Sting

STING is a really good monster movie with impressive -both CGI and practical- special effects. If you are a fan of such films, then this monster will not disappoint. While the story might not be complex, it gets the job done, presenting us with plenty of terror, gory moments, and some humor along the way.

Set in an apartment building during a heavy snowstorm, the residents begin experiencing a severe bug problem after young Charlotte (Alyla Browne) captures and befriends a tiny spider. Of course, we know from the opening that said arachnid is actually a visitor from outer space. A creature with a voracious appetite, and the ability to grow at an alarming rate.

One thing that helps this film is its having a solid cast of oddball characters, including an elderly woman with dementia; an exterminator with an attitude; a strange, monotone biologist; and the mean, ultra-bitter owner of the building. Charlotte's family provides the pathos and dysfunction to the proceedings.

A fun, scary movie with some nice homages to classic sci-fi features...

I watched the new Australian film 🇦🇺 Sting (2024) in theaters last night. The story revolves around an alien comet crashing to Earth and landing in a nondescript house in New York City during a snowstorm, unleashing a spider that threatens the family and everyone around them.

This picture is written and directed by Kiah Roache-Turner (Wyrmwood 1 & 2) and stars Alyla Browne (True Spirit), Tony Black, Jermaine Fowler (Sorry to Bother You), Silvia Colloca (Van Helsing) and Ryan Corr (Wolf Creek 2).

The movie exceeded my expectations. The special effects are top-notch, featuring impressive CGI, realistic corpses, and blood splatter. The film delivers plenty of creepy scenes along with a well-balanced infusion of comedy. Helga and Frank stand out as fantastic supporting characters, providing consistent laughs throughout. While some of the kills could have been more creative, once the action ramps up inside the house with the spider, it becomes a thrilling and enjoyable ride.

In conclusion, Sting is a fun addition to the horror genre, reminiscent of films like 8 Legged Freaks. I'd give it a solid 6.5-7/10 and strongly recommend it.

Sting is truly one of the worst of the recent pop star biopics. Okay, maybe his time growing up in Newcastle isn't particularly cinematic, but that's no excuse to throw in giant CGI spiders just to keep the audience entertained. And I understand it's expensive paying for royalties, but none of his famous songs are used at all. Instead we just have a suspenseful soundtrack which I don't think he even wrote.

And The Police don't even get a mention. One of the key New Wave bands of the 70s and 80s, ignored so we can watch a huge arachid jumping on people.

Check out Boheian Rhapsody, Rocketman or I Wanna Dance with Somebody instead.

Sting is a good, not great kind of movie. It's not bad, it's not spectacular. Sure, it has a lot of cliches and it's fairly predictable, but it makes up for it with some cool aspects. First off, the spider looks and sounds pretty good. As a creature feature, it works fairly well. A lot of it is set in the vents and air ducts of a Brooklyn brownstone, which is interesting but unfortunately underutilized. The claustrophobic setting generally does work pretty well. The kills are brutal, and it very much leans into the body horror subgenre (which is what disturbs me personally, so it was effective in that regard). Think back to middle school science class and imagine what you know spiders do to their prey, and now imagine that happening to people. That's what goes on in it. The effects are quite good. The characters are bland, tropey, and forgettable. But then again, are you seeing this movie for the characters or for the killer spider? There's a great tension-building atmosphere, and there are some pretty cool shots from the spider's perspective. The dialogue isn't the best, and every attempt at humor falls flat. It's a fine movie, nothing too special, but if you're the type of horror fan who's in it for those brutal kills, it has those.

"Sting" injects some welcome thrills into the creature feature subgenre, but with a twist: the heart of the film lies not in the monstrous spider itself, but in the strained family dynamic at its core.

We've seen plenty of arachnophobic nightmares come to life on screen before - "Arachnophobia" and "Eight Legged Freaks" come to mind. But "Sting" differentiates itself by focusing on Charlotte, a rebellious 12-year-old who finds solace in an unusual pet spider.

As the heartwarming bond between Charlotte and "Sting" forms, the creature, much like her anxieties, begins to grow at an alarming rate. The predictable tropes of missing pets and panicked neighbors soon unravel, revealing the true terror: a family on the brink of collapse.

The film's opening scene leaves little doubt about the monstrous path Sting is destined for. This might leave some viewers wanting more mystery, but it allows the focus to remain on the emotional journey of the characters.

Ultimately, "Sting" is a satisfying creature feature with a surprising amount of comedy. While predictable in its plot beats, it delivers effective scares and a touching family drama.