‘Nightbitch’ Trailer: Amy Adams Howls Into the Void of Motherhood for Surreal Thriller
Samantha Bergeson
Amy Adams isn’t shying away from revealing her “Nightbitch” nature.
The Oscar nominee leads the adaptation based on 2021 Rachel Yoder’s novel of the same name, written and directed by Marielle Heller. The film centers around a woman who pauses her career to be a stay-at-home mom, but soon her new domesticity takes a surreal turn.
“Nightbitch” was first announced in 2020 before the novel’s 2021 release. The novel description includes that Adam’s titular protagonist is an unnamed woman and former artist who grapples with parenting her two-year-old son with her absent husband (Scoot McNairy). Soon she becomes worried she’s turning into a dog while her husband travels full-time for his work.
The description includes: “As her symptoms intensify, she struggles to keep her alter-canine-identity secret. Finally jolted to action after an impulsive and disastrous encounter with the family cat, she seeks a cure for her condition in an herbal multi-level marketing scheme, a group of mommies all inexplicably named Jen, and Wanda White, a mysterious academic specializing in ‘mythical ethnography.'”
The feature is an Annapurna Pictures production in partnership with Archer Gray, Defiant by Nature, and Bond Group Entertainment. “Nightbitch” is produced by writer/director Heller, actress Adams, Anne Carey, Sue Naegle, Christina Oh, and Stacy O’Neil.
Heller formerly helmed features “The Diary of a Teenage Girl,” “Can You Ever Forgive Me?,” and “A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood.” She also appeared as an actress playing Anya Taylor-Joy’s adoptive mother in “Queen’s Gambit.”
Heller said in a press statement that adapting “Nightbitch” was reminiscent of first encountering “The Diary of a Teenage Girl” novel, saying the project was a “dream come true.”
Actress/producer Adams has partnered with Annapurna Pictures for “The Master,” “American Hustle,” and “Vice,” all of which landed her Oscar nominations, as well as “Her.” Despite originally being billed as a Hulu streaming release in 2022, “Nightbitch” will in fact debut in theaters.
Next, Adams will lead Taika Waititi’s novel adaptation of “Klara and the Sun” alongside Jenna Ortega. Author Kazuo Ishiguro will executive produce the film that follows an Artificial Friend named Klara (Ortega) designed to prevent loneliness. A mother (Adams) and her ill teenage daughter, Josie, purchase Klara, and the robot makes it her mission to save Josie and those who love her from heartbreak. In the process, Klara learns the power of human love.
“Nightbitch” premieres December 6 in theaters from Searchlight. Check out the trailer below.
