“Nightbitch” - Film Review
Nightbitch is adapted from the 2021 novel of the same name by Rachel Yoder. The book caused quite a stir because of its portrayal of motherhood, and it’s regarded as a novel that truly understands the choices modern women must make when they decide to become a parent. The film version is directed by Marielle Heller and stars Amy Adams in the lead role of Mother. What starts as an examination of a marriage and a child’s impact on that relationship turns a little supernatural when Mother starts growing hair like a dog.
Mother is a stay-at-home parent to her son (Emmett & Arleigh Snowden). The audience quickly sees how monotonous her life is as it seemingly only consists of Son screaming, toys tumbling, and food being thrown across the table. Mother is married to Husband (Scoot McNairy), who is rarely home because his job requires him to travel often. Mother dreams of returning to her life in the art world, but cannot fathom how she would be able to balance all that’s expected of her. Mother’s dog transformations are rare and out of her control, but it’s these moments where she feels the most free.
courtesy of TIFF
Nightbitch feels as though it came five to ten years too late. The general premise of the film is giving mothers the space and words to talk about how overwhelming the expectations are that rest on their shoulders. Nightbitch’s thematic notes are no more nuanced than those of the Kristen Bell-led comedy Bad Moms from 2016. Thankfully, it’s no longer groundbreaking to see TV and film portrayals of mothers who do not fit societal expectations. Yet that is really all that Nightbitch has to offer.
Even the film’s supernatural elements don’t add anything new to the conversation. As a film about breaking free from expectations and experiencing a sort of unrestrained freedom that stay-at-home moms rarely have, Nightbitch is fairly tame. It’s like a teacup Yorkie baring its teeth. You know they could bite you, but they also weigh a couple of pounds. Nightbitch has the premise and freedom to let loose. In a year that also saw the release of The Substance, it’s hard not to compare each film’s use of body horror. The Substance is one of the rare films that fully commits to its oddity and revels in its ability to make the audience squirm. There are plenty of squirm-inducing parts of motherhood that feel like missed opportunities for Nightbitch. If you’re going to make a film about a mom who turns into a dog, you might as well go for it, no holds barred. Nightbitch ends with a whimper without ever finding its bark.
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