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Nightbitch (film)

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Nightbitch
Theatrical release poster
Directed byMarielle Heller
Screenplay byMarielle Heller
Based onNightbitch
by Rachel Yoder
Produced by
Starring
CinematographyBrandon Trost
Edited byAnne McCabe
Music byNate Heller
Production
companies
Distributed bySearchlight Pictures
Release dates
  • September 7, 2024 (2024-09-07) (TIFF)
  • December 6, 2024 (2024-12-06) (United States)
Running time
98 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Box office$170,737[1]

Nightbitch is a 2024 American black comedy horror film written and directed by Marielle Heller, based on the 2021 novel by Rachel Yoder.[2] The film stars Amy Adams, Scoot McNairy, Arleigh Snowden, Emmett Snowden, Mary Holland, Ella Thomas, Archana Rajan, and Jessica Harper.

Nightbitch premiered at the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival, on September 7, 2024,[3] and was released theatrically in the United States by Searchlight Pictures on December 6, 2024.[4] The film received generally mixed reviews from critics.

Plot

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Nightbitch follows an unnamed woman, referred to as Mother, who has paused her career as an artist to become a stay-at-home mom for her two-year-old son. As she navigates the isolating and monotonous aspects of motherhood, she begins to experience surreal changes, leading her to believe she is transforming into a dog.

Initially dismissing these symptoms as stress-induced and possible early signs of menopause, Mother notices physical changes, such as patches of fur on her body, heightened senses, growth of a tail (initially believing to be a pilonidal cyst that she self-lances), and the sudden appearance of six more nipples. Combined with this are flashbacks of her childhood, having grown up in a Mennonite society that she escaped as an adult that showed frequent disappearances of her now-deceased mother. Her husband, frequently absent due to work, is skeptical of her experiences, leaving her to grapple with these transformations alone.

Seeking understanding, Mother connects with a group of local women who introduce her to a book about mythical transformations, reinforcing her belief in her metamorphosis. Embracing her new identity, she adopts increasingly canine behaviors, finding liberation from societal expectations and a reconnection with her artistic passions. She has her son play with dogs and is questioned by her husband as to why he's sleeping in a dog bed or eating out of a dog dish. Eventually, her and her husband agree to a trial separation, with the Father getting temporary custody of their son while she works on an art project.

The film culminates with Mother fully embracing her dual nature, balancing her roles as both caregiver and artist. Her husband and son eventually return, and a final flashback to her youth shows her being comforted by her mother and implying that her transformation into a dog is genetic and that she acquired the transformation from her mother. It also implies that her son also inherited the gene. The film ends with her giving birth to her second child, a daughter.

Premise

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The film is a magical realism-style satirical story about a former artist turned frustrated stay-at-home mom who sometimes transforms overnight into a dog.

Cast

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Production

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In July 2020, Annapurna Pictures acquired the film rights to the then-unpublished Nightbitch, written by Rachel Yoder, with Amy Adams attached to star and produce.[5] Stacy O'Neil of Adams' Bond Group Entertainment production company co-produced the film alongside Megan Ellison, Sue Naegle and Sammy Scher, while Yoder served as executive producer.[6] Can You Ever Forgive Me? filmmaker Marielle Heller connected with Yoder's novel and began to quietly develop the film alongside Adams during the COVID-19 pandemic.[7]

In March 2022, filming was scheduled to begin in the fall of that year.[8] In May, Searchlight Pictures acquired distribution rights from Annapurna for $25 million, winning out from five other bidders.[9] At this time, Heller's involvement was officially confirmed. Christina Oh, Adam Paulsen, and Heller had boarded the film as producers, while Scher moved to executive producer with Havilah Brewster.[10] In June 2022, Scoot McNairy joined the film.[11][12] Production was intended to begin in September 2022 in Los Angeles.[13] It began in October 2022, with the announcement that Ella Thomas had joined the cast.[14][15] In October 2022, Mary Holland joined the cast.[16] Zoë Chao was also confirmed to be in the cast.[17]

Release

[edit]

Nightbitch was originally set to be released on Hulu,[18][19] but was later announced for a theatrical release by Searchlight Pictures for December 6, 2024.[20] It premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 7, 2024.[21] Nightbitch was released on the streaming service Hulu on December 27, 2024.[22]

