‘You are who you eat’
Bite is a 2022 British crime horror film about con artists who get more than they bargained for when they target an elderly widow.
Directed and co-produced by James Owen from a screenplay co-written with Tom Critch. Also produced by Simon Marriott.
The Arthrofilm production stars Shian Denovan, Nansi Nsue, Annabelle Lanyon, Stuart Sessions, Anthony Ilott, Noah James, Jack Loy, Jimmy Vee, Joe Egan, Jon Campling, Edmund C. Short, Victor Itang and Paul Bailey.
Plot:
Pursued by a dangerous criminal after a failed theft, con artists Nina and Yaz get way more than they bargained for when they target a seemingly innocent elderly widow called Beryl. Incarcerated in a nightmare version of suburbia and consumed with fear, Nina and Yaz find themselves fighting desperately for their lives against Beryl’s family of deranged and hungry psychopaths!
Reviews:
“Owen and his team must be commended for some excellent practical effects and going all out with some visceral, gory segments. The film does suffer from pacing issues and could have easily been 80-85 minutes with some of its exposition trimmed, but that would be just nitpicking.” Bloody Flicks
“There’s some strong production design here, with the house – especially the kitchen – feeling real and lived in, whilst its hidden regions have been well planned with regard to function and look like somewhere which could really be used for these nefarious purposes rather than just being dressed up for shock value. Altogether, the film is rather a hit-and-miss affair […] Where it’s good, it’s very good…” ★★★ Eye for Film
“Annabelle Lanyon […] gives a suitably mousey portrayal of a downtrodden wife with an unpredictable husband, but the rest of the cast all seem to be pitching their performances for different movies, and with the various tones contrasting with each other you never really get a proper sense of dread, just more pantomime villainy. Bite had a bit of promise to begin with but with not enough originality and the wildly conflicting tones it all just feels a bit underwhelming and toothless, never really hitting its stride or successfully mirroring the movies that inspired it.” Flickering Myth
“It is safe to say that Bite gives a bit of whiplash, but the performances overall are solid and, while the film bounces between genres, there are some horrific scenes that show ingenuity and a deft hand at visceral violence. There’s also a lot to be appreciated in the observation of the family unit, with not-so-subtle judgements on social class, who is allowed to inflict punishment, and who deserves to receive it.” ★★½ Ghouls Ghouls Ghouls
” …Bite sets up and then obliterates all expectations with an enjoyably visceral experience overall. The unhurried reconstruction from a crime drama to an unrelenting tale of abduction and captivity is masterfully achieved to deliver the best of both genres. A must-see for fans of either genre…” ★★★★ Grimoire of Horror
” …comparisons to The Texas Chain Saw Massacre start to flood in. The unit are even craftier than the Sawyer clan and the realisation of how orchestrated they are gives pause for thought. Bite’s conclusion isn’t as impactful as that of Hooper’s classic, but Owen does manage to land enough to garner attention. A well-thought reworking of a worn-out story…” ★★★ The Hollywood News
“Some of the imagery is familiar – a lot of being strapped down or hung up, with bleeding on the menu – but there’s a trick with a piano I’ve not seen before. Director James Owen, who also co-wrote with Tom Critch, gives it all a dark, distinctive look and keeps springing surprises, but it’s down to Denovan to be a lone feeling human being among a variety of human sharks to give the film some heart and rooting interest.” The Kim Newman Web Site
“Though grim from start to finish – from subject matter to the dank scenery and gloomy lighting – the dark humour offsets whilst the gore ramps up exponentially, with some truly teeth-gritting scenes that add a disturbing frisson. If the packed narrative is sometimes muddled then all the threads are tied up by a heart-racing finale.” Moving Pictures Film Club
“Bite is a mischievous and disgusting horror flick that drips with the sweat of hard work and thrums with the industry of exuberance that dices with good taste enough to set it apart. For fans looking for an uncomplicated injection of debased grotesquery, it should hit the spot in spades.” ★★★★ The People’s Movies
“Despite some visual effects betraying the film’s low budget, Bite is constantly entertaining and provides a gritty scenario that introduces us to a deranged family who rival the Sawyer family in their bizarre appetites and hierarchy. Kudos must go to the set designers who created a house of horrors right from the Fred West DIY handbook.” ★★★★ Starburst
Release:
Bite premiered at FrightFest in London on August 27, 2022.
The movie was released online in the US in June 2023. Rent or buy via Amazon Prime
In the UK, Bulldog Film Distribution will release Bite on digital on October 30, 2023.
Filming locations:
London, England
Technical specs:
1 hour 39 minutes
