Bite Club (TV series)
| Company type | Television series |
|---|---|
| Industry | Entertainment |
| Founded | August 15, 2018 |
| Headquarters | Australia |
| Products | Television drama |
Bite Club is an Australian crime thriller TV series that was broadcast on the Nine Network from 15 August to 3 October 2018. The narrative revolves around a group of survivors from shark attacks, known as the "Bite Club," who become the targets of a serial murderer. The series features Todd Lasance and Ash Ricardo portraying Detectives Dan Cooper and Zoe Rawlings, respectively, alongside Dominic Monaghan as Senior Constable Stephen Langley.
Production
The eight-episode series was announced on 4 October 2017 with Dominic Monaghan attached to the project, and it received official confirmation during Nine’s 2018 upfronts before premiering on 15 August 2018. The plot focuses on a serial killer hunting shark attack survivors, with Lasance and Ricardo leading the investigative team. The ensemble cast also includes Damian Walshe-Howling as psychologist Kristof Olsen, Deborah Mailman in the role of Superintendent Anna Morton, Robert Mammone as Detective Sergeant Jim Russo, Marny Kennedy portraying surfer Amber Wells, Darcie Irwin-Simpson as Detective Claire Hobson, Arka Das playing Forensic Specialist Depak Chaudhary, and Pia Miller as Kate Summers, a friend of Zoe. Notably, actress Jessica Falkholt appeared posthumously following her passing in January 2018.
The screenplay was crafted by Sarah Smith and John Ridley, while direction was handled by Peter Andrikidis, Geoff Bennett, Wayne Blair, and Jennifer Leacey.
Filming commenced in September 2017 across various locations in Manly, New South Wales, including Dee Why, Curl Curl Beach, and The Steyne pub. The exterior of the police station was depicted by the Manly Pavilion, with interior scenes constructed at North Head. Alternative locations such as Bondi and Maroubra were also considered. Production concluded on 7 December 2017.
Cast
- Todd Lasance as Detective Constable Dan Cooper
- Ash Ricardo as Detective Senior Constable Zoe Rawlings
- Dominic Monaghan as Senior Constable Stephen Langley
- Deborah Mailman as Superintendent Anna Morton
- Damian Walshe-Howling as Kristof Olsen
- Robert Mammone as Detective Sergeant Jim Russo
- Pia Miller as Kate Summers
- Marny Kennedy as Amber Wells
- Darcie Irwin-Simpson as Detective Claire Hobson
- Arka Das as Depak Chaudhary
- Jessica Falkholt as Emma Bailey
- Susan Prior as Tricia
- Jessica Napier as Pia
Critical reception
David Knox from TV Tonight awarded the premiere episode two and a half stars out of five, expressing concerns over its overly dramatic tone and uneven genre execution. He described the directing style as "sluggish" and noted a lack of vitality in the episode, suggesting it required "a bit more teeth to take hold."
In 2020, Fiona Byrne of the Herald Sun included Bite Club in a list of "long forgotten Australian TV dramas that made viewers switch off." While she criticized the storyline premise as "ridiculous," Byrne praised the quality of location cinematography and the talented cast. She observed that the audience failed to connect with the plot, which contributed to its short lifespan of only one season.
Home media
The full Bite Club series can be streamed on Australian platforms 9Now and Stan.
| Title | Format | Ep # | Release Date | Special Features | Distributor |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bite Club | Streaming | 8 | 2019 | Cast Interviews Best Moments |
9Now |