sale on 4K, Blu-ray, and Digital on January 21, 2025.
Having been transported through the multiverse (thanks to Dr. Strange) to Earth 616, Eddie/Venom are drunk in a Mexican bar. Suddenly, they are zapped back to their Earth, where they are wanted for the death of Patrick Mulligan (Stephen Graham; Snatch). In an attempt to clear their name, they set out for New York City only to be intercepted in Las Vegas by the head of Area 51, Strickland (Chiwetel Ejiofor; 12 Years A Slave). Meanwhile, Knull (Andy Serkis; The Planet of the Apes trilogy), the creator of the symbiotes, has sent a Xenophage to find Venom, who hides the Codex that can free Knull from his imprisonment.
In terms of the technical aspects of the physical media, Venom is pretty much what you would expect. The Dolby Vision presentation is excellent, and the 4K transfer is solid, as it should be since the film was only finished in the last six months. The special effects are spot on, and the 2160p resolution enhances many minute details. Explosions radiate with red, orange, and yellow hues, giving viewers a sense of the technical work put into this release. Even the shades of black used to create Venom are deep and varied.
Equally impressive is the Dolby Atmos audio. The previously mentioned explosions are audibly just as intense as they are visually. The deeper bass sounds radiate from all the surround speakers, enveloping the viewer in the scene. Dialogue is clean and clear, mostly sitting in the front speakers. The score and soundtrack are intertwined into the ambient sounds, weaving together the fabric of the film.
The combo pack includes the 4K disc, Blu-ray disc, and digital download. There is also approximately an hour of extras that are an enjoyable supplement to the film. The extras include Venomous Laughs (Outtakes and bloopers), Author of Mayhem: From Writer to Director, Venom Unleashed, Bonded in Chaos, Venom's Inner Circle, Brock Bottom, Savor the Last Bite, Deleted & Extended Scenes ("From Bar to the Abyss," "Dog Fight," "Strickland's Pursuit," "Venom's Guilty Pleasure," "Toxin's Warning," "Penthouse" and "Xenophage Landing"), Previs Scenes, and One Last Dance.
While Venom is neither completely good nor bad, he is unique. He and Eddie have funny dialogue and banter that make them a sort of odd couple. Hardy beautifully portrays these two entities as they meld into one, making the Venom films fun to watch. This third one is on par with Venom: There Will Be Carnage in terms of entertainment value, and the story of Venom: The Last Dance rounds out Venom's story well while leaving the door open for more adventures in the future.
Grade: B
