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Nightbitch (film)

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2024 film by Marielle Heller

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 time98 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Box office$170,737

Nightbitch is a 2024 American black comedy horror film written and directed by Marielle Heller, based on the 2021 novel by Rachel Yoder. 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, and was released theatrically in the United States by Searchlight Pictures on December 6, 2024. The film received generally mixed reviews from critics.

Plot

Mother has paused her career as an artist to become a stay-at-home mom for her two-year-old son. Because her Husband is away on work trips most of the time, Mother is responsible for the majority of the caregiving for the hyperactive boy. Feeling isolated from her artistic identity and resentful of what she sees as the expectation to be friends with other mothers, she frequently fantasizes about lashing out at those around her. She begins to experience surreal physical changes, including patches of fur on her body, the growth of a tail and additional nipples, and heightened senses. Although she initially dismisses these developments as symptoms of emotional stress and perimenopause, she soon becomes convinced that she is turning into a dog.

She begins to dream about her childhood in a Mennonite society, including memories of her mother running on all fours and concocting stews with unusual ingredients. Seeking understanding, Mother goes to the library to check out 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 renewal of her artistic passions. She has her son play with dogs, eat from dog bowls and sleep in a dog bed, which calms him down and allows her to sleep through the night as she envisions herself transforming into a dog to run free. During these transformations, she kills small animals, including the family's pet cat.

When husband questions these developments, Mother lashes out at him over his insensitivity to her needs; he responds by telling her that he is disappointed in her for shutting him out. They agree to a trial separation while she works on an art project. Mother realizes that her mother also could transform into a dog, and that her son's rebellious and willful nature indicates that she has passed the animal trait to her son.

The separation allows Mother to harmonize her animalistic and artistic identities. Eventually the family is reunited. Mother gives birth to her second child, a daughter.

Cast

Production

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. 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. 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.

In March 2022, filming was scheduled to begin in the fall of that year. In May, Searchlight Pictures acquired distribution rights from Annapurna for $25 million, winning out from five other bidders. 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. In June 2022, Scoot McNairy joined the film. Production was intended to begin in September 2022 in Los Angeles. It began in October 2022, with the announcement that Ella Thomas had joined the cast. In October 2022, Mary Holland joined the cast. Zoë Chao was also confirmed to be in the cast.

Release

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

Reception

Critical response

On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 59% of 192 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." 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.

Accolades

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

References

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  2. ^ "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. ^ 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.
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  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.
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  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.
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  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.
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  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. Neglia, Matt (January 3, 2025). "The 2024 Set Decorators Society Of America (SDSA) Nominations". Next Best Picture. Retrieved January 3, 2025.
  36. 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.
  37. "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.

External links

Films directed by Marielle Heller
Annapurna Pictures
Annapurna Interactive
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