‘Twas the heist before Christmas’
Silent Bite is a 2024 horror film about a gang of bank robbers who take shelter in a motel after a Christmas Eve bank heist. Unbeknownst to the crooks they are not the most dangerous thing seeking refuge on this cold seasonal night…
Directed by Taylor Martin – making her film directorial debut – from a screenplay by actor Simon Phillips (also in The Mouse Trap; What Lurks Beneath; Blood and Snow; Blood Harvest; The Fearway) who also stars. It was produced by Mem Ferda and Simon Phillips and executive produced by Ern Gerardo and Anubandh Lakhera.
The Nox Luna Media Group production also stars Nick Biskupek, Chad Ridgely, Michael Swatton, Louisa Capulet, Sayla de Goede, Camille Blott, Kelly Schwartz, Sienna Star, Luke Avoledo, Dan Molson and Paul Whitney.
Reviews:
“The premise is superbly realized, and a well-constructed narrative where things move quickly. Another strength is the visuals, which do an excellent job of reinforcing the mood […] Ultimately, Silent Bite is a highly entertaining film that offers something unique in a genre overflowing with films that lack creativity.” 10k Bullets
“I’m sure the production had their reasons, but if the gore quotient had been elevated, it could have been really special. As it stands, Silent Bite is a surprisingly entertaining piece of genre work that doesn’t blaze any new trails but does please the audience with humor and excitement.” Horror Geek Life
“Director Taylor Martin and her crew really bring out the holiday season in every frame. The mixing of the heist crew and vampires during Christmas Eve is a perfect blending of three things I didn’t think would go together. Silent Bite is like finding a Reese’s Cup in the shape of a Christmas tree in your stocking.” Inside Pulse
“A standout aspect of Silent Bite is its successful deviation from the traditional holiday horror narrative. The story inserts morally grey characters into an environment where they are far from the top of the food chain, brilliantly flipping the script on the typical predator-prey dynamic. This role reversal injects the plot with a rich vein of complexity and raises the stakes for every character involved.” Overly Honest Reviews
“I really liked how these were fairly old-school vampires and how they looked fairly human other than their fangs and some veins by the eyes. They were definitely a threat but not overly powered and superhuman. It made it more believable that they could be taken out. The film was gory but just enough so to keep things interesting.” Pop Horror
“It takes its sweet time getting to the showdown and it’s all a bit of a damp squib. There could have been plenty more violence and more inventive deaths (though kudos for the killing a vampire by use of a silver spoon) and, importantly, more gore. The showdown felt genuinely anticlimactic – which given how much fun I’d had with the film to that point was doubly disappointing.” 6 out of 10 Taliesin Meets the Vampires
“Silent Bite is lots of fun and it stays entertaining for the most part, I see this one having solid replay value in the future especially during Xmas. If you are looking for a new Christmas movie for your annual watch list, Silent Bite is worth adding to it. Recommended!!!!” Today’s Haul
” …seeing a flashbang cause the undead to disintegrate in a burst of CGI sparks lacks the impact of an old-fashioned stake though the heart. I give the filmmakers credit for trying something a little different, but it didn’t really work for me. In the end we’re left with a film that, while entertaining, never manages to reach its full potential.” ★★½ Voices from the Balcony
YouTube reviews:
Trailer:
Release:
Silent Bite was released in North America on Blu-ray and DVD on November 12, 2024. Buy from Amazon.com
Cast and characters:
Luke Avoledo … Blake/Prancer; Nick Biskupek … Grinch; Camille Blott … Genie; Louisa Capulet … Lucia; Sayla de Goede … Mother; Dan Molson … Rudolph; Simon Phillips … Father Christmas; Chad Ridgely … Radio DJ (voice); Kelly Schwartz … Victoria; Sienna Star … Selene; Michael Swatton … Snowman; Paul Whitney … Colin
Filming locations:
Ontario, Canada
Budget:
CA$250,000 (estimated)
Technical specs:
1 hour 30 minutes
