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Comedy

Sharp Stick (2022): Cast, Ratings & Plot

Sharp Stick (2022) movie poster

Sharp Stick is a 2022 comedy starring Kristine Froseth as Sarah Jo, Jon Bernthal and Lena Dunham. It runs 1 hour 26 minutes. Critics gave it 50% on Rotten Tomatoes and 53 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 4.9/10.

IMDb rating
4.9/10
Rotten Tomatoes
50%
Echo Score
61
Metascore
53
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Sharp Stick (2022) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 26m (86 min)
Genre
Comedy
Original language
English
Studio
Utopia
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is Sharp Stick About?

The premise of Sharp Stick without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.

Sarah Jo, a young woman with a yearning for connection, finds herself caring for an eccentric family on the fringes of Hollywood. Her life takes an unexpected turn when she begins a complicated affair with her married employer. This darkly comedic film explores themes of desire, grief, and the struggle for control, forcing Sarah Jo to confront uncomfortable truths about love, lust, and her own vulnerabilities as she navigates a challenging and revealing journey.

Sharp Stick Themes & Keywords

· 50 tags
  • mother daughter relationship
  • sexual experimentation
  • los angeles california
  • 2020s
  • zoom call
  • real estate agent
  • f rated
  • written by director
  • title directed by female
  • boy with down syndrome
  • social media influencer
  • f bomb
+38 more
  • california
  • video recording
  • head massage
  • drinking wine
  • family relationships
  • reference to duran duran
  • laundry
  • crush on older man
  • husband wife relationship
  • kiss
  • scar
  • oral sex
  • losing virginity
  • orgasm
  • skipping
  • home cooking
  • pregnant woman
  • babysitter
  • writer director star
  • crying pregnant woman
  • sister sister relationship
  • breakup
  • sex with babysitter
  • psychedelic mushrooms
  • animated sequence
  • watching porn
  • woman masturbates to porn
  • going into labor
  • caught having an affair
  • serial cheater
  • porn star
  • tattoo
  • fan letter
  • necklace as a gift
  • dating app
  • check list
  • makeup
  • adult film industry
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Cast & crew

Sharp Stick Cast & Characters

Kristine Froseth leads the cast as Sarah Jo, with Jon Bernthal as Josh and Lena Dunham as Heather.

Also Starring in Sharp Stick

· 6 more
Ratings

Sharp Stick Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave Sharp Stick 50% on Rotten Tomatoes and 53 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 4.9/10. Our Echo Score gives it 61/100, strongest in character & emotion (70) and weakest in story & flow (50).

61 /100

Sharp Stick Echo Score Breakdown

Sharp Stick provokes a polarized response, with critics and audiences divided over its coherence and impact. While some praise its daring humor, honest tone, and occasional visual flair, many highlight uneven storytelling, inconsistent world‑building, and a lack of narrative focus. Performances, particularly Bernthal’s, are often noted as a strength amid the film’s broader missteps. Consequently, the movie offers a distinct but uneven experience that resonates selectively.

Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.

  • Art & Craft 60

    Artistic execution fluctuates throughout Sharp Stick, with moments of inventive visual composition juxtaposed against uneven editing. Critics note a mixtape‑like cinematography that can feel both fresh and disjointed, while others describe the production design as sloppy or overly stylized. These inconsistencies hinder a cohesive aesthetic, resulting in a mixed appraisal of the film’s craft.

  • Character & Emotion 70

    Character work presents a blend of nuance and hollowness, with several performances lauded for depth while many figures remain under‑developed. Reviewers highlight Bernthal’s layered portrayal and Froseth’s engaging presence, yet criticize the protagonist’s erratic behavior and inconsistent chemistry. This uneven characterisation yields a generally mixed impression of emotional resonance.

  • Story & Flow 50

    Storytelling in Sharp Stick struggles with coherence, oscillating between insightful commentary and fragmented narrative threads. Critics observe a promising exploration of sexuality and desire that is often undermined by uneven pacing and a lack of clear resolution. Consequently, the plot feels both original and disjointed, leaving audiences divided on its overall effectiveness.

  • Sensory Experience 65

    Sensory elements oscillate between striking and subdued, with the soundtrack occasionally echoing the film’s thematic boldness while visual styling vacillates. Some reviewers commend the discreet yet effective use of nudity and the film’s aesthetic cohesion, whereas others point to inconsistent tone and jarring audio‑visual choices. This results in a mixed sensory impact.

  • Rewatch Factor 60

    Rewatch potential is modest, appealing primarily to viewers drawn to the film’s quirky tone and occasional humor. Certain audiences report multiple viewings and appreciation for the unconventional narrative, while many cite the uneven structure and explicit content as deterrents. Overall, the film offers limited repeat value, resonating chiefly with a niche segment.

Plot

Sharp Stick Plot Summary

What happens in Sharp Stick from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 11 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

Sarah Jo, a naive 26-year-old woman living in Los Angeles, finds herself navigating complicated feelings about love, intimacy, and self-acceptance. She works as a babysitter for Jon Bernthal, who plays Josh, and his pregnant wife Heather. Heather is about to give birth to their son Zach, who has Down syndrome. Sarah Jo lives with her single mother, Marilyn, and her adopted sister, Treina.

Full summary

The whole story of Sharp Stick, scene by scene

Read the full summary
Videos

Sharp Stick Trailers & Videos

2 videos: 2 trailers.

Official Red Band Trailer
  • Trailer Official Green Band Trailer
Quiz

How Well Do You Know Sharp Stick?

10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.

Question 1 of 10

  1. Question 1: not answered
  2. Question 2: not answered
  3. Question 3: not answered
  4. Question 4: not answered
  5. Question 5: not answered
  6. Question 6: not answered
  7. Question 7: not answered
  8. Question 8: not answered
  9. Question 9: not answered
  10. Question 10: not answered

Which actor portrays Josh, the babysitter’s husband?

Details

Sharp Stick Also Known As

14 alternative titles, including “단단한 끌림” and “Острая палка”.

Also known as
  • 단단한 끌림
  • Острая палка
  • رژ تند
  • Гостра палиця
  • מקל חד
  • 锋利的棍子
  • Asā nūja
  • Hiç Yoktan İyidir
  • 探索性外遇
  • Késői virágzás
  • Uma Nova Educação
  • Nažhavená
+2 more
  • Bolje nekaj kot nič
  • Остра пръчка

Seen Sharp Stick?

FAQ

Sharp Stick FAQ: Cast, Runtime & Release Date

Runtime, release date, cast, ratings and post-credit scenes of Sharp Stick, each answered in a sentence.

How long is Sharp Stick?

Sharp Stick runs 1 hour 26 minutes (86 minutes).

When was Sharp Stick released?

Sharp Stick was released on July 29, 2022.

Who is in the cast of Sharp Stick?

Sharp Stick stars Kristine Froseth as Sarah Jo, Jon Bernthal as Josh and Lena Dunham as Heather, among 10 credited actors.

How is Sharp Stick rated?

Sharp Stick has 4.9/10 on IMDb, 50% on Rotten Tomatoes, 53 on Metacritic and 53% on TMDB.

Does Sharp Stick have a post-credit scene?

No. Sharp Stick has no extra scene during or after the credits.

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