Director: Kiah Roache-Turner

Stars: Alyla Browne, Ryan Corr, Penelope Mitchell, Noni Hazlehurst, Jermaine Fowler

This Australian-made, Brooklyn-set, wilfully b-movieish horror has its moments but feels too much in thrall to its influences.

Alyla Browne is Charlotte (as in Web, geddit?), a twelve-year-old living in a pokey apartment with her mum Heather (Mitchell) and well-meaning but awkward stepdad Ethan (Corr). She discovers a spider in the building who, unbeknownst to her, is an alien who has arrived by meteorite, crashing into the apartment of Charlotte’s dementia-suffering neighbour Helga (Hazlehurst). Impressed by its shows of apparent intelligence, keen hunting skill, and rapid growth, Charlotte christens her new pet Sting. Before long Sting is chomping his way through neighbours’ pets and neighbours alike. 

Although the character of Sting is mainly a CGI creation, the picture features some impressive and suitably stomach-turning practical make-up effects. The frights mainly come via lazy jump scares though, and ultimately the picture pales in comparison to the inspirations it wears so prominently on its sleeve. The various ventilator chases and hatchings are not as effective and scary as ‘Alien’/’Aliens’; the script’s attempts at Wtf? humour a la Carpenter's 'The Thing' fall flat; while the Spielbergian-style family drama doesn't really convince or engage.

Sting is out 31st May

David Willoughby

Follow David on Twitter @DWill_Crackfilm