Firebite : Episode 1 - Pest Control - TV Series Review

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In the Australian outback, vampires stalk a remote opal mining town. Tyson uses his kangaroo hunting as a cover for hunting vampires, with the help of his adopted daughter, Shanika. Together they fight to protect their town, Opal City in the absence of any real vampire hunters, known as Bloodhunters.

Firebite is an Australian supernatural horror series, created by Brendan Fletcher and Warrick Thornton (director of Sampson and Delilah and the cinematographer of The Sapphires and Sweet Country). It stars Rob Collins (from Glitch and Cleverman) as Tyson and Shantae Barnes-Cowan (from Wyrmwood: Apocalypse) as Shanika. Yael Stone (from Orange is the New Black and A Picnic At Hanging Rock ) is also in it as Eleona, a barmaid from the local watering hole with whom Tyson keeps flirting.

The vampires were deliberately brought on the First Fleet and are here to feed on Indigenous Australians, with the intent to wipe them out. It's not subtle. However, it is good to see a horror show being made in Australia for a change, and this one has great performances and effects so far.

The Opal fields riddled with tunnels make such a perfect setting for a vampire story. I love the imagery, and I was impressed with Shanika's ingenious method for mapping the tunnels from above ground.



In the first episode, a new vampire arrives who seems to be shaking things up among the locals. Tyson and Shanika try to capture a vampire for questioning but may have bitten off more than they can chew.

Firebite first aired in 2021. It is currently streaming on SBS On Demand.


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