Rachel Yoder Night Bitch It understandably made waves on the book club circuit in 2021. A feminist take on suburban stay-at-home motherhood, the story is acerbic and brutally funny, and one that was ripe for adaptation even if the practicalities of filming might have seemed insurmountable. The idea of Mother (Amy Adams) believing she's turning into a dog — and as the logline reveals, she's “slowly embracing a feral power deeply rooted in motherhood” by running with dogs and terrorizing cats — sounds too cheesy to pull off on screen. And it's a tricky balance to pull off surreal black comedy was confirmed in a recent trailer that didn't quite hit the mark:
Complicating matters is that much of the speculation seems to be based on the idea that Adams is chasing an Oscar with the role, even though he has received six nominations over the years. Sharp objects The actress, in turn, attended the film's premiere at TIFF telling Indiewire that she doesn't currently care if she gets nominated for awards (“I don't think about it…”), but she wouldn't be upset if it helps the film expand its audience (“I'm always happy if a film resonates with audiences and that increases its popularity”).
Movie starring Scoot McNairy (Stop and catch fire, Narcos: Mexico) and writer/director Marielle Heller (A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood), debuted at TIFF this week, and the critics' reactions below are urging people to lose the trailer, as it's reportedly not an accurate representation of the film. There's even a comparison to Substance:
“NIGHTBITCH: Never mind the terrible trailer, this is a fantastic showcase for Amy Adams, who gets her… meatiest… role since THE MASTER… The film has a lot more in common with THE SUBSTANCE than I think anyone expected.”
“Wipe the Nightbitch trailer out of your head. It's a cathartic, insightful, and refreshingly philosophical look at how mothers cope…”
Matt Neglia's Next Best Movie:
NIGHTBITCH is much better than the trailer would have you believe. Marielle Heller continues her streak, offering insight and nuance into the human condition, in this case motherhood, in a way that feels deeply empathetic. Amy Adams walks a tightrope, fully conveying the character’s internal struggles, radiating the warmth it takes to be a good mother, all while hitting comedic beats. Consistently funny and poignant. If anything, I wish it were darker.
Nightbitch is much better than the trailer suggests. An insightful, funny, and ultimately heartfelt look at motherhood. It’s also a stunning showcase for one of our greatest living actresses, as Amy Adams absolutely smashes it. Another winner: Marielle Heller.
Night Bitch will be released in cinemas on December 6.