Parenthood has never felt so primal—or so profoundly relatable—as it does in Nightbitch. This adaptation of Rachel Yoder’s 2021 novel is equal parts dark comedy, body horror and a howl into the night for anyone who’s ever lost themselves in the relentless demands of raising a child.
Amy Adams stars as “Mother” (yes, that’s her name—because, let’s face it, when you’re the default parent, that’s all you are), delivering one of her most visceral performances to date. As a stay-at-home mom whose identity and creative ambitions have been devoured by the monotony of toddler tantrums and snack-time negotiations, she captures the quiet rage of maternal sacrifice. When she begins to suspect she’s transforming into a dog, the film takes a surreal, darkly comic turn that still feels achingly real.
Marielle Heller’s direction is unflinching, framing the chaos of domestic life with a raw, almost claustrophobic intimacy. The piles of laundry, the fluorescent-lit grocery stores, the midnight cries of a sleepless child—it’s all so excruciatingly accurate parents will both wince and laugh out loud. But the brilliance of Nightbitch lies in how it doesn’t just capture the drudgery of parenthood but also its animalistic beauty: the fierce protectiveness, the moments of unfiltered joy, and the sheer instinctual drive to endure.
However, Nightbitch does stumble during its one hour and 39 minute runtime. The second half leans so heavily into its surrealism that it risks losing its emotional grounding. As Mother’s transformation becomes more literal, the film sometimes prioritizes shock value (e.g.: the hair scene) over nuance. While this wildness will appeal to some, it leaves less room to explore the quieter, more resonant truths about identity and motherhood that made the first half so compelling.
Still, Nightbitch shines when it’s at its rawest. If you’ve ever felt like parenthood was turning you into something unrecognizable—something wild, something free—then Nightbitch is for you.
RHFC Review: 6.5/10 🍿
