We’ve all been there – you’re chilling on the couch after a long day and what you really need is a good ol’ fashioned scare flick to take your mind off things. Well let me tell you, “Sting” is the perfect pick for your next movie night with friends.
The film centers on 12-year-old Charlotte, who discovers a tiny spider after something crashes through her apartment window. Being the animal lover she is, she decides to keep the little guy as a pet. Thing is, this isn’t no ordinary spider – it grows at an incredible rate and seems to crave human flesh more than flies! Before long, it’s stalking the halls of Charlotte’s complex, picking off residents one by one.
We get to know some colourful characters who live in the building, like goofy exterminator Frank and odd loner Erik. But it’s Charlotte and her family – mom Heather, stepdad Ethan, and new baby bro – who the story focuses on. As tension erupts between the parents, Charlotte turns to her new spider bud for comfort. Little does she know the danger it poses!
Now some parts are a bit silly, like when the spider whistles or a character delivers a corny one-liner. The family drama can also get in the way of the gore at times. But overall, director Kiah Roache-Turner taps right into that deeply unsettling fear we all share of spiders. Plus, the creature effects are incredibly realistic. When the blood starts flying in the finale, you’ll be on the edge of your seat!
So if you’re looking for a fun scare that won’t take itself too seriously, look no further than “Sting.” Pop some popcorn, gather your friends, and get ready for one hell of a monster movie night!
Spider Invasion in Small Spaces
Just when you thought it was safe to cozy up indoors, along comes Sting to shake things up in a Brooklyn apartment building. The trouble starts innocently enough, with a little meteorite making a crash landing through a window. From the smashed rocks emerges an itsy bitsy spider, which soon catches the eye of the curious Charlotte. She decides to adopt the eight-legged friend, christening it “Sting” in tribute to Bilbo Baggins’ blade.
Only thing is, this ain’t no normal neighborhood spider. With each insect and bird snack it packs away, Sting grows bigger and bolder. What started out small enough to perch on a finger balloons into something that could wrestle a rat. Naturally this raises some eyebrows among the tenants, like exterminator Frank who’s called in to sort out some mysterious goings-on. But no one expects the rapid growth spurt that’s got Sting filling out air vents.
As Sting works up an appetite for heartier main courses, residents start vanishing left and right. When Sting bags herself a chihuahua, her owner Maria knows something’s up. Nerdy neighbor Erik also gets suspicious, warning how this arachnid’s traits don’t quite add up. But with snow piling feet-high outside, escape from the increasingly menacing menace isn’t so easy.
The stage is set for a final standoff as Charlotte realizes even her unusual pet has crossed a line. In a climactic caterwaul between girl and giant spider, it’s web vs. wits to see who can outsmart whom in these close confines. Sting may have the numbers, but underestimating Charlotte could prove its last mistake in this creepy creeper. Bigger they are, harder they fall…or something like that.
Creature Comforts
You can tell right away that Charlotte is a clever girl, but also lonely. Living in a small apartment with her mother, new stepfather and baby brother doesn’t leave much time for her. That’s why she finds such joy in her unusual new pet, an itsy bitsy spider she names Sting. Charlotte sees something special in the little crawler, nursed it to health with treats and quickly forms an attachment.
Her situation at home is less rosy – her parents are distracted with work and the newborn, while her relationship with her stepdad Ethan is strained. He tries with Charlotte but struggles to connect, leaving her wanting more attention and affection. It’s easy to understand why bonding with Sting provides welcome company and comfort. Charlotte can’t resist showing off her clever pet, even if others see just an oddity rather than a friend.
Others live in close quarters in the aging apartment complex too, each with their own quirks and troubles. Frank the exterminator keeps residents entertained with witty banter between jobs, easing tension with humor. Solitary characters like neighbor Erik and bereaved Maria welcome any social interaction, for better or worse. Even great-aunt Gunter, who’d rather shut out the world, plays a role when the creature strikes.
While some characters could benefit from richer development, they serve the creature feature well. With a mysterious threat emerging, their assorted personalities collide in escalating confinement. Rooting for resourceful Charlotte as she bonded with and protected her peculiar pet, viewers brace alongside residents facing terrors both real and imagined within the walls both sheltering and trapping them all.
Creature Design and Practical Effects
Have you seen the creature design in Kiah Roache-Turner’s apartment thriller Sting? The spider at the center of it all is an absolute beast – in the best way possible. This thing is genuinely unsettling to look at, with its long spindly legs, sleek oily black carapace and pinchers that click together like skeletal fingers snapping. But it’s not just how it looks that sends shivers down your spine.
What really jolts you is how realistically it moves. It scuttles, it slashes, it dangles from tiny threads of silk with unnatural precision. You can totally believe this is an actual spider, just brought to mammoth scale. And that’s no accident – it’s thanks to the incredible puppetry and animatronics work. They blend practical effects with CGI in a seamless, subtle way. It really feels like this is a real, physical creature right there on screen.
I know some people think puppets or suits went out of style back in the 80s, but they’re wrongly missing out. Seeing something tangible brings an extra layer of unease. Your brain knows, on some level, that it’s just a person in a suit. But your gut instinct is still very, very unsure. And I think that’s what gets under your skin the most with Sting – you genuinely aren’t sure if what you’re seeing is real or not.
