A goopy goodbye to symbiote shenanigans

This film starts with the hope of bringing an electrifying end to the wacky, wild symbiotic escapades of Eddie Brock and his inky black buddy, Venom. Sadly, the film stumbles through a series of missteps, leaving even die-hard fans of the franchise wondering if this final entry is more of a farewell dance or a half-hearted shuffle.

- Troy Ribeiro

Tom Hardy, as ever, fully commits to both Eddie and Venom, but the film fails to match his intensity. The chaotic charm of the earlier films, driven by Hardy's manic energy, feels diluted here. This narrative is bogged down by a narrative too busy setting up new plotlines while wrapping up unnecessary ones. Director Kelly Marcel, who co-wrote the previous films, takes the helm but struggles to maintain the absurdity without letting it devolve into a formulaic mess. The result is a film that lacks the punch of its predecessors.