As a mother of two rambunctious furballs myself, I found “Nightbitch” to be a delightfully bizarre yet poignant exploration of the trials and tribulations of modern motherhood. Amy Adams’ portrayal of Mother, the woman who may or may not be turning into a dog, is nothing short of masterful, capturing the confusion, frustration, and eventual acceptance that so many mothers experience in their daily lives.
As an avid film enthusiast, I must say that “Nightbitch” offers a unique blend of dark humor set against an outlandish premise. Although the core idea is captivating, the narrative seems to abandon it prematurely, leaving us with a canine-centric story that lacks the bite it initially promises.
In this storyline, teeth play a crucial role in the eccentric plot. Early on, the unnamed female character, who I’ll refer to as Mother, starts pondering whether her new tooth growth signals a transformation into either a vampire or a dog. She even delves into research to find out if such a change is possible.
Her young child, affectionately referred to as Son, gestures towards her back and says “Momma fuzzy.” Indeed, she becomes aware of extra hair in that area. Moreover, an enhanced olfactory ability confirms her suspicion; she’s transforming into a canine. Adopting the nickname Nightbitch, initially in jest, seems fitting for this new development.
However, it’s essential to understand both the ‘how’ and ‘why’ – these are the core inquiries that Marielle Heller’s film explores, inspired by Rachel Yoder’s 2021 novel with an intriguing title.
What is Nightbitch about?
Although she possesses a charming home, an adoring spouse, and a handsome child, there’s more to the story. Abandoning her artistic career for full-time motherhood could potentially prove detrimental to her life.
Due to Husband often being away on work trips, the days tend to merge into one another for Mother, leaving her feeling insignificant much of the time. She grapples with feelings such as anger, resentment, guilt, and regret on a regular basis.
Thus, the transformation commences. At first, Mother attributes the canine mix-up to perimenopause. Yet, upon reading a book named ‘Field Guide to Enchanting Women’, everything becomes clear.
As I sit here, engrossed in my latest gaming session, I can’t help but notice some unusual behavior from Mom. She seems to be embracing her wilder side more these days – snacking from bowls like a curious puppy, darting after dogs at the park with a playful energy, and even digging around our garden on all fours. It’s quite amusing, really!
This change is quite profound, as it involves Mother giving in to her deepest, basic urges. It’s a potent observation about the experience of motherhood, revealing how it can lead to feelings of loneliness, detachment, and insignificance that might drive one to extreme measures.
Finding fun in the least appropriate places
In Heller’s writing, weighty themes are presented with a delicate finesse, almost as if they were coated in sweetness, making them more palatable. At times, she even manages to evoke sheer delight from the very essence of these topics.
In an initial sequence, Mother punctures a large abscess on her back, followed by extracting something resembling a tail from the opening. This moment evokes a distinctly Cronenberg-style bodily dread.
However, Mother finds pleasure in the transformations happening to her body, initially experiencing relief, followed by joy. This enthusiasm serves as a captivating force, guiding viewers through her adventure of personal exploration.
In a more casual and relatable manner, you could say: The movie often has funny moments, especially when Mother steps out of her suburban comfort zone for a city dinner with old artist friends. However, she struggles to fit in and connect with them, instead feeling like an “out-of-place, middle-aged mom with little to contribute to the sophisticated conversation.
Her initial annoyance escalates into anger, causing Mother to snap at others at her table, gobble up someone else’s cheeseburger, and snarl at fellow diners before hurriedly leaving with a group of canine companions. A spectacle that’s both amusing and poignant.
More bonkers than a Marvel movie
A significant part of the story’s success can be attributed to the talented actress Amy Adams portraying Nightbitch. The plot is quite extraordinary, even surpassing the absurdity found in most Marvel films. In contrast, the origin stories of Marvel characters, such as Spider-Man, provide a clear explanation for their powers.
But Amy Adams sells the conceit for all its worth, and I found myself believing because she believed, and even cheering Nightbitch on (until she does something unspeakable to a rabbit).
In the film, Scoot McNairy plays a reliable husband character, although he initially seems like the antagonist. However, the movie isn’t that straightforward; it depicts him as a decent man with noble intentions, trying hard to do and say the appropriate things. Yet, despite his efforts, he struggles to truly listen and offer unwavering support to his wife.
The back-and-forth between the couple feels real, and even though their story is wrapped up a little too neatly, it’s rare to see marital issues like this play out so maturely onscreen.
As a gamer, I’ve got to give a shout-out to Arleigh and Emmet Snowden, those twin prodigies who bring their Son characters to life. Watching them perform is nothing short of mind-blowing! At just three years old, they nail every line, hit their marks perfectly, and keep the scenes moving forward like seasoned veterans. I can’t help but think there should be a new Oscar category just for them next year – the Young Powerhouse Performers award!
Is Nightbitch good?
In simpler terms, Nightbitch isn’t particularly innovative. The film attempts to demystify motherhood by challenging the enchanting stories society often promotes, and instead presents an honest portrayal of realities. However, similar themes have been explored extensively in numerous self-help books.
The movie could have benefited from maintaining the element of magical realism a bit longer, as it seemed to abandon this aspect prematurely. By taking risks and adding an element of peril to the Nightbitch storyline, it would have better reflected the mother’s obviously distressed mental condition.
Instead of using the trope where the main character expresses their thoughts aloud dramatically, only for it to be revealed later that they were just thinking to themselves, consider a more subtle approach where the character’s inner thoughts and feelings are shown through expressions, actions, or dialogue with other characters, creating a more authentic interaction.
But it’s nevertheless an engaging story, about an important subject, told in a way that manages to shock and surprise, never more so than when the lunacy ends on an upbeat, positive, and even conventional note.
Nightbitch score: 3/5
Nightbitch offers an entertaining approach to a heavy topic; it’s just that I hoped it would attack its themes as fiercely as the protagonist pursued the rabbit.
At the London Film Festival, Nightbitch received a review. This film will be available in UK cinemas starting December 6, 2024.
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2024-10-18 18:49