Since I watch hundreds of films a year, I’ve learned to keep my viewing schedule flexible. I juggle late-night binges with 10am press screenings and mid-week movie dates with my wife.
Even though I can enjoy a movie anytime and anyplace, one of my favourite film-watching experiences only happens on Saturday nights.
That’s because there’s a specific style of film I lovingly refer to as “Saturday night movies.”
Saturday night movies are all about senseless fun and best enjoyed while blowing off steam on the weekend, preferably in a room full of rowdy friends. I’m talking about cinema crafted to get your blood pumping: monster movies, heist flicks, and pretty much anything starring Scott Adkins.
Saturday night movies won’t convince anyone they’re high art. But if the Oscars gave out awards for “The Most Fun,” Saturday night movie staples like Tony Jaa would have more nominations than Meryl Streep.
Writer-director Kiah Roache-Turner’s horror-thriller Sting looks tailor-made for Saturday night movie status. It’s a pulpy creature feature with a story that feels ripped from the pages of the classic Tales from the Crypt comics.
The plot sees a bloodthirsty alien arachnid stalking the residents of a rundown Brooklyn apartment building.
Sting will never air on Masterpiece Theater. But if you’re looking for some off-the-wall amusement, then this film has you covered.
WHAT’S STING ABOUT?
Twelve-year-old Charlotte (Alyla Browne) is a bit of a creep. But given what’s going on in her life, who can blame her? Charlotte’s dad ran out on her mom Heather (Penelope Mitchell) a while back, and now she lives in a creaky old apartment building with her stepdad Ethan (Ryan Corr) and new baby brother.
When Charlotte isn’t creating her own emo comics, she likes crawling through her building’s air ducts and sneaking into other people’s units. During one of her break-ins, she captures a tiny spider, brings it home as a pet, and names it Sting.
Little does Charlotte know, Sting is no friendly neighbourhood spider. Her new pet is an alien arachnid that crashed into her building after hurtling through the cosmos. With her mom and stepdad distracted by their adult problems, Charlotte nurtures Sting until it grows too large to contain. Driven by its craving for human flesh, the creature breaks free, turning Charlotte’s snowed-in apartment building into a hunting ground.
WHAT DOES AND DOESN’T WORK
Roache-Turner leans into the film’s ridiculous concept, wearing Sting’s B movie affectations like a badge of honour. You know it’s only a matter of time before Sting breaks free and $#it hits the fan. Roache-Turner slowly builds the tension while introducing a cast of kooky characters and establishing the story’s emotional stakes.
With its absurd premise about a killer space spider, Roache-Turner wisely uses Charlotte and Ethan’s rocky relationship as the film’s emotional anchor. Unfortunately, the overwrought family drama fails to resonate as most characters come across as one-note horror movie clichés.
Jermaine Fowler’s irascible exterminator Frank is the only actor who stands out. Fowler gives an over-the-top performance perfectly pitched to an invader-from-space-movie, and the film is 1000% more watchable every time foul-mouthed Frank shows up on screen.
No one watches films like Sting just for the tender coming-of-age drama. It’s still disappointing when these films’ emotional throughline miss the mark. Details like memorable characters and heartfelt relationships are what elevate films from disposable B movies to beloved classics we return to again and again.
To be clear, the rote dialogue and ho-hum characters don’t derail the movie. Sting still delivers on its promise of killer space spider action. Arthouse snobs and arachnophobes should consider yourselves warned.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Watching a rottweiler-size spider lunge at human prey never gets old. If you love violent slasher flicks and depraved creature features, Sting delivers its share of gruesome pleasures. So despite a playful tone, it’s not for the squeamish. Expect to see mutilated pets, mangled corpses, and icky trails of webbing.
Roache-Turner once again takes an insane B movie premise and lovingly embraces the lowbrow material. Think of Sting as the bastard stepchild of Gremlins and Alien channelling the spirit of Ed Wood.
Sting isn’t without its faults, but if you watch it while in the right mood — especially on a carefree Saturday night — it offers some devilish thrills. I don’t need my killer space spider movies to be perfect, just perfectly fun.
Let me know your thoughts about Sting on X/Twitter and in the comments below. If you enjoyed this review, please help out the site by sharing it on social media. And keep coming back to VSR for new reviews, interviews, and videos.
