NIGHTBITCH (2024) Hulu. Marielle Heller's adaptation takes the term for a female dog quite literally. As in Rachel Yorder's book, a working woman (Amy Adams) quits her career to take care of her baby son (twins Arliegh & Emmett Snowden). Called only “Mother”, she was an artist in the big city who has moved to the 'burbs with her supportive but oblivious 'Husband' (Scoot McNairy). Outwardly, she puts on a brave face, but as the days grow long, her inner thoughts grow increasingly miserable – and angry. Slowly, she becomes the title character, physically sprouting hair and becoming an actual Dog.
Perhaps it worked more smoothly in the novel, but Heller's screenplay and direction never feels whole. Balancing Motherhood and Career is clearly an important issue, but the serio-comic fantasy tone is both too much, yet not enough. There are scenes that may remind some of ALTERED STATES with Mother turning into a primordial beast, but Heller never lets it fly like Ken Russell did. nor, as a more recent comparison - Coralie Fargeat and THE SUBSTANCE.
None of this is a patch on Adams' performance. She put on weight, wears unflattering clothes and goes for a no-makeup look. More significantly, she displays a feral intensity that the movie overall, never comes close to. Jessica Harper has a nice supporting role as a sympathetic librarian, and Kerry O'Malley as Mother's mother. Readers of the novel have noted that the book was much more intense, and doesn't feel as soft and cuddly. Heller plays it too conservatively. It's toothless.
NIGHTBITCH is currently streaming on Hulu
Perhaps it worked more smoothly in the novel, but Heller's screenplay and direction never feels whole. Balancing Motherhood and Career is clearly an important issue, but the serio-comic fantasy tone is both too much, yet not enough. There are scenes that may remind some of ALTERED STATES with Mother turning into a primordial beast, but Heller never lets it fly like Ken Russell did. nor, as a more recent comparison - Coralie Fargeat and THE SUBSTANCE.
None of this is a patch on Adams' performance. She put on weight, wears unflattering clothes and goes for a no-makeup look. More significantly, she displays a feral intensity that the movie overall, never comes close to. Jessica Harper has a nice supporting role as a sympathetic librarian, and Kerry O'Malley as Mother's mother. Readers of the novel have noted that the book was much more intense, and doesn't feel as soft and cuddly. Heller plays it too conservatively. It's toothless.
NIGHTBITCH is currently streaming on Hulu
statistics: Posted by Joe Stemme — 1:25 AM - Today — Replies 3 — Views 277