Inspector Sun and the Curse of the Black Widow Cinema Review

4 star fun filled insect based whodunnit.

Inspector Sun and the Curse of the Black Widow is a 2022 animated Spanish children’s adventure mystery film, with an original screenplay from Rocco Pucillo. Directed by Julio Soto Gurpide (My Beautiful Dacia, Radiophobia), it is presented here with an English dub and is coming to UK cinemas from 21st June 2024, courtesy of Dazzler Media.

“My locust brethren, we’re down but far from out. Soon our Swarm will be unstoppable. Long live the Swarm. Death to anyone in our way!”

The year is 1934 and down among the world in miniature of insects which exists below our feet, huntsman spider Inspector Sun (Ronny Chieng – M3GAN, Crazy Rich Asians) is an enthusiastic but hapless member of the Shanghai insect police department, whose Uncle is Chief of Police (Scott Greer). Despite his impressive record of arrests, it is all seemingly based on luck. His luck runs out when he captures the infamous Red Locust (Rich Orlow – Reality Check: The Musical) at the cost of great damage to public property.

He is made to turn in his badge and leave Shanghai, but is offered a ticket to anywhere. He chooses New York, but groupie jumping spider Janey (Emily Kleimo – Fixies vs Crabots) delays him and he misses his flight. As luck would have it, there’s a flight heading for San Francisco with his friend Mr. Scarab (Rich Orlow) aboard. He gets on, much to the annoyance of the angry housefly Captain Skelton (Iain Batchelor – Little Eggs: An African Rescue), who’s up to no good and doesn’t want a policeman aboard.

It’s not long before fellow passenger Bugsy Spindlethorp (Scott Greer) requests his help, he believes his life to be in danger. Inspector Sun refuses, after all he handed in his badge, but when Bugsy is found dead, he is called upon to investigate, with the help of new sidekick Janey. All fingers are pointed at Arabella (Jennifer Childs Greer), a black widow spider and Bugsy’s new bride. But why would she do that and who is really behind the murder? Let the investigation commence!

“I presumed before you presumed, but you presumed to speak first, which is rather presumptuous.”

Inspector Sun and the Curse of the Black Widow is a fun packed adventure for the whole family. The animation style is beautiful, with excellent attention to detail and it’s very colourful and dramatic. The characters themselves are quite interesting, despite their insect nature they are cute and furry, at least from the waist up, so nothing too scary for the youngsters.

It’s a great idea for a story, well executed and acted and with a very suitable score from Fernando Velázquez (A Monster Calls, God’s Crooked Lines) which adds to the enjoyment.

An exciting and entertaining watch which is clever and funny and has something to offer every member of the family. Well worth a trip to the cinema.

“I’ll tell ya. I remember when his wife passed away, he shook every web in town. Of all the crazy crimes Sun’s mixed up in, his wife bites it in a burglary gone bad.”