Reception

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Critical response

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On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 59% of 187 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 6/10. The website's consensus reads: "As far as adaptations go, Nightbitch packs more bark than bite as the stellar Amy Adams takes on motherhood and the neighborhood in a rather conventional romp."[23] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the film a score of 56 out of 100, based on 52 critics, indicating "mixed or average" reviews.[24]

Accolades

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Award/Festival Date of ceremony Category Recipient(s) Result Ref.
Toronto International Film Festival September 8, 2024 Tribute Perfomer Award Amy Adams Won [25]
Sitges Film Festival October 13, 2024 Best Motion Picture Nightbitch Nominated [4][2]
Mill Valley Film Festival October 16, 2024 MVFF Acting Award Amy Adams Won [26]
La Roche-sur-Yon International Film Festival October 20, 2024 Prix Variété MadMovies Nightbitch Won [27]
Montclair Film Festival October 27, 2024 Director Award Marielle Heller Honored [28][29]
Chicago International Film Festival October 27, 2024 Visionary Award Honored [30]
Savannah Film Festival November 2, 2024 Outstanding Achievement in Cinema Award Amy Adams Won [31]
Michigan Movie Critics Guild December 6, 2024 Best Actress Pending [32]
San Diego Film Critics Society Awards December 9, 2024 Best Actress Runner-up [33]
Golden Globe Awards January 5, 2025 Best Actress – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy Pending [34]
Artios Awards February 12, 2025 Outstanding Achievement in Casting – Big Budget Feature (Comedy) Douglas Aibel, Matthew Glasner Pending [35]
Independent Spirit Awards February 22, 2025 Best Lead Performance Amy Adams Pending [36]
Best Editing Anne McCabe Pending

