Connect with us

Movie Reviews

Film4 FrightFest Review – Stung

Published

on

stung-2015-posterDirector: Benni Diez

Cast: Clifton Collins Jr, Jessica Cork, Lance Henrickson, Matt O’Leary, Kathleen Renish

Reviewed By: Stu Greenfield

Released: July 2015

Creatures have been a staple of the horror movie genre for decades. Pretty much every animal, bug or reptile you can think of (and some you can’t) have been ‘giantised’ and terrorised a town somewhere or other. Short film director Benni Diez has teamed up with first time writer Adam Aresty to bring audiences Stung, the latest creature feature that promises to give you a buzz.

Stung is the story of two young event organisers (well, one organise and one waiter) who are tasked with putting on a successful garden party at a big house in the country. All seems to be going well until a wasps nest is disturbed. This is annoying at the best of times, but even more so when the wasps are massive. When they then take over human bodies to mutate, well thats a party pooper right there. It is then up to the remaining guests that haven’t been turned into living wasp incubators to destroy the monster bugs and get the hell out of dodge.

It can be quite common for current B Movie film makers to try and encapsulate the atmosphere of a 70’s or 80’s horror b movie and try too hard. Often the result is a ludicrous and poor. The humour often completely misses the mark and the acting, plot and effects fall short. Stung, on the other hand (or wing) manages to effectively balance comedy, big bugs and a touch of suspense with plenty of gore to make an enjoyable yet well made B-Movie creature feature.

Stung’s strongest point, or one of them, its the wonderful performance from the lead actor. It can be all to easy for B-Movie film makers to produce a script that is typical and unimaginative. There are aspects of this in Stung, however O’Leary as haphazard waiter Paul delivers them in a dead-pan way with comedic styling that improves what could have been weak dialogue and although the dialogue can be predictable at times, there are some fantastic one-liners that are delivered with admirable timing from O’ Leary. Whilst O’ Leary gives a credible performance in terms of comedy and his innocent loveable characterisation is easy to like, it can be difficult to relate to or build a relationship with the other characters and it can be hard to believe in the emotionality involved in the film.

Stung, however, is not the type of film where this particularly matters. The film is fun and presents as any good B Movie should. Think Eight Legged Freaks and Sharknado, but with some style and executed with more panache. As modern creature features go, Stung flies above many of the latest offerings.

Just For You