Nightbitch is a Visceral Depiction of Motherhood
A talented artist (Amy Adams) gives up her dreams to become a stay-at-home mother in Nightbitch. After taking care of her son almost exclusively by herself, she begins to resent her husband (Scoot McNairy) and the societal expectations put on mothers, leading her to connect with her primal instincts.
Nightbitch is one of those movies where it is best enjoyed by going in with little expectations or knowledge. That being said, this film will definitely be drumming up lots of conversation, so it is best to go see it in theaters as soon as it comes out. While the trailer gives you a little insight into the elements of the film, it is hard to picture how all of these things come together.
Amy Adams gives an incredibly vulnerable performance in this movie. As a mother, she depicts the constant state of feeling like you’re not doing enough, but also burdened by the overwhelming stress of being a sole caretaker. Parenting is not a job that you can just log off of at the end of the day and that can be an exhausting burden to carry while also loving and caring for a child so deeply.
As she descends into this mental spiral of questioning her identity and responsibility of parenthood, this mother taps into her animalistic side. Through dreams or dissociations, she becomes a dog, which allows her to break free of the expectations put upon her and separate herself from the title of mom. There are pockets of visceral body horror that coincide with the natural yet primal nature of childbirth. Whether this behavior is real or imaginative, it is an outlet she needs in order to cope with the demanding responsibility of creating and sustaining life.
Even if the more supernatural elements of the film don’t resonate with you, the idea of motherhood, resentment, and pent up anger are all captured authentically in this movie. Grocery store run-ins with other moms, bickering with an aloof husband, and even just trying to get a full nights sleep before the monotony of another day are all embodied in a realistic and palpable way. There are laugh out loud moments, heartfelt and heartbreaking scenes, and a feeling that every mother deserves to be championed for doing what is never asked, but always expected of them.
Nightbitch hits theaters on December 6.
