Nightbitch – Film Review

Director – Marielle Heller
Writers – Marielle Heller, Rachel Yoder
Stars – Amy Adams, Scoot McNairy, Arleigh Snowden

In cinemas on December 6

Amy Adams speaks to new mothers everywhere in this adaptation of Rachel Yoder’s 2021 book. Despite being a seemingly acclaimed artist the character doesn’t have a name. She is simply listed as “mother” in the titles. This helps convey her loss of identity after becoming a stay-at-home mum.

Her days now consist of sitting through books with her son at the library and trying to get him to sleep at an appropriate time. She frequently airs her frustrations, but we learn that these powerful and to-the-point monologues are only in her head as she attempts to keep the peace and bond with other new mothers. Her husband (only listed as “father”) works away from home. During his couple of days off with his wife and child he fails to see the day-to-day tedium she is enduring.

As she becomes increasingly frustrated with her lot dogs start to be drawn to her and she starts to display canine and feral tendencies before eventually transforming into a dog to roam free at night. Returning home she has a new lease of life and is suddenly focused on what she wants and needs.

I haven’t read the book, and it is not clear here if her transformation is also in her head. But it represents a seismic shift for her.  Adams shines in the role, completely immersing herself in the difficult subject matter and is a tightly wound bomb full of anger and rage just waiting to explode. The darker side of motherhood is never discussed, and many women will no doubt be relieved to see it represented on screen.

This is extremely watchable but those who have first-hand experience of new motherhood will probably take more from it. It’s an interesting and thought-provoking take on post-natal life.