Love Bite
Taking refuge in an abandoned cargo truck during the Zombie Apocalypse, a dysfunctional couple (and their dog) find their lives on the line when they make a deadly bet over how the undead virus spreads. Is a simple love bite now a death sentence? And how far will someone go to be proven right?
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Charles de LauzirikaDirector
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Carlee BakerWriter
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Charles de LauzirikaWriter
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Carlee BakerKey Cast"Nancy"
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Cuyle CarvinKey Cast"George"
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Toddrick ThomasKey Cast"Lead Drooler"
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Jamie DavenportProducer
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Charles de LauzirikaProducer
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Carlee BakerProducer
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Andrea FladerProducer
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Project Type:Short
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Genres:Horror, Relationship, Apocalyptic, Zombie, Satire
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Runtime:16 minutes
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Completion Date:October 30, 2019
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Country of Origin:United States
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Country of Filming:United States
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Language:English
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Shooting Format:RED 5K
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Aspect Ratio:2.40:1
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Film Color:Color
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First-time Filmmaker:No
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Student Project:No
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Sitges Festival Internacional de Cinema Fantastic de CatalunyaSitges
Spain
October 6, 2019
World Premiere
Special Session Shorts -
Morbido Film FestivalMexico City
Mexico
November 2, 2019
North American Premiere
Official Selection -
Atlanta Film SocietyAtlanta
United States
November 6, 2019
U.S. Premiere
Official Selection "Locals Only" -
Chattanooga Film FestivalChattanooga
United States
May 22, 2020
Official Selection -
Calgary Underground Film FestivalCalgary
Canada
June 23, 2020
Canadian Premiere
Official Selection -
XVI FantaspoaPorto Alegre
Brazil
South American Premiere
Official Selection -
Women in Horror Film FestivalAtlanta
United States
February 27, 2020
Official Selection / NOMINATIONS: Best Regional Short, Best Actress, Best Special FX, Best Production Design -
Crimson Screen Horror Film FestivalCharleston
United States
June 22, 2020
Official Selection / WINNER: Best Cinematography (Short) / NOMINATIONS: Best Actress, Best Actor, Best Special FX -
HorrorHound Film FestivalCincinnati
United States
May 23, 2020
Official Selection / NOMINATIONS: Best Story, Best Sound -
Buried Alive Film FestivalAtlanta
United States
November 17, 2019
Official Selection -
Philip K. Dick Film FestivalNew York
United States
March 8, 2020
New York Premiere
WINNER: Best Horror Short -
WorldFest-Houston International Film FestivalHouston
United States
April 17, 2020
WINNER: Silver Award - Horror Short -
ShiversKonstanz
Germany
October 20, 2019
German Premiere
Official Selection -
Hollywood HorrorfestLos Angeles
United States
California Premiere
Winner: Best Zombie Short -
FilmQuestProvo, Utah
United States
Regional Premiere
Official Selection -
NOLA Horror Film FestNew Orleans, Louisiana
United States
October 25, 2020
Official Selection
A graduate of the USC School of Film-Television, Lauzirika made his feature directorial debut with the offbeat psychological thriller CRAVE, starring Josh Lawson, Emma Lung, Edward Furlong and Ron Perlman.
CRAVE played at film festivals around the world, winning several awards, including the New Flesh Award for Best First Feature at the Fantasia International Film Festival in Montreal, and Best Director in the Next Wave category at Fantastic Fest in Austin.
Having directed several commercials, short films and music videos, he continues in his "day job" of producing making-of content for films and television, and also has several projects in various stages of development, including an adaptation of Philip K. Dick's science fiction drama, "I Hope I Shall Arrive Soon."
(NOTE: This Director's Statement and the film itself were both made before our current global pandemic took root.)
Following the festival run of CRAVE, I was emotionally and financially exhausted. It was fun, and totally worth it, but I fell into an unexpected depression afterwards, probably the result of my lifelong dream having finally come true -- I had at long last directed a feature! But I was also nearly broke.
I then spent several years regaining my footing, working like crazy in the behind-the-scenes world to dig myself out of the hole, and just trying to set up my second feature. Long story short, it wasn't until I found the love of my life -- my amazing wife and partner in all things, Carlee Baker -- that I started smiling again. And getting creative. Carlee had the original idea for LOVE BITE, and we wrote the script together.
Throwing caution to the wind, we just went and made it. We didn't spend a lot of time thinking about it, and I really felt the need to get back on the horse as soon as possible...to flex those directorial muscles again. So we made LOVE BITE. And it wasn't just a little rehab movie for me. It was a total reinvigoration. And a huge bonding experience for Carlee and myself beyond our already deeply invested love for each other.
LOVE BITE might seem like a simple zombie apocalypse story. But taking inspiration from George Romero's films, it has also some subtle (and not so subtle) messaging beneath the ghoulish surface. It talks about toxic relationships, toxic politics, toxic emotions...all in a very toxic world. A world, sadly, of our own creation. If George and Nancy can't put aside their differences, and help each other survive, it's not going to end well.
As the film shows.