Love Bites

"Love Bites" is a stop-motion short film that tells the story of two Bugs in love. Love Bites seeks to shed light on the subtle and overt forms of abuse and explores the cycle of abusive relationships. The intoxicating pull of initial affection, and the devastating realization of being lured in only to be consumed and discarded. It’s a visceral reflection on vulnerability, manipulation, and emotional survival.

This short film is the first installment in a six-part series examining the stages of grief experienced after life-altering trauma, with a focus on the process of mourning one's former self as part of healing from abusive relationships.

Love Bites: A Web of Deceit

Synopsys

Love Bites is a stop-motion short that portrays a moth’s fatal encounter with a spider who lures her in under the guise of affection to feed his own selfish gain. The story follows a moth, drawn to the glow of a light post on a dark night, where she encounters a spider. As she becomes enchanted and distracted by the light, the spider exploits her moment of vulnerability, seducing her under false pretenses. In a chilling twist, as the moth leans in for what seems to be a tender kiss, the spider unhinges his jaw and decapitates her in a single, brutal motion. Her body falls lifeless to the ground, and the spider walks away without a second glance.

Symbolism

Through symbolic storytelling, Love Bites highlights how abusers often seek out the vulnerable, using false affection to lure them in before ultimately discarding them. The film illustrates the cycle of manipulation, betrayal, and emotional devastation at the heart of many abusive dynamics, setting the stage for a broader reflection on grief and self-mourning in the aftermath of trauma.

The Creative Process

Character Design

StoryBoard

Concept Art