The film received mixed to negative reviews from critics.
Review aggregator website
Rotten Tomatoes reports an approval rating of 50% based on 18 reviews, with an average rating of 5.81/10.
Metacritic reports an aggregated score of 57 based on 4 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews". The beginning of the film and character development in particular were criticized, with the relationships and acting being described as unconvincing and generic to the point of being parodic, while the complex themes and body-horror elements were generally viewed more favorably by critics, Brian Tallerico from
RogerEbert.com called it "one of those early career horror entries in which the filmmakers don't quite nail the set-up or the landing, but the gooey center of the film works for those with a high tolerance for things that might make a majority of the population queasy." Phil Wheat from Nerdly had a slightly more positive takeaway after seeing the Frightfest 2015 screening: "
Bite is a strange and claustrophobic tale of sexuality, horror, and bodily fluids that recalls the best of
David Cronenberg (
Rabid,
Shivers,
The Fly), even echoing of
Roman Polanski's
Repulsion in the isolated madness of Casey's condition. And as such is unmissable" and Matt Boiselle from
Dread Central stated that "
Bite definitely has the chops to be the Fly of the new age and simply shouldn't be missed, especially if you're a gorehound on the prowl." Many audience members were apparently unprepared for the gruesome content of the film however, as Fantasia Film Festival co-director
Mitch Davis said on Facebook, "I leave the BITE premiere for all of ten minutes and the following text lights up my phone: "2 people fainted. One girl is puking and another hit his head on the stairs". Truth." Davis also had special
Bite branded barf bags handed out to the audience. ==References==