Venom – The Last Dance – 4K Review
Sony Pictures | 2024
PG13 | 1hr 50mins | Action | Comic Book | Sci-Fi
Native 4K | 2160P | HDR10 | Dolby Vision | Dolby Atmos | Dolby TrueHD 7.1 | Dolby Digital 5.1
Aspect Ratios: 2.39:1
Staring: Tom Hardy | Juno Temple | Chiwetel Ejiofor | Clark Backo | Peggy Lu | Stephen Graham
Directed by: Kelly Marcel
Ratings & Reviews
Please see here for my comments on reviewing movies.
My ratings are simple being marked out of a maximum of 5+. My reviews are biased towards the technical production aspects of the film with brief comments about the story line. Extras, sorry, that’s just not my ‘bag’.
So what did the 4K HDR10 video look like? Reference on occasions, and the Dolby TrueHD 7.1 soundtrack? Also occasionally hits reference.
Entertainment: 5
Video: 5-
Audio: 5-
Video: 4K HDR 10
Venom – The Last Dance was captured digitally in the ARRIRAW codec at 4.5K by cinematographer Fabian Wagner using with Signature Prime lenses. It was finished as a 4K Digital Intermediate at the 2.39:1 aspect ratio and graded for HDR for this 4K release in both Dolby Vision and HDR10. This triple-layer BD100 disc has been well authored and shows no use of noise reduction or edge sharpening and no obvious compression artifacts or significant noise. The package also contains a BD-50 HD version and a redeemable digital code.
The image is vivid and sharp throughout, having very good resolution, and presents as a reference HDR10 source. With the film shot in a high resolution format this 4K release has very good overall image clarity with a wide display of crisp, razor sharp detail with refined texturing throughout. Objects, clothing, threads, facial close-ups and landscapes all provide very good detail and definition, from the clean fine detailing that’s visible in the scenes in Mexico, the back of Rhys Ifan’s van and the Las Vegas strip, to the rocks, stone, skin, buildings, weapons, vehicles, and fireworks. Facial pores, stubble, wrinkles, eyelashes, hair strands and features are all accurately rendered with few undue exaggerations. CGI and special effects integration are a mixed bag, but are generally blended well with the real action shots, rarely looking soft. Effects like weapons, bodily impacts, flying objects, debris, explosions and of course Venoms inky black skin are well integrated into the live action with few distractions.
Even though a fair percentage of the movie is filmed in low light conditions, the contrast balance is very good throughout, from the brilliant uncompressed whites of the daylight exterior shots, the better lit lab scenes and various dazzling specular highlights, like blazing guns, to the deep and noise free inky blacks including; various night sequences and Venoms inky black and shiny body, that showed excellent low level detail. Individual clouds, sunlight, numerous light sources, the sheen of metallic weapons, costumes and vehicles all sparkle with a true-to-live realism, creating a solid dynamic contrast range and enhancing visibility of objects in both exterior and interior shots, providing a good depth of image.
The color palette presents with a moderate array of vibrant colors, with well saturated primaries and secondary’s, all having good color depth and density, with hues exhibiting pleasing nuances. From Mrs. Chen’s Vegas gowns red shimmer, and reds, blues, oranges and greens of the symbiotes, to Venoms multi-colored luminescent necklaces, countryside vegetation greens and canyon earthy and gray tones. Human skin tones and facial complexions throughout looking very natural.
This video is very good on all fronts, providing an almost reference HDR10 image.
Audio – Dolby TrueHD 7.1
Venom – The Last Dance launches itself into home theaters with a reference, Dolby Atmos mix that defaults to Dolby TrueHD 7.1 in my system. The Dolby TrueHD 7.1 soundtrack was engaging throughout whether during an emotional drama or an action scene, having extended bass, clarity and impactful dynamics. However, for a Sony mix I was surprised that I needed to raise my levels by +4dB in order to get the desired impact. Once there, all was well.
The overall sound presentation is dynamic, with good sub involvement and good surround action. The soundstage is wide, and surrounds are often active with ambience, directional cues and movement, delivering an active environment that drops the listener both into calm environments and action-packed spectacles alike, from the quiet of the Area 51 Labs to the final showdown. Effects placement are accurate and natural, with movement in both the rear and side surrounds, together with the general environmental and enclosure acoustics effects consistently pulling you into the many locals and environments, like the outside countryside and swirling underwater sounds to the Area 51 underground labs and above ground areas and claustrophobic VW van. From those quieter, dialogue-heavy sequences steeped in surrounding activity and echo of voices, yells, and footsteps, to the various weaponry, helicopter engines, numerous explosions, flying shrapnel and Tendrils and falling debris. All fill the surrounds pulling you into the scene and keeping you “in the mix”.
Sub action is solid, having a solid low-end extension, supporting Venom’s gravelly internal monologue voice, the roar of the Gatling guns and helicopter engines, explosions, physical impacts and weapons blasts. Imaging continuously feels broad and expansive following the action as it moves on and off-screen. Dialogue is always crystal clear and well detailed with solid front-center imaging and prioritization, providing good clarity and detail no matter how aggressive the action.
Flushing out the soundscape and supporting the movie throughout its entire length, the films score, composed by Dan Deacon, offers a good supportive mix, together with various classic pop/rock hits, being perfectly clear, and presenting with a solid bass line. Hitting a good balance between the dialogue and effects the score provides a light spill into the surrounds and good integration within the soundstage.
An excellent soundtrack that occasionally hits reference levels.
Story Overview
While hiding out in Mexico, Eddie Brock (Tom Hardy) and Venom discovers that Detective Mulligan (Stephen Graham) is supposed to be dead and that they are the prime suspects. Now, they are are the run and decide to return to New York to clear their names. Meanwhile, on Venoms home planet, the creator of the symbiotes, Knull, has been imprisoned by the symbiotes as he wants to destroy the universe. In order to unlock his prison he needs the Cortex Key that was created within Venom when Venom saved Eddie’s live. Now, both the military under the command of Rex Strickland (Chiwetel Ejiofor) and the Xenophages, sent by Knull, are seeking Eddie, and Venom explains to Eddie that the key cannot be detected by the Xenophages when he is part of Eddies body. On earth, Area 51 is about to be decommissioned and currently holds captured symbiotes that had arrived earlier on Earth and where Dr. Teddy Paine (Juno Temple) and her assistant Sadie (Clark Backo) are studying them. Eddie and Venom are eventually captured as they make their way to New York and are taken to Area 51. The fights that ensue occasionally ensure that Venom becomes himself on several occasions, allowing the Xenophages to track the key and his location. Back at Area 51, the hippie family that Eddie befriended while on the run, turns up, a captured symbiote that has taken over Mulligan explains to Strickland that if the key isn’t destroyed every living creature on earth will die, and that its destruction can only occur if either or both Eddie and Venom really die. So the battle for survival ensues as Knull sends more and more Xenophages to Area 51. The question is who will die, how and when?
My 2 cents
The best thing that I can say about Venom: The Last Dance is that it is fun and entertaining, bringing Sony’s version of the character to a solid close…or not! DON’T forget to watch to after the very end of all the credits!!!
I enjoyed the Venom franchise, it was entertaining and different. No, they weren’t epic movies, but they all kept my attention, were fun and provided some reference video and audio.
