Take one airplane en route to the U.S, add a handful of mismatched passengers, a pilot named after a very small breed of dog, and then throw in some giant genetically altered scorpions and what do you get? This lovely little film that I've had the misfortune to view.

Scientists from the Stewart Genetic Research facility in Australia have genetically altered scorpions to combat disease. The scorpions were cryogenically frozen and put on an airplane headed for the good old U.S of A. During the course of the flight the scorpions break free from their cryogenic prisons and grow up to five times their original size. Now, it's up to Captain Jack Russell (woof-woof) and the passengers to fight the beasts and land safely on U.S soil.

Let me start out by saying I don't necessarily think a movie about giant killer scorpions is a bad premise. Generally, creature features gave birth to the horror genre. Think back to the black and white Saturday matinees where you could root for the monster of your choice. What better way was there to spend a dreary day for just a pocket full of change? They were simple, fun, and full of imagination.

Tail Sting, on the other hand, was lacking in more areas than I can count. First off, the entire movie takes place on an airplane. How in the name of heaven can a giant scorpion sneak up on some one in an airplane? There are scenes where you see the scorpions tail sneak down for the kill and it takes up the entire frame but when the scorpion runs up the isle of the plane later its whole body is smaller than the tail was! I don't expect a ton of realism in my horror but please! At least make an effort to have your creature proportionate from scene to scene!

The acting, with a few minor exceptions, was horrible and the dialog was forced to the point of being painful. Then on top of all this, mix in a love story about a jealous ex-boyfriend that just happens to be on the plane. In my opinion, the best time to sweep a lady off her feet is not in the midst of fighting off killer scorpions. I'll give you points if you manage to get a piece before you die but other than that you're trying to cram too much into a film that has already gone on far too long.

I don't mind a simple story either. Some of the best and scariest tales every put in print or on film were simple. They tap into a basic fear and that's what makes the story worth telling. This movie however, was one of the slowest stories I've ever seen. It drug on for at least six lifetimes! The characters certainly didn't meet untimely ends quick enough to suit me. Half way through this little darling I was praying for an unexplained comet to take out the plane. Anything would have worked to speed this disaster to a quicker conclusion.

The video quality was fairly good. The lighting worked just fine but again, the entire film was made on airplane so it limits your options a bit. The scenes in the movie were inconsistent as far as the layout of the plane as well. From beginning to end nothing seemed to remain the same size and shape. I started to wonder if they switched planes when I wasn't looking. There were also some unexplained effects in a few scenes. In the beginning of the movie, before you even see a scorpion, they used a fog effect that had no bearing or place in the scene and there was nothing in the storyline to support it either.

The audio left a lot to be desired. Audio was in 5.1 surround sound but the screener copy I watched does not have adjustable audio settings. The soundtrack was dreadful as well as it didn't match to the scene at all. There was heavy dramatic music in a scene where no action was taking place whatsoever.

The bonus features include: A behind the scenes look at Tail Sting (Oh Joy!) , trailer, and Spanish subtitles (this way the movie can be offensive in two languages)

Maybe you've gotten the idea that I didn't much care for this one. Honestly folks, I would have been willing to rip out my own eyes to keep from seeing all of it. If I had a choice between watching this one again or eating rancid road kill I'd ask for a knife and fork. I'd recommend a pass on this one but hey, it's your wallet. Some people are into exquisite pain administered by DVD.