▲ This still photo of "Venom: The Last Dance (or Venom 3)" is provided by Sony Pictures. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

 

SEOUL, Oct. 23 (Yonhap) -- The protagonist of the Hollywood blockbuster Venom series, "Venom," is a character that blurs the line between villain and hero. 

 

With a terrifying appearance, sharp-tongued wit, and brutal nature, Venom seems like a pure villain. However, his immense power sometimes leads him to do good deeds, contributing to his classification as an antihero. His darker side even earns him the label of a "villain hero."

 

Venom, an alien symbiote, relies on other life forms as hosts to survive. Upon arriving on Earth, Venom becomes an extremely dangerous entity for humanity but transforms into a more complex character after merging with journalist Eddie (played by Tom Hardy), who is known for investigating corruption. Although Venom made an appearance in Spider-Man 3 (2007), it wasn’t until the Venom series that his story was fully explored.

 

The first "Venom" (2018) and its sequel, "Venom: Let There Be Carnage (2021)," were both box office successes, attracting 3.88 million and 2.12 million viewers respectively in South Korea.

 

"Venom: The Last Dance (or Venom 3)," released on the 23rd, marks the third and final installment of the Venom series. Tom Hardy, famous in South Korea for his roles in "Dark Knight Rises (2012)" and "Mad Max: Fury Road (2015)," reprises his role as Eddie once again in this 15-and-over film.

 

In the 108-minute film, Eddie and Venom, having shared the same body for a long time, have developed good teamwork but still bicker frequently. Venom's impulsive actions often land Eddie in trouble. Together, they are chased by those seeking to capture the symbiote, and their situation worsens when Knull, the creator of the symbiotes, sends the terrifying alien entity known as the "Xenophage" to Earth, setting up a life-threatening crisis for both of them.

 

As the final entry in the Venom series, Venom 3 boasts grander and more spectacular action sequences than its predecessors, providing a fitting conclusion to the saga. Venom engages in a mid-air fight with the Xenophage, hanging from a plane like Tom Cruise in "Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation (2015)," and even outswims a special forces team in a fast-moving river during an intense underwater chase. 

 

In one memorable scene, Venom takes control of a horse’s body and rides through the wilderness with Eddie on his back, offering exhilarating visual thrills. In the climactic battle, symbiotes held captive in a military facility break free and team up with Venom to face off against the Xenophage in a massive showdown.

 

Although Venom is an antihero, his heroic deeds in the film leave a lasting emotional impact, as he bids farewell to the audience in a way that might make viewers miss the alien symbiote who once loved both humans and Earth. While the narrative does not deeply explore Venom’s internal evolution, Venom 3 still succeeds as an entertaining spectacle, filled with eye-catching action and impressive visual effects.

 

Kelly Marcel, who co-wrote and produced the first two films, directed and wrote the script for Venom 3. Tom Hardy also contributed to the screenplay and collaborated closely with Marcel in shaping the character of Eddie.

 

Despite the advanced visual effects (VFX) featured in Venom 3, Marcel opted for realism by constructing large-scale sets for the filming. For instance, the underground military facility where the symbiotes are confined was built in the middle of a desert, while the underwater battle with the special forces was filmed in a giant water tank.

 

Venom 3 was released first in South Korea, with its North American premiere set for October 25. As the winter movie season approaches, Venom 3 will be followed by a string of major Hollywood blockbusters, including "Gladiator 2" and "Wicked."

 

 

[ⓒ K-VIBE. 무단전재-재배포 금지]