It is always tough to be a parent, especially when you are facing personal problems. This is especially true for Mindy (played by Krsy Fox) in the new film Little Bites, directed by Spider One. Mindy has a horrible secret: she is trying to keep a demon happy by letting it eat her flesh, little by little.
Many films use demons or similar creatures to represent the mental health struggles of parents. Some examples are The Babadook and Clown. Little Bites has strong elements, but some problems with the story and how it is told weaken its full effect.
What Is Little Bites About?
In Little Bites, we meet Mindy, a caring mother who has been away from her daughter Alice (played by Elizabeth Phoenix Caro) for three weeks. Mindy is not in a good place to take care of Alice. She cannot sleep well and is in constant pain because of her terrible secret.
Throughout the day and night, she hears the sound of a bell. Whenever she hears it, she leaves what she is doing and goes into a dark room on the first floor of her house. In this room, there is a demon named Agyar (played by Jon Sklaroff), who survives by eating Mindy’s flesh, one small piece at a time.
Mindy feels trapped and unhappy. She is also distant from her mother (played by Bonnie Aarons), who shows a lot of frustration. Mindy desperately tries to find a new way to move forward when everything becomes too overwhelming.
Krsy Fox and Jon Sklaroff Shine Despite Story Issues
Little Bites highlights the performances of Krsy Fox and Jon Sklaroff. Fox, who also helped produce and edit the film, is in almost every scene. She gives a powerful performance as the exhausted mother, showing her character’s tiredness, need, and pain.
Sklaroff plays Agyar with an aristocratic and evil presence that comes through in every word he says. This is important since audiences rarely see him. His words are full of threats, but he does not have to force it because the tension is already there.
The film also features horror legends in smaller roles, such as Barbara Crampton as a stern CPS agent and Heather Langenkamp as a caring stranger who understands Mindy’s pain. Both actors give strong performances, along with Chaz Bono as the quiet character Paul, whose role will not be revealed.
Mindy’s character grows and changes, but the story does not flow logically. Some parts feel like random events or choices rather than connected moments in a tight story. While the scenes work well, thanks to the talented cast, improving the film’s internal logic and making the story feel more natural would have made it stronger.
As a close and metaphorical story about a mother dealing with addiction (with Agyar as a clear symbol), Little Bites only shines at times. Fox’s performance is sincere, hitting the emotional low points well. The brief moments with famous horror actors like Crampton and Langenkamp are interesting.
Still from Little Bites (Credit: IFC Films)
Agyar is a creepy demon presence, and his performance is excellent. Still, the film’s straightforwardness makes its story and character development feel too obvious.
Additionally, clearer connections between the events and character choices would add excitement and make the pacing smoother, rather than feeling like a series of jumps between typical plot points. Many things work well in Little Bites, but they often mix with elements that do not achieve their goals.
Little Bites Needs Minor Changes
Many parts of Little Bites work very well. The creature makeup looks impressive, and the performances are memorably threatening with added flair. Krsy Fox leads the story effectively, and the film asks a lot from her.
There are some excellent lines of dialogue and many scenes that work well, thanks to appearances from horror legends.
The film offers a mostly smooth viewing experience, but some parts feel too forced or overly simple, making the themes feel too obvious. There is a lot of potential in this film, but it does not fully realize it, resulting in a decent movie that stops short of being a truly great horror experience.
Netflix’s Heartstopper has finished another season with a perfect Rotten Tomatoes score of 100%. Season 3 is a challenging watch, and viewers should read the trigger warnings before watching. However, the finale ends on a sweet and hopeful note.
Charlie (Joe Locke) and Nick (Kit Connor) return to the screen together, and they share three special words. They are joined by a familiar cast, where each character grows and discovers their identity. This season also hints at what a possible Season 4 could be about.
Heartstopper’s Focus on Charlie’s Mental Health
Charlie and Nick continue to grow emotionally. They say “I love you” for the first time and become better at talking to each other. Towards the end of the season, they show intimacy in a fun, awkward, and trusting way.
