Sting (2024) | Movie Review
Hold on to your popcorn, folks, because monster movie magic is back, and Sting is leading the creepy-crawly parade with all eight legs! As directed by the Kiah Roache-Turner, this flick isn’t just a throwback—it’s a leap into the glorious, gory days when creature features ruled the silver screen. Think classic chills with a modern twist, all wrapped up in a web of human drama that’s as sticky as it is spooky.
First up is our little arachnid star of the show, Sting. This isn’t your garden-variety spider; oh no, we’re talking about a pet turned predator that would make Cujo look like Benji. Our heroine, 12-year-old Charlotte, finds herself tangled in more than just webbing as she navigates the chaos of family life and a rapidly growing arachnid. With a storyline that spins faster than a spider on triple espressos, Sting weaves a tale of terror, family ties, and, well, some seriously bad pet ownership decisions.
In the bustling jungle of NYC, we find Charlotte embroiled in an atypical tween drama with a side of superhero-sized insects. Mom Heather (Penelope Mitchell) is practically married to her job and on a first-name basis with her keyboard, while Dad’s gone off the grid, and stepdad Ethan (Ryan Corr) is in the throes of comic book creation, wrestling with his art like it’s a supervillain bent on world domination. Then we have Aunt Helga (Noni Hazlehurst), the family’s very own domestic Godzilla, turning their apartment life into a series of unfortunate events without a Lemony Snicket in sight. You’d think things couldn’t get any worse until Charlotte stumbles upon what she thinks is Mother Nature’s gift—a spider egg. But this isn’t just any spider. She names it Sting after the Tolkien sword, and in the spirit of every ‘feed me Seymour’ scenario, the creature doesn’t just grow; it morphs into the kind of pet that urban legends are made of. It’s less Charlotte’s Web and more Arachnophobia on enough steroids to stun Arnold Schwarzenegger. As Sting balloons into a monstrous eight-legged freak, the apartment’s residents find themselves unwitting cast members in a B-movie horror flick, courtesy of Charlotte’s unintentionally terrifying pet project. Who needs family drama when you’ve got a giant spider turning your living space into its personal hunting ground?
As horror fans, I know you all are wondering about the grue and gore. Well, the creature effects are gag-inducing (kudos to the legendary Richard Taylor and the wizards at Weta Workshop). This film is a love letter to the 80s, complete with a synth soundtrack that’ll have you grooving one minute and goosebumping the next. The cinematography and color palette are spectacular, slick, and saturated. And let’s not forget the characters who bring the madcap, menacing menagerie to life, from the rebellious Charlotte, played with spunky spirit by Alyla Browne, to the comic relief exterminator, Frank (Jermaine Fowler), who might just have you thinking twice about what’s lurking in your walls.
Sting isn’t just about jump scares and fake-out jitters; it’s a creature feature that doesn’t take itself too seriously but still knows how to deliver the creepy goods when it counts. So if you’re in the mood for some arachnid antics with a side of family drama, Sting offers the perfect blend of horror, humor, and heart.
So far, this year has been promising for horror! I loved Late Night With the Devil, and I’m hearing great things about The First Omen and Abigail. And now, there’s Sting. Get ready to cheer, cringe, and maybe check under your chair, because this flick is about to become your new favorite cult classic. Just remember, it’s all in good fun… until someone gets bitten.
