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Tail Sting is a 2001 American science fiction horror film directed by Paul Wynne. The film stars Robert Merrill, Laura Putney, and Rick Kelly, and was written by Peter Soby Jr. and Timothy Griffin. The plot follows a group of genetically altered scorpions that escape containment on an airplane, causing terror and chaos as the passengers try to survive the deadly ordeal.
The movie is a low-budget sci-fi horror about genetically engineered giant scorpions attacking passengers on a plane. Struggling to compete with bigger titles, its absurd plot and cheesy moments often slide into unintentional comedy.
Plot
The plot follows Jack Russell, a lonely widower and pilot, as he prepares for a routine flight across the Pacific. Unbeknownst to him, a secret cargo hold contains genetically engineered scorpion fetuses, created by Dr. Jennifer Ryan and her team of biochemists in an effort to develop a vaccine. Meanwhile, two smugglers, Yaffi and his brother Sudan, board the plane, planning to sneak into the U.S. A trusted colleague of Dr. Ryan’s seizes the opportunity to steal the scorpions, leading to a violent confrontation. As a result, the containers holding the scorpion fetuses break, and the creatures awaken—setting off a deadly chain of events as the passengers must fight for survival.
Reception
Joe Bob Briggs of United Press International praised the performances of Merill, Putney, Gulshan Grover, Thomas Dunn, Rick Kelly and Tara Price, as well as Wynn for "never letting the plot get in the way of the story." Ed Grant of Video Business called it a "kitschy combination of Airport 1975 and an A.I.P. rubber-monster epic from the '50s" and wrote that it "does contain its fair share of comic relief, though, which goes a long way in livening up the overall deadpan approach."
References
- Wynne, Paul (2001-01-01), Tail Sting (Action, Adventure, Horror), Robert Merrill, Laura Putney, Rick Kelly, Shoreline Entertainment, Stinger Ltd., retrieved 2024-12-23
- Collins, Brian. "Tail Sting (2001)". Retrieved 2024-12-23.
- "Tail Sting (2001) - Sci-fi-central.com". Sci-Fi-Central. Retrieved 2024-12-23.
- Briggs, Joe Bob (30 October 2002). "Joe Bob goes to the drive-In: 'Tail Sting'". United Press International. Retrieved 23 December 2024.
- Grant, Ed (14 October 2002). "Tail Sting". Video Business. Retrieved 23 December 2024.