However Charlie’s mental health and struggles with disordered eating are important topics throughout the season. Nick tries to address these concerns gently, and eventually, Charlie confronts his issues directly.
In the finale, Charlie’s mental health journey reaches a hopeful conclusion as he talks to his therapist (Eddie Marsan) about his new approach to health. After being diagnosed with anorexia nervosa and OCD, Charlie learns to overcome his compulsions and follow a healthy eating plan.
He understands that not every day will be perfect in his recovery, but he knows he can rely on his support system, which includes more than just Nick. Charlie learns to seek help and be open about his feelings.
The end of Season 3 symbolizes his healing journey. As Charlie and Nick become more intimate, Charlie is hesitant to take off his shirt.
Throughout the season, he has vulnerable moments where he looks at his scars in the mirror. When Charlie finally takes his shirt off in front of Nick and asks him to do the same, it shows how much he has grown and his willingness to be vulnerable.
Tao and Elle’s Journey in Season 3
Season 3 also follows Tao (William Gao) and Elle (Yasmin Finney), another couple ready to be intimate. Elle experiences gender dysphoria and feels uneasy about being vulnerable.
Later in the season, she is invited to do a radio interview about her art, but the host shifts the conversation to gender politics. Elle, who just wants to discuss her art, feels disconnected from her creativity after the interview.
In the finale, we catch up with this couple briefly. Elle shares her plans to study art in Europe, and Tao jokes about getting a job to pay for her travel.
Still from Heartstopper (Credit: Netflix)
This shows that Elle is reconnecting with her art, thanks to Tao’s inspiring video. She has struggled to trust him with her artistic side, but she learns that she needs to trust him with her emotions too. Tao also shows his growth by overcoming his fears of abandonment.
Showing Sexual and Gender Identity in Season 3
Heartstopper is dedicated to showing love and identity through its supporting characters. Isaac’s (Tobie Donovan) journey of discovering his sexuality continues as he identifies as asexual and aromantic. He proudly shares this with his friends during a heartwarming scene at the zoo.
Meanwhile, Darcy (Kizzy Edgell) experiments with they/them pronouns and comes out as non-binary to Tara (Corinna Brown), showing support and love. Tara also learns to set boundaries with Darcy and shares this wisdom with Nick, who has his own concerns.
This reflection starts after she kisses her best friend while drunk, but they agree to stay friends. Imogen begins her confusing journey of self-discovery with the support of her friends.
Charlie’s big sister, Tori (Jenny Walser), also experiences a sweet romance this season. She meets the quirky Michael (Darragh Hand) during New Year’s but avoids labeling their relationship.
At the carnival in the finale, Michael asks if she is his girlfriend, making Tori run away. After Michael encourages Charlie to talk to her, they have a heartfelt conversation on the Ferris wheel. Charlie helps Tori understand that she should focus on her own life and happiness.
Setting the Stage for Season 4
Although Netflix has not confirmed Season 4 yet, Heartstopper hints at future conflicts in the finale, especially regarding Nick’s storyline. Throughout the season, Nick has prioritized Charlie’s health, but now he is looking toward the future.
He insists he wants to stay close to Charlie when choosing universities, but he also has an interest in a school four hours away. If he chooses this school, it means he won’t see Charlie as often.
Tara, Elle, and Darcy remind Nick that his need to please others might hurt his happiness. Nick has not told Charlie about his university choice, leaving us wondering how Charlie will react.
The finale is titled “Apart,” which may suggest that the couple might soon need to learn how to be independent in their relationship. Nick has relied on Charlie since coming out, so if he goes to university, he will show his identity without Charlie.
Still from Heartstopper (Credit: Netflix)
Heartstopper Season 3 shows Charlie and Nick’s emotional growth, focusing on Charlie’s mental health journey and their evolving relationship. Tao and Elle faces intimacy amidst gender dysphoria, while supporting characters discover their sexual and gender identities. The season concludes on a hopeful note, hinting at future challenges for the couple.
Heartstopper Seasons 1-3 are available for streaming on Netflix in the U.S.
