‘Nightbitch’ Sniffs out a Raw and Visceral Story

Nightbitch

★ ★ ★ ½

‘Nightbitch’ stars Amy Adams, her character credited only as Mother, in one the most raw, emotionally poignant performances of her career. When the film occasionally loses its sense of story, her stellar performance fills the gap while the script finds its scent again and gets back on track. It’s not a perfect film, but Adams’ performance is darned near.

We open with Mother and toddler Son, played by twins Arleigh Snowden and Emmett Snowden, grocery shopping in the neighborhood supermarket. There she meets Sally (Adrienne Rose White), a friend from her life before motherhood, who asks how she’s been doing. Mother goes on a lengthy monologue about the realities of being a mom, her messy life and how she does, in fact, miss her career in a New York art gallery. In short, motherhood has drained her of her life force and she misses her old life – yet still loves being a mom.

The monologue referenced above was Mother’s fantasy of what she would say if she were being truthful. The scene resets to Sally’s original question to which Mother replies, I’ve been good.

Amy Adams as Mother looking at the moon
© 2024 Searchlight Pictuers

This is the theme of the film. Mother struggles to wrangle her toddler and keep the home in order with little support, often feeling isolated and alone. Husband (Scoot McNairy) often travels for business, and at first, he’s presented as oblivious and aloof to Mother’s struggles. Later, this becomes a deeper exploration in the film.

Mother is in crisis, losing her sense of self as the film carries on. This leads her to notice bodily changes, such as hair growing on her back, a possible tail growing on her backside, her canine teeth becoming sharper and a near superhuman sense of smell. She begins to find she relates more and more to our canine friends, tapping into her animalistic nature more and more as the film goes along.

Is she actually becoming a dog? I dare not say.

Mother remembers her own childhood and begins to recall more and more of it as the story progresses. She remembers her own mother (Kerry O’Malley) going through something similar.

Amy Adams as Mother exploring her animalistic instincts
© 2024 Searchlight Pictuers

The theme is explored rather well, presenting Mother as a sympathetic character to whom young and experienced parents can relate. Motherhood is messy. Raising a toddler, especially without physical and emotional support, can be chaotic. Here, we get a raw look at a mom trying not to screw up her son while not losing her own sense of self.

There’s one major flaw in this film despite its best efforts. The exploration of Mother’s transformation, real or imagined, feels a bit incomplete. It’s almost forgotten by the time the credits roll.

Still, Adams’ portrayal is fantastic and gives the film a strong purpose even when the script wastes time digging holes in the backyard.

Comedy, Horror