Film Name: Bite
Director: James Owen
Writer: Tom Critch and James Owen
Starring: Shian Denovan, Nansi Nsue, Annabelle Lanyon, Anthony Ilott
Pursued by a dangerous criminal after a failed theft, con artists Nina and Yaz get more than they
bargained for when they target Beryl, a seemingly innocent elderly widow. With thirty years real of
life surgical experience, detailed knowledge of human dissection and a vivid imagination, director
James Owen will guide you deep into the bowels of Beryl’s house to discover the shocking truth
behind a seemingly innocent woman and her family.
This is a horror story of entrapment and cannibalism, a fast-paced thriller of unexpected and
shocking revelations
In a new exclusive interview on Blazing Minds, I got a chance to ask co-writer/director James Owen a few questions about the film Bite which will be making its World Premiere at Arrow FrightFest on Saturday 27th August at 20:30hrs.
Q. Your film Bite has been selected to play at the Arrow FrightFest Film Festival. Can you tell us what can we expect from the film?
A. The characters all have their flaws, the good guys can be cruel, and the diabolical ones have some good, but you can’t trust anyone. I don’t want to give too much away but there’s a mixture of action, gore and passion, with vicious dogs, car wrecks, and a couple of rather nasty meat hooks. You’ll know where its heading from the opening moments, so sit back and let the story be told. It’s unexpected, gruesome and shocking and you will probably have nightmares of the little old lady next door.
Q. You co-wrote the script with Tom Critch. What was the process for you writing the script together and what were some of your influences?
A. Co-writing is a fast and powerful way to create a strong screenplay. First, we spend a lot of time developing a robust treatment, the characters, the plot details, twist and turns and with this the characters evolved too. Then Tom wrote a first draft and from there several rewrites back and two over quite a short time pulled it into shape. The whole process took an intense 10 weeks I think, all done remotely.
Q. What were some of your influences for the look and style of the film?
A. I don’t find this an easy answer because I have watched and studied so many directors, films and books. In simple terms, though the visual style of films like Pulp Fiction, Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels and Bad Times at the El Royale have always been a winner for me. We see the real world every day, so I usually want my stories to be set somewhere else, where the rules are different. Once you accept this you can pretty much go where you like and do what you want to get creative. I keep asking myself what haven’t we seen before. The film’s style then evolves with the rewrites. Most of the locations are studio builds, giving us more scope for a unique look, designing them to best serve the plot. The story has a fast-paced style, full of unexpected twists to shock and keep you guessing.
Q. Did you make any changes from the original script during filming?
A. Virtually nothing, Tom and I worked very hard to get it right in advance. As a writer-director you are visualising it from the early stages, so it works. To be fair some scenes that worked well still got dropped in the edit though to keep the pace and the story moving. I am sure these will become ‘deleted scenes’ for the extras.
Q. What were some of your favourite moments during filming?
A. The scenes in the cellar under the house were a lot of fun, but this was the first block of production, and we were still finding our feet. The family dinner scene was also one of my favourites, with some very funny moments for everyone. That scene turned out so well.
Q. Did you experience any issues during filming?
A. Yes. It started as a passion project with a low budget and long hours, but the team were fabulous, and I am very proud of our achievements. We lost a couple of shoot days in the middle but managed to overcome this too. Actually, I must say, they all did a remarkable job.
Q. What makes Bite stand out as something different in the horror genre?
A. It’s definitely got unique characters and story. I think the twists and turns keep the audience guessing, and the test screenings have been very positive and well received. I am also a part-time trauma surgeon, and this has given me an advantage when it comes to certain scenes – but no spoilers!
Q. What do you hope people take away after watching the film?
A. I hope they take away a racing heart and big grin. Also, a desire to watch it again; there’s more to see the second time around and some little easter eggs for those that like that sort of thing.
Q. Do you have any other projects which you are currently working on?
A. Yes lots! A 70’s thriller, a fusion of the spy and heist genre, called “Le Rendezvous’ which I am very excited about. A sinister horror called The Harvest involves a very dodgy surgeon, a claustrophobic lost-in-space Sci-Fi Horror, a working title Tin Can and a dystopian psychological thriller called Vanguard involving another dodgy Surgeon. Not sure what that says about me!
Q. If someone was looking to write and direct their own film what advice would you give them?
A. Definitely co-write – every time, and definitely rewrite a lot. Don’t be tempted to start directing it until the script is totally amazing (and don’t trust yourself on that – ask people who can genuinely give you a truthful answer). Everything gets far more complex and costly once you finish the writing so make sure you are filming the best story you can.
You can find out more about Bite on the website here: https://www.arthrofilm.com/bite-movie
You can find out more about the Festival and purchase tickets here: https://www.frightfest.co.uk/
Published in various websites, Philip is a reviewer who is best known for his interviews and media coverage of independent projects including; films, books, theatre and live events. Always on the lookout for something different to cover!
