’Sting’ Review – A Web-Wrapped Family Drama With A Side Of Heebie-Jeebies

Logline: STING spins a web of thrilling terror as 12-year-old Charlotte’s pet spider rapidly transforms into a giant flesh-eating monster, forcing the young girl to fight for her family’s survival.

Our children may not be as complicated as we think. Besides loving them, being present, consistent, and reliable for your children is the most important thing to them. Ultimately, they merely want reassurance you’ll be there for them when they are scared, hungry, proud, sad, or confused. The job isn’t easy and is often thankless, however, there’s nothing like it. There’s no better feeling than when they apply what you’ve taught and succeed. The feeling is doubled for non-biological parents. As difficult as it can be to receive love and acceptance as a newcomer, it’s ultimately worth the uphill journey. And once you realize that you would die to protect them, it all comes full circle.

“A spider only knows two things, eat and kill.”

Your small touch of arachnophobia is about to increase exponentially. Directed by Kiah Roache-Turner, Sting is a web-wrapped family drama with a side of heebie jeebies. This eight-legged creature feature will make your skin crawl and eventually touch your heart. The venom-filled horror film has the recipe for potentially the worst scenario imaginable. Picture being snowed in while a spider with an insatiable appetite for warm flesh of any kind is on the loose in your living space. Oh, and I forgot to mention, it more than doubles in size after each feeding. Sting is literal nightmare fuel for some and cool and interesting to others.

Taking place solely within an apartment building during harsh winter weather, it is the perfect setting for a claustrophobic thrill and familial catharsis. While the plot centers around the mysterious and terrifying sound-mimicking spider from elsewhere, the story is driven by the disarray of a household. More specifically, the dynamic is weighted by the relationship between the bright, artistic, and rebellious daughter Charlotte, and the hardworking dreamer stepfather, Ethan. While Ethan and his wife, Heather attempt to traverse the bumpy path of a growing family smoothly, Charlotte makes an unlikely friend and keeps her a secret. And as we all know, keeping certain types of secrets rarely ends well. From curiosity to carnage, the story takes a bloody snack-happy turn that is a scary good time.

“You’re not losing it. You’re losing us.”

Despite the film crawling with tension, this friend-turned-foe tale has some truly fun elements. From the subtle comedic moments to the moments of ingenuity that resemble Home Alone, there are zero dull moments. Oozing with atmosphere and pulsing with attitude, you may not jump out of your skin but you will feel. By the end, if you don’t feel like a bug is taking a stroll on your arm by the end, you’ll be moved by the film’s biggest payoff.

The performances are great, the technical aspects are well done, and Sting, named after a small sword, is pretty damn cool. It doesn’t necessarily need it, but I can see this becoming a franchise, and the door is left open for a sequel. Sting will be a fun theater experience with a group of friends. Its rewatchability is high.

Pace & Pop

The film features a rather enjoyable and scare-worthy pace. It moves just fast enough to keep you on your toes and move the story along at an entertaining speed but just slow enough to build immense tension. What popped for me was the cold, eerie, and adventurous performance of Alyla Browne.

Characters & Chemistry

Starring: Ryan Corr, Alyla Browne, Penelope Mitchell, Robyn Nevin, Noni Hazelhurst, Silvia Colloca, Danny Kim, Jermaine Fowler

This cast brought a lot to the table. Like the story’s balance of light and dark from the themes to the color palette, Ryan Corr and Alyla Browne do the same. Corr delivers the loving and well-intentioned flickering flame of stepfatherhood while Browne surrounds herself with walls that Troy would be jealous of. As a stepparent, their relationship is incredibly relatable. Furthermore, if the eight-legged menace isn’t creepy enough, Browne adds an ominous layer to the overall atmosphere. To juxtapose the darkness is the comic relief of Jermaine Fowler. His character’s assertive and oblivious nature gives the film a nice balance by helping to displace some tension that would go unresolved.

Sting releases in theaters on April 12, 2024. Stay safe and shake your shoes.

Rated: R Runtime: 1h 31m Director: Kiah Roache-Turner Writer: Kiah Roache-Turner Producers: Chris Brown, Jamie Hilton, Michael Pontin Director of Photography: Brad Shield Production Designer: Fiona Donovan Costume Designer: Georgia Woods Hair and Make-up Designer: John Logue Score Producer: Monica Zeirhut