The Wasp Woman Synopsis & Review: Plot Summary

🎯 Quick Overview

😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained

A cosmetics CEO gets wasp-y to save her business, but becomes a literal bee-otch.

🍿 The Wasp Woman: Detailed Plot Synopsis

A Cosmetics Queen’s Crisis

Janice Starlin, the head of a successful cosmetics company, faces a crisis as her aging appearance threatens her business. Sales are declining, and her executives suggest her fading youth is the problem, as she is the face of the brand. Desperate, Janice seeks a solution to regain her lost youth and revitalize her company’s image.

The Discovery of Wasp Enzymes

Enter Dr. Eric Zinthrop, a scientist who claims to have discovered a youth-restoring enzyme derived from wasps. Zinthrop demonstrates his formula on animals, showing its remarkable ability to reverse the aging process. Intrigued, Janice sees this as her salvation and agrees to become Zinthrop’s first human test subject, hoping to regain her youth and save her company.

The Transformation Begins

Janice begins receiving injections of Zinthrop’s wasp enzyme formula. Initially, the results are promising; she appears younger and more vibrant. However, she grows impatient and secretly increases her dosage, seeking faster and more dramatic results. This reckless action leads to unforeseen and terrifying consequences, as she starts experiencing strange side effects.

The Wasp Woman Emerges

As Janice continues to self-administer the formula, she begins transforming into a monstrous wasp-like creature. Driven by primal instincts, she becomes a threat to those around her. Her colleagues, including her secretary Mary and advertising executive Bill, grow suspicious of her increasingly erratic behavior and the strange disappearances occurring at the company.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained

🎬 Cast & Characters

• Janice Starlin (Susan Cabot): The vain owner of a cosmetics company who experiments with wasp enzymes to regain her youth, transforming into a murderous wasp-like creature.
• Eric Zinthrop (Michael Mark): The eccentric scientist who develops the wasp enzyme serum, unaware of its dangerous side effects on humans.
• Bill Lane (Anthony Eisley): The advertising executive who suspects Zinthrop and works with Mary to uncover the truth about Janice’s transformation.
• Mary Dennison (Barboura Morris): Janice’s loyal secretary who grows suspicious of Janice’s behavior and investigates Zinthrop’s experiments.
• Arthur Cooper (William Roerick): An executive who warns Janice against using the royal jelly serum and later investigates Zinthrop, becoming a victim of the Wasp Woman.

💬 Memorable Quotes

• Janice Starlin: “How old do I look?” – Janice asks this question repeatedly after taking the wasp enzyme injections, obsessed with her regained youth.
• Bill Lane: “Sales fell because Janice used to be the face of advertising, but because of advancing age, stopped.” – Bill explains why the sales of Janice’s cosmetic company has fallen.
• First Delivery Man: “Hi, pretty puss! You know where, um… Miss Starlin’s office is?” – The delivery man catcalls Maureen Reardon when looking for Janice’s office.

💰Box Office

• Budget: $50,000
• Domestic Gross: N/A
• Worldwide Gross: N/A

💥 The Wasp Woman Reviews

Personal Review

I really enjoyed ‘The Wasp Woman’ for what it is: a classic B-movie. Sure, the wasp costume is hilarious, but Susan Cabot’s performance is surprisingly good. I especially loved the scene where she first transforms and you can see the desperation in her eyes. It’s a fun, campy ride!

• Who would enjoy:
  • “Fans of classic B-movies”
  • “Lovers of vintage sci-fi horror”
  • “Those interested in Roger Corman films”
  • “Viewers who enjoy campy and low-budget productions”
• Content warnings ⚠:
  • “Mild violence”
  • “Monster transformation”
  • “Thematic elements of body horror”
  • “brief scary images”

Professional Reviews

• Slash Film: “Corman’s ‘The Wasp Woman’ is a solid entry in his filmography. Susan Cabot shines as the aging CEO, delivering a performance that elevates the material beyond its B-movie trappings. While the monster effects are dated, the film’s themes of vanity and the dangers of unchecked ambition resonate even today.
• Love Horror: “A charmingly campy horror flick, ‘The Wasp Woman’ is perfect for a late-night watch. While it might not be terrifying by today’s standards, its blend of mad science and monster mayhem provides plenty of entertainment. The story moves at a good pace and there’s the occasional suspenseful moment to enjoy.

Audience Reactions

The campy effects and monster design were hilarious and added to the fun.: The performances were surprisingly good for a low-budget B-movie.

Overall Consensus: A fun, campy B-movie with surprisingly good performances, despite its low budget and cheesy effects.

Awards

🛠️ Behind the Scenes

• “The film was reportedly made on a budget of only $50,000 and was shot in just a few weeks.”
• “The musical score for ‘The Wasp Woman’ was also used in other Roger Corman films, including ‘A Bucket of Blood’ and ‘The Little Shop of Horrors’.”
• “When the film was sold to television in 1962, additional footage featuring Michael Mark was added to extend the runtime.”

🖥️ How to Watch The Wasp Woman?

As a B-movie classic, ‘The Wasp Woman’ is available for streaming on various platforms. Check services like Amazon Prime Video or Tubi for availability. Digital purchase options may also be available through platforms like Apple TV and Google Play Movies. Check your local listings for possible TV airings on channels specializing in classic horror and sci-fi.

🎥 Similar Movies

If you enjoyed The Wasp Woman, you might like these similar films:

• The Fly (1958): Shares the theme of a scientist’s experiment gone horribly wrong, resulting in a human transforming into a monstrous insect hybrid.
• Attack of the 50 Foot Woman (1958): Explores themes of female power and transformation, where a woman gains monstrous abilities as a result of a science experiment.
• The Leech Woman (1960): A woman seeks eternal youth through a bizarre scientific method, but faces monstrous consequences.
• Contracted (2013): A modern body horror film where a woman undergoes a disturbing transformation due to a sexually transmitted disease, similar to Janice’s unwanted metamorphosis.

🛒 The Wasp Woman Related Products

• Queen Bee Royal Jelly Supplement: Made with pure royal jelly, claimed to boost energy, improve skin health, and support the immune system. Perfect for those who are afraid of wasp transformation, but still need extra energy.
• Wasp Nest Removal Spray: A high-powered wasp killer that is able to reach nests up to 27 feet away and kills wasps and hornets on contact. It is non-staining and electrically non-conducting.
• Black Wasp Costume: Includes wings, antennae headband, gloves, and a black dress. Wear it and let your imagination run wild.
• The Wasp Woman (1959) [Blu-ray]: Digitally remastered version of the classic B-movie, this edition include the original movie and director commentary.

🎧 Soundtrack

The Wasp Woman features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:

• “Main Theme” – performed by Fred Katz
• “Lab Montage” – performed by Fred Katz

You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.

🤨 FAQ

🔥 Bonus Content

Elvira’s Movie Macabre – Wild Women DVD Preview: Wasp Woman (un-aired episode)

Want a good laugh and a quick take on ‘The Wasp Woman’? Elvira’s got you covered with this preview from her ‘Movie Macabre’ series! Honestly, her commentary is sometimes better than the movies themselves.

elvira midnight madness The Wasp Woman

Dive deeper into Elvira’s thoughts on ‘The Wasp Woman’ with this ‘Midnight Madness’ segment. It’s a fun, quirky take – definitely worth a watch if you enjoyed the movie (or even if you didn’t!).

✨ Rate