Other movies will toss some sloppy CGI monster into shots and call it a day. But Roache-Turner took the time to craft a genuine sense of unease. He knew focusing on practical effects was the only way to do the source material justice and really tap into what makes spiders so unsettling. The creature speaks for itself, in a way, and leaves you itching in the best way. It just goes to show that sometimes the old ways really are the best ways.
How Sting Blends Horror and Heart
Director Kiah Roache-Turner had an tricky task with Sting – make a movie about a giant spider threatening an apartment building while also focusing on the people inside. But he finds a way to balance both that keeps it creepy but also caring.
The film could have simply been horror for horror’s sake, with the creature killing everyone in gory scenes. Instead, we get to know the quirky characters and feel for them when threat arises. A lonely old woman, struggling newlyweds, a socially awkward teen – Roache-Turner makes us root for this eclectic bunch.
That makes the moments of monster mayhem even scarier. Like when the spider menaces a sleeping babe, or drags an exterminator into the walls for a gruesome feast. Yet even then, he reminds us of the humans and builds tension cleverly through their eyes.
The tone has fun too, like with exterminator Frank’s goofy one-liners. Now, some jokes could’ve fit better. But overall it takes a lighter touch that makes the frights feel fresh. Roache-Turner knows a roar of laughter can lead into a scream just as well as any shock.
Most importantly, he understands spider stories are as much about what’s inside as what crawls outside. So Sting weaves heart among its hairs and fangs, letting us see the true monsters may be closer than we think. With care for characters and clever pacing, Roache-Turner spins a web worth getting tangled in.
What Works and What Doesn’t
Sting had some entertaining monster moments that any creature feature fan could appreciate. The opening titles set just the right creepy yet campy tone as we watched a itsy bitsy spider crawl through a dollhouse. Later scenes of the not-so-itsy bitsy arachnid menacing innocent victims in cramped apartment settings were also pretty fun – it’s always a thrill to see an oversized beast squeeze into human-scaled spaces. You just knew someone was going to have a bad day.
These sequences capitalized on our universal fear of spiders by putting the monster in your face. Even non-arachnophobes could feel a tingle of unease seeing those spindly legs and glittering eyes dangling above sleeping or unsuspecting characters. The practical effects used to bring the creature to life gave it a tangible physical presence that heightened the scare factor. You really believed this thing was lurking in the next room waiting to pounce.
Unfortunately, things got bogged down when the story shifted its focus away from creature carnage to dwell on family squabbles and other subplots. The drama aimed to add emotional weight, but mostly came across as a distraction from more interesting monster mayhem. We just wanted to see the darn thing wreak more havoc! The characters themselves also lacked dimension – they were merely boxes to check off a checklist rather than feel invested in.
In future films, the director would do well to trim the fat and tighten the character work. Less talking, more stalking is the name of the game in creature features. Had the run-time been trimmed by say, 20 minutes just focusing on monster action, Sting could have been a leaner, meaner good time. As is, it was like eating potato chips – fun at first but left you vaguely unsatisfied. With some editing, this spider flick showed potential to spin a silkier web of B-movie bliss.
Final Thoughts
I’ve got to say, Sting won me over as a fun, campy creature feature reminiscent of classic B-movies from the 80s. Granted, it’s not perfect and could’ve used some streamlining in places. But the spider itself is pretty epic – you really get sucked into its point of view as this ginormous creepy-crawly skittering through air ducts and tiny apartments. It’s easy to see why spider phobics wouldn’t want to handle this movie!
I was impressed by how practical the effects work was too. You really believe this could be a giant spider munching on humans. No dodgy CGI needed. And the setting of a cramped apartment building during a snowstorm traps everyone nicely. It had a real sense of atmosphere.
The story goes down predictable paths at times for sure. But honestly, I wasn’t watching for Meryl Streep level acting. It delivered the goods when it came to spider attacks and gore. Lots of bloody crunching and slurping that had me hiding behind my popcorn. All the strange characters added entertainment too when they weren’t screaming their heads off!
In the end, Sting succeeds most at being a fun, campy romp that doesn’t take itself too seriously. It’s not high art, but it gave me some decent scares and plenty of creepy-crawly shudders. If giant man-eating spiders are your thing, you could do way worse. I’d say bug lovers looking for a thrill should give it a spin.
The Review
Sting
While not flawless, Sting delivers the goods as an entertaining B-movie creature feature with impressive practical effects and some legitimately terrifying spider attacks. Fans of campy '80s horror will find plenty to enjoy, even if the plot occasionally spins its wheels. It knows what it is and embraces the silly fun of a ginormous movie monster munching on unsuspecting humans. Recommended viewing for those seeking creepy-crawly thrills!
PROS
- Impressive practical effects and design of the giant spider creature
- Genuinely creepy and unsettling arachnophobia-triggering moments
- Leans into the campy fun and tone of 80s B-movie genre films
- Claustrophobic setting of the cramped apartment building
CONS
- Plot is occasionally predictable and narrative drags in places
- Some characters and subplots feel thinly written
- Potential for even more gore and disturbing spider attacks
