Sharp Stick (2022): Cast, Ratings & Plot
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.
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
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- 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
Sharp Stick Cast & Characters
Kristine Froseth leads the cast as Sarah Jo, with Jon Bernthal as Josh and Lena Dunham as Heather.
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Kristine Froseth as Sarah Jo -
Jon Bernthal as Josh -
Lena Dunham as Heather -
Jennifer Jason Leigh as Marilyn
Also Starring in Sharp Stick
· 6 more- Taylour Paige Treina
- Liam Michel Saux Zach
- Scott Speedman Vance Leroy
- Luka Sabbat Arvin
- Ebon Moss-Bachrach Yuli
- Ben Sidell Jace
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).
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.
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IMDb 4.9 /10
See on IMDb -
Rotten Tomatoes 50% Tomatometer
Popcornmeter 36%
See on Rotten Tomatoes -
Metacritic 53 Metascore
User score 2.8
See on Metacritic -
TMDB 53% User score
See on TMDB -
Letterboxd 2.5 /5
42 ratings
See on Letterboxd -
Movie Insider 5.0 /5
See on Movie Insider
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
Sharp Stick Trailers & Videos
2 videos: 2 trailers.
- Trailer Official Green Band Trailer
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
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
Which actor portrays Josh, the babysitter’s husband?
Sharp Stick Also Known As
14 alternative titles, including “단단한 끌림” and “Острая палка”.
- Also known as
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- 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
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- Bolje nekaj kot nič
- Остра пръчка
Seen Sharp Stick?
Movies Like Sharp Stick
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Smooth Talk, Stuck in Love and Starlet.
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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