Nightbitch slides into theaters on December 6.
By Elazar Abrahams
You’d think a movie about a mom transforming into a dog would have some bite, right? Unfortunately, Nightbitch is just bark — a baffling misfire on nearly every level. I went into this film intrigued by its premise and left thoroughly disappointed.
The Searchlight film is about the frustrations of motherhood and the internal conflict so many women face when forced to put their own ambitions on hold to raise a family. The story follows Amy Adams as a mother grappling with the loss of her identity as an artist. As her everyday frustrations grow, she begins to believe she’s literally turning into a dog, from the furry patches along her back to an unyielding desire for raw meat. It’s a premise rich with metaphorical potential of balancing primal instincts with societal expectations but the execution doesn’t deliver.
The narrative, or rather, the lack of one, teases some potentially wild, dreamlike sequences but never fully realizes them. Instead of diving headfirst into its surreal elements, it opts for a “slice of life” approach that feels frustratingly directionless. Sure, things technically happen, and the characters have arcs, but the loose structure makes it all feel like an underwhelming experiment rather than a cohesive story.
Amy Adams does what she can, but even her talent can’t save this material. Poor woman… her eventual Oscar is starting to feel illusive at this point. She’s fine in the role, but there’s simply not enough for her to dig her teeth into. Adams deserves better, and so do audiences.
Then there’s the off-putting tone. The film oscillates between quirky comedy and raw drama but fails to commit to either. The moments that should feel rousing and intense just fall flat, and the attempts at humor land more in the cringe zone than anywhere else.
If there’s one thing the film gets right, it’s the kid. Whoever cast that adorable child deserves a medal because at least his scenes were watchable. But beyond that, Nightbitch is a slog. Maybe as a non-mom, I just didn’t connect with the deeper themes the movie was going for, but it really felt like the movie didn’t even connect with itself. This one’s a real waste of potential.
I give Nightbitch a D.
TV and City 