Once Bitten

Once Bitten

Year: 1985

Runtime: 94 min

Language: English

FantasyHorrorComedy

A charming and darkly humorous fantasy unfolds as a beautiful vampire countess, determined to preserve her agelessness, sets her sights on a young man eager to lose his innocence. After sharing a taste of his life force, he begins to develop unexpected and peculiar changes. The countess finds herself entangled in a situation that challenges her centuries-old existence, leading to both comedic and potentially dangerous consequences.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline & Setting – Once Bitten (1985)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Once Bitten (1985). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

1980s

The events unfold in the mid-1980s Los Angeles, a era of neon nightlife and fashion that amplifies teenage rebellion and danger. The Countess's centuries-old hunger collides with the era's hedonism, intensifying the countdown to Halloween. The social scenes—bars, stores, and school dances—map a vivid urban backdrop for vampiric intrigue.

Location

Los Angeles, Hollywood

Primarily set in Los Angeles, with scenes in Hollywood bars and the Countess's mansion. The urban environment frames a teen romance under the shadow of centuries-old predation. Halloween night serves as a deadline driving the Countess's hunt for a virgin, while the school dance anchors the local atmosphere. The setting contrasts bright 1980s nightlife with ancient, predatory forces.

🏙️ City vibe 🌃 Nightlife 🧛 Vampire lore

Last Updated: November 22, 2025 at 15:27

Main Characters – Once Bitten (1985)

Meet the key characters of Once Bitten (1985), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Mark Kendall (Jim Carrey)

A high school virgin who becomes the Countess's target. He experiences memory loss after the initial bite and suspects something is wrong when he develops a craving for blood and avoids sunlight. His quest for love with Robin is tangled with vampiric danger, forcing him to fight for agency and his relationship.

👦 Teen 💘 Romance 🧛 Transformation

Countess (Lauren Hutton)

A 400-year-old vampire whose immortality depends on feeding on male virgins three times around Halloween. She uses seduction and decades of experience to manipulate those around her, hunting for her next target as she ages toward her ultimate goal. Her power lies in charisma, cunning, and a brutal ritual.

🧛 Vampire 🎭 Manipulation 🏰 Immortality

Robin Pierce (Karen Kopins)

Mark's girlfriend, a shopping-store worker who becomes an ally in the fight against the Countess. She uncovers vampire-related clues, confronts the Countess, and helps plot a rescue, showing resilience and resourcefulness. Her relationship with Mark anchors the emotional stakes of the story.

👩 Female lead 💡 Detective ❤️ Loyal

Russ (Jeb Stuart Adams)

Mark's best friend who accompanies him and Jamie and becomes involved in the night’s dangerous events. He falls prey to seduction by two of the Countess's female minions, illustrating how even strong friendships can be tested by temptation and enchantment.

🧑 Friend 🌀 Temptation 👫 Loyalty

Jamie (Stuart Charno)

One of Mark's friends who joins the group in the night’s plan. He, too, succumbs to seduction by Countess’s minions, underscoring the pervasive reach of the vampiric threat. He remains a part of the teen ensemble navigating danger.

🧑 Friend 🌀 Temptation 🕯️ Danger

Sebastian (Cleavon Little)

The Countess's loyal manservant who serves her and helps carry out her schemes. He appears as a quiet, menacing presence in the mansion, adding to the atmosphere of control and predation surrounding the Countess.

🧔 Servant 🗝️ Accomplice 🕯️ Mysterious

Last Updated: November 22, 2025 at 15:27

Major Themes – Once Bitten (1985)

Explore the central themes of Once Bitten (1985), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🧛 Immortality

The Countess's immortality hinges on draining the blood of male virgins three times around Halloween, illustrating a perverse obsession with youth and agelessness. Her centuries-long life is sustained by manipulation, seduction, and ritual sacrifice rather than genuine affection. The threat of aging manifests as a fearsome consequence if she fails to secure a new source of youth. The film uses vampiric desire to explore vanity, aging, and the costs of eternal life.

💘 Desire & Deception

Sexual desire is weaponized: the Countess seduces Mark to drain him, while Mark's relationship with Robin is tested by temptation, memory loss, and confusion. The tale turns romance into a perilous game, where truth is muddled by vampiric deceit. Robin's investigation into vampirism reveals the darker side of attraction, and the lovers must navigate trust under imminent danger. The vampire's manipulation shows how desire can blur morality and endanger friendships.

🤝 Friendship & Courage

Mark's friends, Robin, Russ, and Jamie rally against the supernatural threat, illustrating teenage loyalty under pressure. The group confronts deception, danger, and captivity as they try to rescue Mark and thwart the Countess's plan. The teens' teamwork culminates in a tense confrontation within the mansion and the ritual chamber. Courage and solidarity become the counterforce to centuries of predation.

Last Updated: November 22, 2025 at 15:27

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Once Bitten Summary

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Once Bitten Summary

Once Bitten Timeline

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Once Bitten Timeline

More About Once Bitten

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