Sting
Synopsis: A young girls pet spider becomes a flesh eating monster.
Director: Kiah Roache-Turner
Stars: Jermaine Fowler, Ryan Corr, Alyla Browne
Runtime: 1 hour 32 mins
Genre: Sci-Fi Horror
This review has been provided by fellow movie reviewer Sunil Nijran.
'Your Biggest Fear just got even BIGGER' ... The phrase on this movie's poster!!
I did not want to see this movie.. for obvious reasons!! The feeling it gives is one of being a child, knowing you're terrified of going on a rollercoaster, but you do it anyway to chill with your mates and pretend you enjoyed it!! ... So, I chose to see it... ALONE!!
The average UK house spider has a leg span of 5cm and weighs as little as 10mg and yet these tiny creatures can induce more fear than even a lion for some. Is it because they have 8 legs? Because they move fast? Because they can invade your bedroom at night? Because they can crawl over you when you sleep? Even when you can't see them, you KNOW they're there? It is estimated that the average household living room has at least 70-80 spiders.. and you can't see any of them.. because they hide!!!
Sting is the story of a young girl who decides to keep a spider as a pet, not knowing what it actually is.. a species of alien spider that came to earth through a meteorite that crash landed on Earth!! It's initial home is that of a jam jar!!
The movie tells the story of a family dynamic that is both sad and heartwarming at the same time!! It centres around this disturbed little girl who is emotionally lost and seems to find an attachment to this spider, which doesn't work out well for her family!!
Combine this with a run down apartment block joined by crawl through air events, tenants that consist of an elderly lady with alzheimers, a deranged self-appointed scientist, a dysfunctional family and you have the makings of a movie which brings about a means to prey on your every fear when it comes to these tiny creatures. As one character so simply and coldly put... all SPIDERS do is EAT and KILL!! ... Devouring their prey while they're still alive!!
The style of movie making is very reminiscent of 90s Horror and makes full use of blood and gore and jump scares!! The lighting and picture is very dark and grainy, to fully convey the tone and haunting nature of the film!!
Very clever use has been made of camera work where you are sometimes put in the perspective of the spider itself as it moves from one area to another... quickly.. to find its next prey!!
There are very clever but subtle references to Alien and a sneaky dialogue put in from Predator. What starts as a tiny mystery manifests into a big one... because yes.. this spider grows and grows!!! And becomes a full on Monster Movie!! The movie preys on people's fears in ways that put viewers in a third person perspective, making great use of shadows, plants, vents, lights and even pillows!! ... It does not shy away from exposing you to your worst fears regarding these tiny creatures. There is one scene which leaves you cringing thinking... No!! Please don't show me that!! ... But they DO!!!
The movie leads to its inevitable conclusion, making effective use of a very simple but clever technique of using the spider's weakness against it!!
This finishes with a typical ending that very very strongly hints at a sequel... think Godzilla 1998!!
Despite all this... as horrific and bloody and gory as it was, the film could have been much much scarier!! I felt that the movie makers held back and could have scared us even more!! As a reference, I only covered my eyes once!! (Pat on the back to me!!) ... And lucky for me.. it has not left any lingering tingling after effects like some horror movies do.. although I won't really know until I go to sleep tonight!!
A solid effort all the same and definitely worthy of a watch with surprising amount of humour to go with it!!
Whilst far from perfect, Sting nicely merges horror with humour. If you like them gory, bloody and full of jump scares Sting will have you in its web.
Verdict: Matched Expectations
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