Story: Stories of animals on the attack are quite common in the Everglades, but even the locals are up in arms over some recent, unexplained incidents. The police are baffled by a series of disappearances and attacks, unable to even pin down what kind of creature was responsible, let alone a way to end the reign of terror. But while some folks are clueless about the events, some believe it is the work of jellyfish or even a Portuguese Man-O-War, though that theory isn’t given much credence. After all, jellyfish and even the Man-O-War aren’t large enough to take out a human in such a violent fashion, not to mention they rely on poison to subdue or kill. Can the authorities crack this case or is a monster from the depths going to finish taking over the area?

Entertainment Value: I wouldn’t make a case for this movie as a cinematic classic, but Sting of Death is a wacky, fun b movie that certainly had me entertained. The premise is laughable, but fun to watch and this is especially true in regard to the film’s monster. This creature looks like someone in wetsuit got tangled up in a bead curtain, then inflated a garbage bag on his head. As ridiculous as that sounds, that is an accurate take on the beast and to me, that is hilarious and memorable. A slick, digital beast might look more realistic, but they’re often forgettable and I can assure, no one is forgetting this aquatic behemoth. I also loved the visuals and overall vibes of 60s Florida, so bright and almost utopian, except for the murderous monster, of course. The colors are so rich and the visuals are such a time capsule, showing us so many perspectives on the Everglades. There’s also some humorous dialogue, wooden performances, ziploc baggies as jellyfish, and even a musical routine performed by Neil Sedaka (Do the Jellyfish!), so overall, I have to give this a solid recommendation for b movie buffs.

The cast here won’t be remembered as convincing or overly skilled, but the wooden efforts do have some b movie charm, which is a plus. I suppose the most memorable performance is from the soundtrack, when Neil Sedaka performs Do the Jellyfish!, which is quite the musical epic. As corny and outlandish as that song is, a more grounded type of camp comes from Joe Morrison, who couldn’t have a limited range if he tried. I found his turn here to be hilarious, as he is so deadpan and monotone, even when he tries to show some emotion, it just comes off as flat. But I had fun with his performance here in Sting of Death, just as I did with the work of Deanna Lunde, who dials up the camp a little in her effort. For the most part, no one goes too over the top and most of the turns are wooden, but sometimes fun or silly. The cast also includes Blanche Devereaux, John Vella, Jack Nagle, Valerie Hawkins, and Sandy Lee Kane.

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