Very little about director Marielle Heller‘s “Nightbitch,” based on the bestselling 2021 novel by Rachel Yoder, worked for me. In what should have been a bold and original exploration of motherhood and identity, this lackluster screen adaptation feels like a disjointed and uneven effort, with Heller grasping desperately to create something that will spark conversation. Its heavy-handed attempt at relevance comes off as painfully forced, which totally wastes the more thought-provoking aspects of the source material.
Former city-dwelling artist and curator Mother (Amy Adams) has traded her beloved career for suburban domesticity. Her life now consists of staying at home with her toddler while her husband (Scoot McNairy) is frequently away on business trips. With a growing sense of isolation and general frustration as she navigates the daily grind of being a stay-at-home mom, Mother’s maternal routine takes a surreal turn when she discovers that when the sun sets, her primal nature takes over and she transforms into a dog.
The story is told through the lens of magical realism, which is a great idea that just doesn’t come together. The film is at its best early on, as it shows the challenges faced by modern moms. There’s a decent amount of comedy mixed in with the drama, but I didn’t find Mother’s character to be sympathetic in the least (perhaps because I’m a childless by choice woman). She’s the one who made the decision to give up her ambitions and goals, and this new life of cleaning and diaper duty is all of her own doing. I’m sure the exhaustion and disconnection that accompanies the shift from a professional life to one of full-time parenting isn’t a walk in the park, but I just couldn’t get over the fact that nobody has to force themselves to choose that life. When the film can extract zero sympathy for the main character, it’s hard to get engaged at all.
Even worse, a surefire way to get me to turn completely against a character is to show them being cruel to animals, and this film takes it a step further and actually turns a pet’s murder into a gross punchline. Using that as a dose of black humor is unsettling, alienating, and completely unnecessary. Mother is nothing but a monster, and I didn’t care about her at all after that.
At least Adams is a bright spot, delivering a compelling performance of a completely overwhelmed woman. I do worry that some will call her turn “fearless” because they confuse physical appearance with bravery. Adams is a bit heavier and mostly makeup-free here, and the notion that shedding glamour and gaining weight for a role makes you “brave” is dated, stereotypical, and irritating.
I understand that a lot of the story is just a metaphor for reclaiming your lost self, but the fantastical elements grow increasingly bizarre and convoluted. The film’s shift from a grounded narrative to one that becomes excessively weird undermines its initial impact and muddles its thematic messaging. Heller tries to make a bold statement about the harsh realities of motherhood and the struggle to maintain personal identity, but instead falls for the same old clichés about parenting that suck every big of momentum out of her storytelling.
“Nightbitch” has a lot of potential, but it doesn’t reach any of it.
By: Louisa Moore
Screen Zealots 