Floridian filmmaker William Grefé was something of a fixture during that state’s exploitation boom in the ’60s. Like other successful exploiteers, Grefé was never wed to one genre or another, but instead responded with whatever audiences thirsted for. Many will remember his bizarro Jaws coat-tailer Mako: The Jaws of Death (1976) about a guy who somehow befriends sharks who feast on anyone who rubs him the wrong way. Grefé had learned about working with sharks as the second unit director on Live and Let Die (1973). Actually, for Mako, he just ripped the story off a movie he’d made earlier, but instead of sharks, the guy had a pet rattlesnake named Stanley (1972). As a fella in the know, Grefé was even instrumental in helping soon-to-be gore kings David Friedman and Herschell Gordon Lewis get their footing upon their escape from Chicago’s winter chill. And he even talked an out-of-work William Shatner into a role as a murderous playboy in Impulse (1974).
Perhaps his most popular films were Death Curse of Tartu and Sting of Death (1966, 80 minutes) which together, for more than a decade, were the mainstays of drive-ins throughout the country. Yet, when Something Weird Video first located a viable print of Sting of Death, which had more-or-less been "lost" for a number of years, they were distressed to learn the negative was completely covered in MOLD! One lab after another flatly turned them away, before they were finally able to produce a successful transfer that would ensure future fans would be able to enjoy this wacky double-feature.
Again, deep in the Everglades, scientists tinker in ways they shouldn’t with ordinary jellyfish and pretty soon a loathsome half-man half-jellyfish creature is draggin’ beach bunnies into the surf. Typically, word spreads slowly about these attacks, as Karen (Valerie Hawkins) and her college cutie friends arrive at her family’s secluded estate for spring break with no inkling of their impending doom. It’s here that Dr. Richardson (Jack Nagle) indulges in his scientific pursuits with the assistance of dashing Dr. Hoyt (Joe Morrison) and a repulsive handyman named Egon (John Vella). Soon more party-minded folks arrive and everyone breaks out in the latest dance craze known as The Jellyfish (vocals by Neil Sedaka), but there aren’t any steps per se, as it’s just an excuse for Mr. Grefé to film a bunch of gals shaking what the good Lord gave ’em. After five or 10 minutes of this, up pops the jellyfish monster who stings the fire out of a couple kids before limping away. The rest of the revelers agree they’d better get to the cops so the all points bulletin can go out for a guy wearing a slime-covered scuba suit and an inflated TRASH BAG on his head. Their escape is thwarted when a swarm of water-logged baggies, er, jellyfish sink the boat and ruthlessly sting its drowning passengers. CineSchlockers into self-torture can actually SEE Mr. Sedaka sing in Playgirl Killer where he’s helplessly seduced by his fiance’s sexpot sister, but only after TWO dance numbers.
Notables: No breasts. 16 corpses. Bathing beauty ogling. More fanboat footage. Scuba diving. Soldering. Gratuitous shower scene. Conga line. Group taunting. Pirate talk.
Quotables: Dr. Hoyt is a randy fella, "I don’t know why you brought all this [luggage] when a couple of bikinis would have been enough." Karen ponders the ultimate question, "Is it possible? Is it possible to fall in love with all that’s happened?!" And earlier, a possible reply, "Ah, come on. All you need is some beer!"
Time codes: Party barge arrives brimming with dancers (18:55). It’s time to "Do The Jellyfish" (26:20). Even the swimming pool isn’t safe (35:15). Best look at the creature (1:13:10).