References

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  1. ^ "Nightbitch (2024) - Financial Information". The Numbers. Retrieved December 12, 2024.
  2. ^ a b "Nightbitch". Writers Guild of America West. December 12, 2022. Archived from the original on August 23, 2023. Retrieved August 23, 2023.
  3. ^ Jeremy Kay, "Toronto film festival world premieres to include ‘Nightbitch’, Elton John doc, ‘The Wild Robot’". Screen Daily, June 18, 2024.
  4. ^ a b Grobar, Matt (September 3, 2024). "'Nightbitch' Trailer: Amy Adams Goes Feral Amid Demands Of Motherhood In Searchlight Pic From Marielle Heller". Deadline. Retrieved September 3, 2024.
  5. ^ Fleming, Mike Jr. (July 30, 2020). "Amy Adams, Annapurna Pictures Team On Adaptation Of Rachel Yoder Novel Nightbitch". Deadline. Archived from the original on May 20, 2022. Retrieved May 20, 2022.
  6. ^ Vlessing, Ethan (July 30, 2020). "Amy Adams to Star in Nightbitch Adaptation for Annapurna". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on May 19, 2022. Retrieved May 20, 2022.
  7. ^ Kit, Borys (May 19, 2022). "Searchlight Teams With Amy Adams, Annapurna for Neo-Horror Nightbitch". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on May 19, 2022. Retrieved May 20, 2022.
  8. ^ Donnelly, Matt (March 25, 2022). "Sue Naegle Departing Annapurna as Chief Content Officer". Variety. Archived from the original on May 20, 2022. Retrieved May 20, 2022.
  9. ^ Grobar, Matt (May 19, 2022). "Searchlight Closes $25M+ World Rights Deal For Annapurna Neo-Horror Nightbitch; Amy Adams & Director Marielle Heller Team On Rachel Yoder Novel Adaptation". Deadline. Archived from the original on May 20, 2022. Retrieved May 20, 2022.
  10. ^ Sanchez, Gabrielle (May 19, 2022). "Marielle Heller's Neo-Horror Flick Nightbitch Starring Amy Adams is Finally A Go". AV Club. Archived from the original on May 19, 2022. Retrieved May 20, 2022.
  11. ^ Donnelly, Matt (June 27, 2022). "Scoot McNairy Joins Amy Adams in 'Nightbitch' (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Archived from the original on August 9, 2022. Retrieved September 2, 2022.
  12. ^ Squired, John (June 28, 2022). "'Nightbitch' – Scoot McNairy Starring Alongside Amy Adams in Hulu Horror Movie". Bloody Disgusting. Archived from the original on September 2, 2022. Retrieved September 2, 2022.
  13. ^ Jackson, Angelique (May 19, 2022). "Marielle Heller to Direct Amy Adams in Nightbitch, Searchlight Sets Hulu Debut". Variety. Archived from the original on October 13, 2022. Retrieved May 20, 2022.
  14. ^ Complex, Valerie (October 27, 2022). "Ella Thomas Joins Cast Of Nadine Crocker's 'Desperation Road'". Deadline. Archived from the original on September 15, 2023. Retrieved September 25, 2023.
  15. ^ Taylor, Amanda (October 12, 2022). "Amy Adams Spotted on the Set of Her New Film Nightbitch for the First time". People. Archived from the original on October 23, 2022. Retrieved October 14, 2022.
  16. ^ Grobar, Matt (October 21, 2022). "'Nightbitch': Mary Holland Joins Amy Adams, Scoot McNairy In Marielle Heller's Searchlight Neo-Horror". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on November 1, 2022. Retrieved October 21, 2022.
  17. ^ Kraft, Coralie (March 20, 2023). "Zoë Chao Identified With Party Down a Little Too Well for a While". The New York Times. Archived from the original on April 12, 2023. Retrieved October 6, 2023.
  18. ^ Bergeson, Samantha (May 19, 2022). "Amy Adams' Nightbitch Finds Hulu Home: Marielle Heller to Direct, Searchlight to Release Suburb Thriller". IndieWire. Archived from the original on May 19, 2022. Retrieved May 20, 2022.
  19. ^ Kroll, Justin (February 1, 2024). "Amy Adams In Talks To Star Opposite Jenna Ortega In 3000 Pictures Adaptation Of 'Klara and the Sun'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved February 1, 2024.
  20. ^ Stehan, Katcy (April 5, 2024). "'Nightbitch' Starring Amy Adams Lands December Release Date". Variety. Retrieved April 5, 2024.
  21. ^ Bergeson, Samantha (June 18, 2024). "Amy Adams and David Cronenberg Honored at TIFF 2024 as Festival Unveils First Programming". IndieWire.
  22. ^ Omotade, Lade (December 20, 2024). "'Nightbitch' Finds New Streaming Home Just in Time for the Holidays". Collider. Retrieved December 26, 2024.
  23. ^ "Nightbitch". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved December 14, 2024. Edit this at Wikidata
  24. ^ "Nightbitch". Metacritic. Fandom, Inc. Retrieved December 10, 2024.
  25. ^ "Tribute Awards". TIFF. September 8, 2024.
  26. ^ "Nightbitch". Mill Valley Film Festival.
  27. ^ "Palmarès: 15th Festival International Du Film De La Roche-Sur-Yon". www.fif-85.com.
  28. ^ Lewis, Hilary (September 19, 2024). Moody, Nekesa Mumbi (ed.). "Montclair Film Festival: Conclave to Open, The Piano Lesson to Close, Unstoppable as Fiction Centerpiece (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. ISSN 0018-3660. OCLC 44653726. Retrieved September 23, 2024. …Montclair Film will honor Nightbitch director Marielle Heller with the festival's Director Award, after a screening of her film about Amy Adams's mother character…
  29. ^ —. "The Montclair Film Festival Announces 2024 Opening, Closing, Centerpiece, Honors, & Creator Spotlight | Montclair Film". montclairfilm.org. Retrieved September 20, 2024.
  30. ^ Roche, Barbara (September 24, 2024). "60th Chicago International Film Festival full lineup and schedule". Reel Chicago News. Retrieved September 26, 2024.
  31. ^ "SCAD Savannah Film Festival Announces Additional Honorees". SCAD.edu. October 4, 2024.
  32. ^ "Michigan Movie Critics Guild Announces Nominees for the Best of 2024". SCAD.edu. December 6, 2024.
  33. ^ "AwardsWatch - 2024 San Diego Film Critics Society Nominations". AwardsWatch. December 7, 2024. Retrieved December 7, 2024.
  34. ^ Wiseman, Andreas (December 9, 2024). "Golden Globes Nominations Full List Revealed: 'Emilia Pérez' Leads In Film & 'The Bear' Leads TV". Deadline. Retrieved December 14, 2024.
  35. ^ Rice, Lynette (December 17, 2024). "'Wicked' & 'Gladiator II' Among Film Nominees For 40th Annual Artios Awards; Casting Nods Also Go To 'Saturday Night' & 'Moana 2". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved December 17, 2024.
  36. ^ "AwardsWatch - 40th Film Independent Spirit Awards Nominations: 'Anora,' 'I Saw the TV Glow,' 'Shōgun,' 'English Teacher' Lead". AwardsWatch. December 4, 2024. Retrieved December 7, 2024.
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