Little Bites is a movie coming to Shudder that visits a popular story idea. How far would a person go to protect the ones that they love? Mindy Vogel (Krsy Fox, Terrifer 3) is a single mother with a ten year old daughter. In order to keep her safe, Mindy must allow a horrible monster to slowly eat her alive.
It is a nightmarish scenario that director Spider One uses to maximum effect. Unlike his brother Rob Zombie, Spider One uses a much more nuanced approach. This leads to an uncomfortable watch that will make your skin crawl. The tension is consistently high in Little Bites never giving the audience a chance to settle in.
The interactions between Mindy and the monster Agyar (Jon Sklaroff, Showdown at the Grand) are downright creepy. She is desperate and powerless. Any resistance she puts up almost seems apologetic. Agyar is never shot full on. He is a predator hidden by shadows. The fact that he speaks so eloquently makes him even more frightening. He is not a mindless beast; he is a calculating creature.
The erratic pacing is a noticeable issue. Some scenes have a tendency to linger around for too long. They seem to be there for dramatic effect, but are unnecessary here. Little Bites is at its best in – no pun intended – bite sized pieces. The emotion and impact are lessened when things come to a stand still
There are also some strange detours along the way. The first involves a man who has to make some incredibly dumb decisions in service of the story. The second involves a cameo from a notable horror actor. While it does push things towards the finale, it also feels tacked on and out of nowhere.
Ultimately, Little Bites will be a polarizing movie. There is no denying how scary it is. Agyar will end up being one of the creepiest villains of the year. The premise is as unique as it is disgusting. With a deeper story, this could have been something truly special.
Little Bites premieres on Shudder February 21.
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