Why Venom Is the Only Sony Spider-Man Universe Spinoff That Works

As someone who grew up devouring Marvel comics and watching every superhero flick that graced the silver screen, I must say that the Venom franchise has been a refreshing change of pace. Unlike other Spider-Man wannabes, these films have managed to carve out their own niche by focusing on the unique bond between Eddie Brock and his symbiotic companion, Venom.

In the world of Spider-Man films, there are the traditional ones like the Spider-Man movies we all know, and then there’s another group called Sony’s Spider-Man Universe (SSU). What sets these SSU films apart is that they don’t feature everyone’s favorite web-slinger. Due to legal rights issues and a unique arrangement where Tom Holland’s Spider-Man can appear in the Disney-owned Marvel Cinematic Universe, Sony has produced several live-action movies starring less popular Spider-Man characters instead of Peter Parker himself. This strategy allows them to maintain the main Spider-Man brand without watering it down. The results have been a mix, with films like Morbius and Madame Web becoming infamous for their confusing failures. However, one SSU film has succeeded—and succeeded enough to warrant not just one but two sequels, including one that’s recently hit theaters. So why does Venom work when the rest of the SSU doesn’t?

Titled “Venom: The Last Dance“, set to release on Oct 24, is a continuation of the 2018 film “Venom” and its 2021 sequel “Venom: Let There Be Carnage“. These movies were among the top-earning films of their respective years, suggesting that this mini-series is a hit. Starring Tom Hardy as journalist Eddie Brock and providing the voice for Venom, an extraterrestrial Symbiote who has fused with Eddie, the storyline implies that “The Last Dance” will be the concluding chapter of the trilogy. In contrast, films like “Morbius ” and “Madame Web” have underperformed financially, received poor reviews, and won’t see a sequel despite hints in post-credit scenes.

Among the three sidekicks of Spider-Man portrayed in these films, it’s quite unexpected that Venom stands out as the one capable of carrying more than one film. Initially, Venom made his debut in comics way back in 1984, merely a black version of Spider-Man’s usual red and blue suit. Over time, the extraterrestrial entity responsible for giving Peter Parker his new appearance and enhanced strength emerged as an antagonist in its own right. Interestingly, Venom is essentially a darker counterpart to Spider-Man. Considering the challenges of creating a movie without acknowledging Spider-Man’s existence, Venom manages to excel where Morbius and Madame Web falter. One might assume that characters like Morbius, the vampire superhero, and Madame Web, portrayed by Dakota Johnson as a clairvoyant, would find it easier in a universe without Spider-Man.

Venom’s fame sets him apart from his SSU counterparts, such as Harley Quinn, who might be the only one comparable in recognition among comic book supervillains of the past 40 years. The first Venom film could capitalize on this fame and focus on an intriguing tale about alien slime and a determined, high-pitched reporter who encounters it. Interestingly, the resemblance between Venom and Spider-Man is not addressed in the story. Contrastingly, Morbius marketed itself with trailers displaying Spider-Man graffiti that doesn’t feature in the film and created a stir about a post-credits scene involving the Vulture from the MCU, which turned out to be nonsensical and unfulfilled. Madame Web, apart from causing some concerns about gas leaks, bends itself around Spider-Man’s absence. Three supporting characters are legacy, secondary Spider-Man figures, despite Peter Parker being a baby during the film’s timeline. (It’s quite peculiar that his full name is never mentioned in the movie.)

Generally speaking, the Venom movies tend to steer clear of Spider-Man. There are subtle references, such as a reference to Eddie being kicked out of New York at the beginning of the 2018 movie and a nod to their comic book history. The Symbiote also recognizes Spidey during a scene after the credits in Venom, linking it to Spider-Man: No Way Home>. However, this connection is more for comedic effect rather than establishing any significant continuity. Instead, what sets Venom apart from movies like Morbius and Madame Web is the strong bond between its main characters. In contrast, the plots of all three films are rather illogical, and their villains are forgettable except for Cletus Kasady/Carnage, played by Woody Harrelson. The Venom movies can be described as a series of buddy comedies that humorously explore romantic themes as Eddie and his symbiote partner Venom embark on various adventures together. It’s like a modern-day version of The Odd Couple, with one character being made of living goo and having a tendency to bite people’s heads off.

People aren’t flocking to watch Venom films for intricate superhero backstories or to decipher obscure ties to Spider-Man; instead, they’re drawn by Tom Hardy’s eccentric portrayal of his crazy, potty-mouthed symbiote sidekick. The standout moment from the initial film was when Eddie, in the early stages of his Venom partnership, decided to unwind in a fancy restaurant’s lobster tank for a refreshing soak. In Let There Be Carnage, we saw Eddie and Venom struggling to prepare breakfast using their numerous tentacles. The Venom movies are filled with dance sequences, humorous dialogues, and plenty of entertainingly dumb action, but they all revolve around the unexpected bond between a man and his Symbiote.

In simpler terms, it’s not expected that every movie series focuses on the main theme of Eddie and Venom’s relationship, which can be quite absurd at times. The latest film, The Last Dance, assumes viewers are fully invested in these two characters, but if your interest is dwindling due to their constant squabbling and humor, there isn’t much else to engage you. The villain, Knull, is a distant threat who sends monsters after Eddie and Venom, while they cause mischief in the Nevada desert and meet Chiwetel Ejiofor and Juno Temple at Area 51. Rhys Ifans plays an eccentric hippie with a love for aliens, traveling with his granola family in a van. However, these additional elements may not be enough to captivate audiences who have already experienced Eddie and Venom’s adventures twice before.

Despite Venom’s decline in popularity, it’s easy to understand why its characters were appealing. On the other hand, Madame Web is more enjoyable when taken with a pinch of irony – it’s fun but not exactly a top-tier film. In a sea of Spider-Man imitators, Venom stood out as the most successful because it focused on genuine relationships rather than weak links between multiverse intellectual properties.

As a film enthusiast, I’m thrilled about the upcoming third SSU movie this year – Kraven the Hunter. Aaron Taylor-Johnson will be portraying the Spider-Man adversary known for his prowess as a big game hunter. While I’ve been let down in the past, I find myself hesitantly hopeful regarding this film. The character of Kraven could merely serve as a platform to deliver exhilarating action scenes that showcase a man with animalistic abilities. That may not be the heartwarming bond we saw between Eddie and Venom, but it certainly promises excitement. If a Spider-Man absence is unavoidable in a Spider-Man film, then an alternative must be compelling.

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2024-10-26 00:06