Nightbitch” is a 2024 American black comedy horror film directed by Marielle Heller, adapted from Rachel Yoder’s 2021 novel. The film stars Amy Adams as a former artist turned stay-at-home mother who experiences surreal transformations, believing she is becoming a dog.
Synopsis
The story in question revolves around a female artist who abandoned her creative efforts in order to raise her toddler son. However, during this journey which is rather alienating and dull in a certain way, she becomes increasingly convinced that her nightly darkness is slowly transforming her into a dog. This transformation is related in a very surreal manner and touches on subjects of self, self-determination and one of the more carnal side of people.
Cast & Crew
- Director: Marielle Heller
- Screenplay: Marielle Heller
- Producers: Anne Carey, Marielle Heller, Sue Naegle, Christina Oh, Amy Adams, Stacy O’Neil
- Cinematography: Brandon Trost
- Editing: Anne McCabe
- Music: Nate Heller
Main Cast:
- Amy Adams as Mother
- Scoot McNairy as Husband
- Arleigh and Emmett Snowden as Son
- Zoë Chao as Jen
- Mary Holland as Miriam
- Ella Thomas as Naya
- Archana Rajan as Liz
- Jessica Harper as Norma
Awards & Nominations
“Nightbitch” premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 7, 2024, where Amy Adams received the Tribute Performer Award. The film has garnered several accolades:
- Mill Valley Film Festival: MVFF Acting Award for Amy Adams
- La Roche-sur-Yon International Film Festival: Prix Variété MadMovies
- Savannah Film Festival: Outstanding Achievement in Cinema Award for Amy Adams
Additionally, Adams has received nominations for Best Actress at the upcoming Golden Globe Awards and Independent Spirit Awards.
Critical Reception
The film is a mixed bag according to critics. Its rating on Rotten Tomatoes stands at 72% based on critics’ reviews. Some critics commend the performance of Adams and the themes which the film aspired to tackle while some others criticize the uneven tone and the screenplay. As Brody Richard of New Yorker remarked, Marielle Heller, the director, “gives the impression of knowing exactly what she wants to say, as a result she reduces her characters to mere talking heads and shoots them without any original intention”.
Personal Insights
On the one hand, on ‘Nightbitch’ hilarious and kind of threatening and surreal deconstruction of mothering and the process of becoming a mother is shown. In particular, Amy Adams is noted for her performance, as she convincingly portrays the character morphing into a “beast” during motherhood changeover moments. A unique characteristic of the film is a mix of magical realism and plenty of satire, allowing the authors to reflect on existing stereotypes concerning the role of mothers and some aspects of their lives that are rather neglected.
Cultural Significance
“Nightbitch”, through an exploration of the psychology and physicality of a woman that has been confined to the four walls of a house, answers some of the questions which conventional discourses on motherhood tend to evade. It exposes the inner turmoil of many women who often feel the need to act out and pull back an aspect of themselves in exchange for the expectations set by society. The film serves to enrich the contemporary debates on the place of women, responsibilities, and the animal drives which are intrinsic in every civilized human being.
Availability
Searchlight Pictures is in charge of the US distribution of “Nightbitch” and has made it available in theater in the US on 6 December 2024, plus the film can be seen on Hulu on 27th December.