The Reel Review
An artist frustrated over giving up her career to be a stay-at-home mom starts exhibiting strange dog-like behavior and physical manifestations, eventually turning into a dog at night. Amy Adams stars in this psychological drama/dark comedy about the transformative effects of motherhood.
Nightbitch is meant to be an ode to the difficulty of motherhood, and how isolating it feels to be all alone with no real help. But the unapologetically weird story misses the point, too bland to be biting satire and lacking in any real punch.
Adams gives a fine performance, as does Scoot McNairy (A Complete Unknown, Speak No Evil) as the constantly traveling, absentee father and Jessica Harper (Suspiria) as the wise, world-weary librarian Norma, but writer/director Marielle Heller’s watered-down adaptation of the book is a big miss.
REEL FACTS
• Initially planned for a direct release on Hulu, the studio decided to give Nightbitch a theatrical debut after positive test screenings.
• Arleigh and Emmett Snowden play the role of the toddler son.
• Writer/director Marielle Heller’s brother Nate plays the role of the library guitarist.
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