I saw this as part of the Twin Cities Film Fest last October, but I decided to wait until the week of its release to post my review. It’s based on a novel by literary & screenwriting professor Rachel Yoder, released in 2021. I read in this article that after becoming a mom and spending two years with sleepless nights, Yoder admitted that she could get pretty wild when awakened in the middle of the night. The book turned into a space where Yoder could be totally open and speak her mind, boldly addressing all the taboos surrounding motherhood.

It’s certainly one of the wildest ideas for a movie, adapted by Marielle Heller, who’s no stranger to adapting a literary work into a movie (she directed The Diary of a Teenage Girl which was based on a graphic novel). Nightbitch follows a woman known only as ‘Mother’ (Amy Adams) who’s stuck at home as a wife and mother. The opening moments of the film showcase the dull routine of motherhood, featuring the mother and son stuck in a loop, living the same day repeatedly. She’s drained and lonely, missing her artistic outlet after giving up her successful career as an artist. With her husband (Scoot McNairy) frequently away for work, she feels like she might snap after yet another night of putting her child to bed.

Adams conveys the absolute dread, isolation, and sense of disillusionment with incredible accuracy that’s heart-wrenching but also intriguing to watch. As a mom herself, she clearly relates to her character on a personal level, and this is such a meaty role to sink her teeth into (pun fully intended). Nightbitch is a horror dramedy with elements of magical realism, specifically when it comes to Mother’s canine transformation. Things take a turn one night when Mother starts to notice her teeth getting pointy, hair sprouting in weird spots as if she’s growing a tail, and strange cravings hitting her.

Some people have lamented that the animalistic body horror element didn’t go far enough, the tone overall is more dark comedy than horror. Even for someone who can’t stand gore, I’d say Nightbitch is a bit on the tame side. Still, I think Heller made a potent point about a woman in dire need of escape. Adams is at her most fearless and committed performance, not only in terms of raw physicality and giving in to her primal instincts. Props to Adams for not balking at playing an unlikable, at times unhinged woman. The way she interacts with her fellow moms (Zoë Chao, Mary Holland, Archana Rajan), who she admittedly dislikes, can be off-putting as well as hilarious. Her devouring meatloaf scene is one that I won’t soon forget, and the upscale dinner scene with her snooty friends is a hoot as Mother’s nerve is stretched to its snapping point.

This is Adams’s movie through and through, I won’t be surprised if she scores her seventh Oscar nomination for this. McNairy does a great job of adding layers to his absent-minded husband role, and his cluelessness provides some comic relief. Capturing the feeling of loving your child while not enjoying motherhood is no easy feat, yet Heller’s script and Adams’ performance manage to pull it off. Mother clearly adores her son even at his most rambunctious (played by twins Arleigh and Emmett Snowden), but, understandably, she’s driven mad by the burden of caring for him. Women are made up of complex emotions that can often be at odds with one another, that’s what makes us multi-dimensional. There’s a famous line from Dowager Countess, ‘I’m a woman… I can be as contrarian as I choose.’ Ha!

This film definitely doesn’t sugarcoat the reality of motherhood, which can stir up some debate. In many cultures, being a mom is viewed as a blessing and privilege, so criticizing that experience could get moms labeled as b*tchy. It’s pretty unfair and unrealistic to expect every parent to fit that mold. I’m not a mom, but I totally get where Adams’ character is coming from and recognize the sacrifices that come with being a mother.

I appreciate the story’s message encouraging men and society as a whole to value women and not take motherhood for granted. My biggest quibble with the film is that Heller could’ve pushed this daring idea even more. As it stands, the ending comes off as a bit too neat and safe, which sort of dilutes the fierce womanhood vibe it started with. I’m not sure that Mother ‘reclaims herself’ in the end, that talented, plucky young woman she thought she lost.

That said, I highly recommend this movie, especially for first-time parents. I think it’s a great way to kick off discussions about motherhood, allowing for honest and [hopefully] judgment-free conversations.

What are your thoughts on NIGHTBITCH?

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