‘Nightbitch’ Is Wild, Unique, Bizarre and Very Refreshing

Is the drastic changes of becoming a mother something that all women adapt to with ease? Apparently not, if the main character of dark comedy horror drama Nightbitch is anything to go by.

Simply referenced as ‘mother’, this woman  once had a lucrative job as an artist until it was decided by her husband that she’d best stay at home as a full-time mother.

“I feel like I’m stuck in a prison of my own creation. I’ve become a person I don’t recognise, and my brain doesn’t function the same!” she states.

Feeling isolated from society, constantly tired, not enjoying the company of others and thinking that it’s pathetic to befriend women solely for the fact that they too have babies, she’s on a downward spiral mentally and physically.

She blames herself for everything bad that happens and asks whether she’s the worst mother in the world.

Her husband is always away with work, and he constantly reminds her that she should be grateful to be at home with her baby. She sadly comes to the realisation that she is the housewife she never wanted to be!

Does motherhood change women to the extent that it has a depersonalising effect where they feel entrapment within their relationship?

In this magical realism style of storytelling, she feels her canine teeth changing and a heightened sense of smell. She believes she is transforming into a dog – unleashing her primal urges and frustration at motherhood by becoming a wild dog running around at night – hence a ‘nightbitch’. Does everybody have an inner animal just waiting to be unleashed?

Nightbitch is a psychological journey through motherhood. Strangely described as a horror movie, audiences should soon discover that it isn’t. It explores a woman’s sense of losing herself as an artist, but especially as a woman. It’s dirty, tense, funny, wild, unique, bizarre and yet very refreshing.

The symbolic utilisation of human to creature transformation storytelling highlights this mother’s cry for help which falls on deaf ears. It also compounds to the shattering mental effect motherhood has on this woman who disturbingly claims she wants to be a monster.

This is such a relatable movie for all couples who have had children. Expectations are that the women should perform all the household duties while attending to the baby’s needs around the clock.

Resonating is that motherhood is encompassing, physically and mentally brutal, and unappreciated, shattering dreams that can lead to marriage breakdowns. Audiences should feel empathy for this mother.

Based on a 2021 novel by American author Rachel Yoder the movie was written for the screen and directed by Marielle Heller. Amy Adams is a triumph in the pivotal role, and it won’t be a surprise if she receives an Oscar nomination for best performance by an actress in a leading role. Scoot McNairy portrays her husband who is simply referred to as ‘husband’ and they complement each other’s performance.

This movie may be regarded as a cautionary tale. The message conveyed to audiences is that the job of parenting should be discussed in the final stages of pregnancy. Zero help from the father or an imbalance in parenting duties can have a negative and disastrous effect on relationships.

Nightbitch

***1/2

Available to stream on Disney + early 2025.