The Wasteland Reviewer

Nightbitch (2024) Written Review

Would you check out a film about one of Hollywood’s most talented actors believing she is turning into a dog? Seeing a trailer where Amy Adams is barking, growling, and running around on all fours certainly is going to grab your attention. When you have a provocative title like Nightbitch, you are going to get plenty of buzz. But Marielle Heller’s new film is so much more than just a weird flick about a cagey mother becoming a dog. Heller navigates the complexities of motherhood and marriage which lead to a woman needing to release something so primal and raw. There is plenty to ponder when it comes to Nightbitch for sure. 

What is this new dark comedy “horror” about? Adams portrays a woman who agreed to give up her art to become a stay-at-home mom while her aloof husband goes to work and does the bare minimum to help raise their son. Heller focuses on the mundane and repetitive nature of life that will lead to a mother seeking other outlets for their frustrations. There are some great montages at the beginning of the film that show sharp editing and deliver some great laughs. This film is darkly funny for sure. But Adams’ character begins to get stir crazy and her domestication begins to crumble. We see her slowly become more primal and animalistic. Heller explores the evolving relationships with others in her life and specifically her husband. The frustration lies in the fact that most of the characters (including the husband) are just cut-outs without much depth. There are plenty of voiceover elements which feel a tad bit overbearing, but the films do have some strong depth of themes and ideas. 

But does the whole “Amy Adams turns into a dog” conceit work for the film? This is the weakest element of the whole film. What is frustrating is that the weird concept is what is going to get people into the theater. Heller never goes full blown into it. The most we really see is a wolf running around and one violent moment (for the most part). This concept had plenty of potential, but Heller plays it safe for sure. Tonally, the film can be a bit rocky thanks to these uneven approaches to the story. The humor works. The spirit is there. The themes are there and do connect to this wild force underneath the surface. But there could have been so many more interesting and dynamic ways to explore this element of the film, but it just feels basic and surface level. This is the case so much that it probably would have made this film better if it just focused on the themes and comedy of the situation. There is plenty of drama and laughs to go around without it. 

What are the stronger elements of the film? Outside of the deft and effect direction of Heller, you have a cast who really come to play. There are so many layers and details in the performance that Adams delivers. There are so many emotions that boil up underneath the surface and Adams does an expert job at modulating them throughout this film. You never feel like she is just one thing. Adams’s character is conflicted and complicated and her performance reflects that. Despite portraying a character that feels like it is lacking some needed nuance, Scoot McNairy brings a lot to the role of the husband. The identical twins, Arleigh and Emmett Snowden, are incredibly adorable and do a great job bringing a nice, charming fixture for the film. There are some charismatic and engaging supporting turns as well from some of the women who portray Adams’ new friends in her life. Horror icon Jessica Harper gives a strong and impactful turn as a woman who is a bit of an older and wiser presence in the mother’s life. The dynamic and fun trio of Zoe Chao, Mary Holland, and Archana Rajan deliver some great laughs and are charming to watch on screen. 

Does Nightbitch deliver on the incredible promise of such a strange premise? The big swings of its magical realism are not actually big enough to make those elements feel truly impactful. But this film is filled to the brim with plenty of rich themes about motherhood, marriage, and being a woman in society today. Adams gives a committed performance that certainly will garner attention. You also get to see a fun montage to “Weird” Al Yankovic’s “Dare to Be Stupid” including Adams singing along. That is certainly a dream come true for sure.