Sting (film)
| Sting | |
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 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Kiah Roache-Turner |
| Written by | Kiah Roache-Turner |
| Produced by |
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| Starring |
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| Cinematography | Brad Shield |
| Edited by |
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| Music by | Anna Drubich |
Production companies |
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Release date |
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Running time | 92 minutes[1] |
| Countries |
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| Language | English |
| Box office | $1.6 million[2][3] |
Sting is a 2024 horror film written and directed by Kiah Roache-Turner, and starring Ryan Corr, Alyla Browne, Penelope Mitchell, Robyn Nevin, Noni Hazelhurst, Silvia Colloca, Danny Kim, and Jermaine Fowler. The film follows a young girl who secretly raises a spider as her pet, which then transforms into a giant monster.
Sting was released in the United States and Canada on April 12, 2024.[3]
Plot[edit]
The story begins with Charlotte, a rebellious 12-year-old girl living in a dilapidated apartment building with her overworked father, Ethan. Charlotte is often left to her own devices and stumbles upon a tiny spider encased in a strange, glowing object that crash-lands nearby. Intrigued, she decides to keep the spider as a pet, naming it "Sting."
As Charlotte cares for Sting, the spider begins to grow at an alarming rate. She initially keeps its size a secret, but as it becomes more difficult to hide, her father and neighbors start to notice strange occurrences around the building. The spider’s growing size and insatiable appetite soon lead to the disappearance of several residents.
Charlotte's relationship with her father is strained, but they are forced to come together to deal with the monstrous creature. Ethan, initially skeptical, becomes increasingly concerned as more neighbors vanish, and they find evidence pointing to the spider’s involvement.
The tension escalates when Sting, now a gigantic spider, traps several residents in the building using elaborate webs. Charlotte, Ethan, and a small group of survivors, including Heather, a sympathetic neighbor, and Frank, a beleaguered side character, devise a plan to escape the building and destroy the creature. Their plan involves luring Sting into a trap using a combination of fire and explosives.
As they attempt to execute their plan, they face numerous obstacles, including the spider’s intelligence and adaptability. During a dramatic showdown in the building's basement, Sting attacks the group, resulting in a chaotic and suspenseful battle. Ethan shows unexpected bravery, fighting to protect his daughter and the other survivors.
In the film's climax, Charlotte manages to lure Sting into a trap with the help of the surviving neighbors. Using a makeshift explosive device, they finally destroy the monstrous spider, but not without sustaining significant losses. The building is heavily damaged, and the survivors are left to contemplate the horrors they witnessed.
The film concludes with Charlotte and Ethan, their relationship mended through the ordeal, leaving the ruins of their apartment building. As they walk away, the final shot hints at the possibility of other similar creatures, leaving the door open for potential sequels.
Cast[edit]
- Ryan Corr as Ethan
- Alyla Browne as Charlotte
- Penelope Mitchell as Heather
- Robyn Nevin as Gunter
- Noni Hazelhurst as Helga
- Silvia Colloca as Maria
- Danny Kim as Eric
- Jermaine Fowler as Frank
- Tony J Black as Officer Miller
Production[edit]
Principal photography took place in Australia and wrapped in February 2023.[4][5]
Release[edit]
Sting was released on April 12, 2024 in the United States by Well Go USA Entertainment.[6]
The film is scheduled to be released in New Zealand on 16 May 2024, in United Kingdom on 31 May 2024, in Germany on 20 June 2024, to be followed by releases in Australia and Spain later in July 2024.[2]
Reception[edit]
Box office[edit]
Sting grossed $825,797 from 975 cinemas during its opening weekend in North America (United States, Canada and Puerto Rico).[2]
As of 16 May 2024[update], the film made $1,611,120 worldwide, with its release in North America accounting for almost 70% of that and with its international revenue at $486,610.[3]
Critical response[edit]
On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 68% of 79 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 6/10. The website's consensus reads: "Sting should satisfy horror fans in the mood for a creature feature, even if the end results won't likely linger in the memory."[7] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the film a score of 57 out of 100, based on 11 critics, indicating "mixed or average" reviews.[8]
References[edit]
- ^ "Sting (2024)". Irish Film Classification Office. February 12, 2024. Retrieved May 14, 2024.
- ^ a b c "Sting — Financial Information". The Numbers. Retrieved May 16, 2024.
- ^ a b c "Sting (2024)". Box Office Mojo. IMDb. Retrieved May 16, 2024.
- ^ "Horror-Thriller 'Sting' Wraps Production, Sells Widely for Cornerstone". Variety. February 16, 2023. Retrieved April 2, 2024.
- ^ "Production wraps in Sydney on Arachnophobia Horror film Sting - Media centre".
- ^ "Berlin: StudioCanal Swoops on Spider Horror 'Sting' as First Image is Revealed". The Hollywood Reporter. February 16, 2023.
- ^ "Sting". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved May 14, 2024.
- ^ "Sting". Metacritic. Fandom, Inc. Retrieved April 26, 2024.
