Amy Adams’ latest movie “Nightbitch” has earned good reviews from critics after its premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival. The surreal drama-comedy, based on the 2021 novel by Rachel Yoder, stars Adams as a mother who thinks she’s transforming into a dog.
Directed by Marielle Heller, “Nightbitch” currently has a 72% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. This makes it Adams’ best-reviewed movie in almost ten years. Reviewers are praising Adams’ brave performance and how the movie exploresmotherhood and identity in a unique way.
One critic said the film is “a look at motherhood, isolation, and female anger, driven by Amy Adams’ fearlessacting.” Another called “Nightbitch” a “funny andsmart catharsis about being a woman and the loneliness of motherhood.”
Even though the story seems strange, reviewers emphasize the movie offers more depth than its unusual premise. One critic from Entertainment Weekly liked that the film shows “insisting on your own happiness and tightly holding onto it, not despite motherhood but along with it.”
The positive reviews are welcome for Adams, whose recent movies have had mixed reactions. “Nightbitch” is doing better than her last few films like “Zack Snyder’s Justice League” and the Oscar winner “Vice.” However, it has not equalled the strong reviews of earlier work like “Arrival” and “Her.”
Director Heller said during filming, Adams’ method acting surprised the canine actors. In one scene, Adams strangely stared at the dogs, which made them lunge at her. This nearly ruined shooting. Heller said “It almost destroyed the whole production.” This shows how demanding Adams’ performance was to portray a woman grappling with her perceived change.
Even with the festival success, “Nightbitch” faces challenges marketing its unusual story. Some reviews said the trailer fails to capture what critics liked. They urge people not to judge it just on promotions.
As “Nightbitch” prepares for its December 6th theatrical release, people will see if it can turn its festival buzz into commercial success. For Adams, it seems to be a bold choice paying off with praise, possibly returning her to past critical acclaim.
The movie also stars Scoot McNairy as Adams’ husband, who tries to support her through her strange experience. With a blend of dark comedy, drama, and commentary on modern motherhood, “Nightbitch” is shaping up to be one of the more unique films this holiday season.
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