First reactions to Marielle Heller’s upcoming adaptation of Rachel Yoder’s novel, Nightbitch, have surfaced online, following its latest premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival. It stars Amy Adams as a former artist turned mother and housewife who gradually starts to bring out more of her feral side after feeling the exhaustion of motherhood. Things take a darkly comic turn after she starts believing that she may be turning into a dog. Yup, the film’s plot is a bit hard to digest!
However, it seems like Heller and Adams somehow managed to get the job done as most of the early reviews of Nightbitch are positive. In its mixed-to-positive response, IndieWire praised Adams’ performance and Heller’s direction but criticised the overutilisation of the actor’s voice in the background as narrator and limited focus on her relationship with the child, noting a deviation from Yoder’s novel.
By minimizing the body horror aspects of Rachel Yoder's novel, Marielle Heller crafts a story that's primarily focused on the impossible expectations of motherhood.
Read our #TIFF24 review for #Nightbitch: https://t.co/wCGoVtbEqP pic.twitter.com/IHcx8zGrfl
— IndieWire (@IndieWire) September 8, 2024
The Playlist has given a more positive review with special praise directed at the leading lady’s “committed performance.”
‘Nightbitch’ Review: Amy Adams Gives A Committted Performance In Marielle Heller’s Cathartic Look At Motherhood [TIFF] https://t.co/OOdSGIutIU pic.twitter.com/9WiGldUO5a
— The Playlist (@ThePlaylistNews) September 8, 2024
New York Magazine pointed out Heller’s brave attempt to bring Nightbitch’s “meditative quality” into light in its review. However, the platform also added that the movie focuses more on exploring a concept or idea rather than going for a conventional narrative.
The overarching meditative quality of ‘Nightbitch,’ which just premiered at TIFF, is at once its most intriguing element and its greatest shortcoming. It’s more of an idea than a movie. https://t.co/QLQzRR4CDU
— New York Magazine (@NYMag) September 8, 2024
Ross Bonaime from Collider believes that Nightbitch gets “a bit muddled at times” but benefits from the commanding performance of its leading lady.
And my #TIFF2024 review of Nightbitch!
Adams is expectedly fantastic in a film that gets a bit muddled at times, and could've been weirder, IMO!https://t.co/vp2kBznthT
— Ross Bonaime @ TIFF (@rbonaime) September 8, 2024
In its highly positive review, Entertainment Weekly sang praises for Adams’ strong feral performance and the movie’s original take on motherhood.
In 'Nightbitch,' Amy Adams brings a feral performance to Marielle Heller's original take on motherhood. Read Entertainment Weekly's review. https://t.co/1T9oiPWzpd
— Entertainment Weekly (@EW) September 9, 2024
On Rotten Tomatoes, Nightbitch currently stands with a ‘fresh’ 83% critic score, based on 18 certified reviews. Led by Amy Adams, the flick stars Scoot McNairy, Zoe Chao, Mary Holland, Jessica Harper, Archana Rajan, and more. It will arrive in theatres on December 6. Stay tuned for more updates. Check out its trailer below!
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