Movie Review: Nightbitch

With a name like “NIGHTBITCH,” you should know you are in for it. But let’s be real, little can prepare you for a movie about a woman who is convinced she is turning into a dog. The always-excellent writer/director Marielle Heller delivers a funny, intelligent catharsis about female rage and the isolating experience of motherhood. Amy Adams is brilliant, masterfully balancing comedy and furiosity, especially in her character’s monologues. Despite its brief 98 minute runtime, the film does feel slightly long at times, but is only a small critique for a film that is going to get audiences talking.

For those worried about the “body horror” element of the movie, maybe I’m numb after seeing THE SUBSTANCE, but I found this film to be less horror and more dramedy. Yes, there are some gross moments, such as a tail erupting out of Adams’ bottom area, but the real horror in this film is the experiences mothers face every day trying to be perfect to the world, their partners, and their kids. I have seen some male reviewers horrified over one scene that shows menstrual blood in the shower. But for us women, it’s a typical Tuesday; I was unphased.

Based off of the best-selling book by Rachel Yoder, NIGHTBITCH focuses on an unnamed Mother (Amy Adams) who quit her job at an art gallery to stay home with her son; the fact Mother isn’t named is a choice in itself. Mother is struggling with feeling isolated from the world and fearful that she is losing her identity as a woman and artist. Mother’s husband (Scoot McNairy) is out of town for most of the week, and the only human interaction she has outside of her young son is a local librarian, moms at a kids play group, and the garbage man.

This lack of meaningful social contact, combined with lack of sleep has put Mother on the edge. So much so, she starts having the strange idea that she is turning into a dog. It doesn’t help that she begins seeing physical signs, such as a thick patch of hair on her back, and takes on a new appreciation for meat. But as Mother begins to spiral more and more into this thought process, it becomes almost freeing… creating an outlet for her to express these feelings of resentment that have been bubbling under the surface for too long.

On its surface, it may seem this is a parable, but let me be clear, there is nothing subtle about the message in this film. From mom guilt, to seeking an identity outside of being [insert child’s name]’s mom, Heller focuses on many themes that aren’t typically covered on-screen, particularly the less glamorous sides of motherhood. But don’t worry, you don’t need to be a mom to appreciate this film; although I don’t have kids, I still found it extremely relatable to the experiences I’ve heard from my friends and loved ones. I can only imagine the moms that are watching this are going to need a good pillow to scream into when they get home.

Amy Adams is absolutely unhinged, in the best way possible, bared teeth and all. She holds nothing back, showing her frustrations and seething fury with a simple glance at her aloof husband. Adams is the perfect mirror for many under-appreciated parents to see themselves in her character, disappointment and exhaustion laid bare as she tries to maneuver through life. Vanity project this role is not. I think Adams also deserves a lot of credit for her incredible chemistry with the adorable child actors playing her son. Her relationship with her son is the most important element of this film, and she makes it look and feel incredibly natural.

For my fellow animal lovers, there are going to be scenes you aren’t going to like. The second I saw that the family owned a cat, I knew it wasn’t going to be good for us feline fans. But take comfort in a fun fact I learned at the film’s Q&A. Heller and the dog training team had a tough time finding the perfect dog to play Adams in the film. So the dog trainers scoured Los Angeles and adopted a ginger-furred Husky from the shelter. They spent months training her and now she’s one of the stars of a major film! I am focusing on this to make myself feel better about some of the sad animal scenes.

NIGHTBITCH is definitely a conversation starter, but maybe not in the way you would expect. I imagine audience members are going to be speaking less about Adams growling like a dog and more about the inequity of parenting partnerships. And that is what I find most interesting about the film, despite it being a film about dogs what you are left with most is the deeply human experience of motherhood and wanting to do what’s best for your family without losing yourself in the process.

My Review: B