| Sting of Death (1966) 80 min |
| Sting of Death is included as part of a double feature on Something Weird Video's DVD that also includes Death Curse of Tartu. Both films are directed by William Grefe and compliment each other wonderfully. They are similar enough to make a great late night double bill but are not so similar as to feel like the same movie. Honestly, I think Tartu is the better of the two films, but that is not to say that Sting is without it's own merits. |
| As with Tartu, we have a group of carefree teenagers living it up in Florida Everglades. This time (I should make note that this was actually made the year before Tartu) there are more kids and they are under no guise of doing anything but partying. In the midst of the boisterous shindig some of the tough guy jerks manage to insult and humiliate the local hunchback and do the Jilla Jalla Jellyfish. Unless you're familiar with the movie, this probably needs an explanation. I'll begin with the former: One of the more sympathetic kids (Karen) is a related to a scientist who owns the swampy property. The scientist has a creepy hunchback assistant named Egon running around. Well, the pretty girl's friends have have never seen anything like Egon, so they immediately begin with the hazing. Karen tries to stop them but the damage has been done; Egon hates just about everyone and loves Karen. Egon makes off for his secret hideout where he's been experimenting with jellyfish. Coincidentally, back at party everyone is having a grand old time getting down to the forgotten classic 'Do the Jellyfish' by Neil Sedaka! To be honest, 'Do the Jellyfish' is one of the silliest and most irritatingly hilarious songs I've ever heard. Frankly I'm quite embarrassed that it still gets caught in my head from time to time. |
| I'll get back to Egon now, I just wanted to make sure I gave Neil Sedaka's infectious groove the space it so greatly deserves! Like I said, Egon has been experimenting with jellyfish. Now before you have much of a chance of figuring out what's going on, Egon in fact becomes a huge jellyfish! He goes on a rampage, stalking, murdering, injuring, and stinging just about everyone in sight. In Egon's defense, most of these jerks deserved it. The old 'sympathetic monster' cliche is executed rather well here, Grefe isn't interesting in exploring new territory but is quite good at what he does. Egon goes to far though when he kills Donna, who is by far the most attractive member of the cast (in the irresistible lime green number). As if that wasn't enough, he goes and kidnaps the lead actress to take her to his underwater hideout. The next thing you know, our hunky hero is hot on his tail. This all leads up to a satisfying, if not too predictable climax. |
| There's not a whole lot else to say about this movie other than it's light fun b-movie fare. Something Weird once again brings us a great looking DVD (transfered from the orginal 35mm negative) of a movie that probably would have been otherwise lost forever. The picture and sound are good for movies of the era and really bring out the locations. The extras are typical for SWV which is to say that they are far better than most companies. We get a gaggle of trailers that are pretty interesting as they're not on any other discs from the company, and that they're all from director Grefe. The most interesting of these would be for the film Stanley which appears to be about a crime fighting snake! It's really too bad that more of Grefe's catalogue isn't readily available (I saw Stanley in a used video bin without a cover in a store long ago, unfortunately I didn't have the forsight to buy it...) as he's proven to be an energetic and entertaining showman! |
| I suppose I haven't said enough about the film's main draw card, the huge jellyfish. Well, he appears to have a huge garbage bag on his head...I don't know what else to say, he really should be seen and not described. I would be willing to bet though, that fans of schlocky looking monsters will eat this up with a spoon. |
| I give this one 3 1/2 love lorn jellyfish men out of 5. |
| review by Joe Canistro 05/10/2002 |
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