Working as a clerk for the local sheriff’s department, I saw a lot of tragic stories, but one that always stuck with me was a young mother addicted to meth, who cycled in and out of jail. No matter how many times she swore she’d get clean, the addiction always pulled her back, and it was heartbreaking because she clearly loved her children. Every time they visited, their little faces would light up when they saw her, but she wasn’t allowed to hold them, and I could see the pain in her eyes. She would press her hands against the plastic divider, trying to be as close to them as possible, and every time they left, she would break down. It was gut-wrenching to witness, knowing that love alone wasn’t enough to save her (at least not at that point in her life).
The film I watched this week, Little Bites, reminded me of her. Directed by Spider One — the younger brother of horror filmmaker Rob Zombie — this chilling story follows recently widowed mother, Mindy Vogel (Krsy Fox), and her 10-year-old daughter, Alice (Elizabeth Phoenix Caro). When their home is invaded by a vampiric, demonic entity named Agyar (Jon Sklaroff), Mindy makes the desperate choice to let him feed on her, in exchange for sparing Alice.
Fearing for her daughter’s safety, she sends Alice to live with her verbally abusive mother (Bonnie Aarons), but as the feedings take a devastating toll on Mindy’s health, Child Protective Services agent Sonya (Barbara Crampton) intervenes, threatening both Mindy’s life and her custody of Alice.
Little Bites is, above all, carried by the performances of Krsy Fox and Jon Sklaroff. Fox commands nearly every scene, delivering a gripping, emotional performance as Mindy, a mother crumbling under the weight of exhaustion fear, and impossible choices. She perfectly conveys the slow erosion of her strength, both physical and emotional, as she sacrifices herself to keep her daughter safe. Sklaroff, as the demonic Agyar, radiates an insidious, aristocratic menace. Rarely seen in clear lighting, his presence is felt more than it is fully revealed, his velvety, measured threats more chilling for their restraint. He never needs to raise his voice or make an overt demand — his mere words are enough to make Mindy yield.
The film’s supporting cast is equally compelling, stacked with horror legends who elevate even the smallest roles. Barbara Crampton brings authority and tension as the CPS agent whose concern for Alice inadvertently puts Mindy in even greater danger. Heather Langenkamp delivers a brief but poignant turn as a compassionate stranger who recognizes Mindy’s suffering all too well. Chaz Bono also makes an impact as Paul, a guy whose role in the story is best left unspoiled. Their collective presence adds layers to Little Bites, reinforcing the film’s core themes of desperation, sacrifice, and the monstrous forces — both supernatural and human — that prey on the vulnerable.
In many ways, Agyar’s insidious control over Mindy mirrors the grip of addiction. Watching her struggle reminded me of the young mother I mentioned earlier. When she first came in, she looked a little unkempt but otherwise healthy — just another person who had made a mistake. But as the months and years passed, meth took its toll, hollowing her out until she was barely recognizable. Her skin grew pale, her face gaunt and sores covered her body — the physical scars of a battle she kept losing. Yet, through it all, her love for her children never wavered. No matter how weak or sick she became, she never let them get dragged into her world, choosing, like Mindy in the film, to send them to live with their grandparents, even when it broke her heart to be apart from them.
The only real drawback to Little Bites is its pacing, which at times feels sluggish. While the film is intentionally a slow burn — immersing the audience in Mindy’s growing sense of despair and exhaustion — it occasionally lingers too long in certain moments. The tension builds effectively, but there are stretches where scenes drag, making the narrative feel more repetitive than atmospheric. While this deliberate pacing helps reinforce the weight of Mindy’s suffering, a tighter edit could have maintained the film’s oppressive tone without testing the audience’s patience.
The horror in Little Bites is sparse, serving more as a vehicle for the film’s deeper themes rather than the primary focus. However, when the bloodshed does occur, it is undeniably effective. The scene that reveals the full extent of Agyar’s toll on Mindy’s body delivers a moment of pure, visceral dread. The sound design amplifies the horror, making every bite, tear and wound disturbingly tangible. Though some may find themselves craving more gore, the film ensures that every instance of bloodletting is impactful, using restraint to heighten its unsettling atmosphere.
It truly is a “less is more” approach that works decently.
I give Little Bites a solid four out of five stars. Krsy Fox and Jon Sklaroff carry the film with geat performances. The supporting cast, featuring some horror movie icons, adds depth to the film’s themes of desperation and sacrifice. Agyar’s control over Mindy serves as a powerful allegory for addiction, showing the pain a parent can go through to break through their vices.
While the film’s slow-burn pacing effectively immerses viewers in Mindy’s hopelessness, it does linger a bit too long in some moments. Some horror fans may wish for more gore, but what’s there leaves an impact.
I truly hope that mother found a way to conquer her demons. In many ways, Little Bites could be her story.