Nightbitch (film)

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 time
98 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Nightbitch is a 2024 American black comedy body horror film written and directed by Marielle Heller, based on the 2021 novel by Rachel Yoder.[1] The film stars Amy Adams, Scoot McNairy, Arleigh Snowden, Emmett Snowden, Zoë Chao, Mary Holland, Ella Thomas, Archana Rajan, and Jessica Harper.

Nightbitch premiered at the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival, on September 7, 2024,[2] and is scheduled to be released theatrically in the United States by Searchlight Pictures on December 6, 2024.[3]

Premise

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The film concerns a magical realism-style story of a stay-at-home mom who sometimes transforms into a dog.

Cast

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Production

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Development

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In July 2020, Annapurna Pictures acquired the film rights to the then-unpublished Nightbitch, written by Rachel Yoder, with Amy Adams attached to star and produce.[4] Stacy O'Neil of Adams' Bond Group Entertainment production company will co-produce the film alongside Megan Ellison, Sue Naegle and Sammy Scher, while Yoder would serve as executive producer.[5] 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.[6]

Pre-production

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In March 2022, filming was scheduled to begin in the fall of that year.[7] In May, Searchlight Pictures acquired distribution rights from Annapurna for $25 million, winning out from five other bidders.[8] 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.[9] On June 27, 2022, Scoot McNairy joined the film.[10][11]

Filming

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Production was intended to begin in September 2022 in Los Angeles.[12] It began in October 2022, with the announcement that Ella Thomas[13] had joined the cast.[14][15] On October 21, 2022, Mary Holland joined the cast.[16] Zoë Chao was also confirmed to be in the cast.[17]

Release

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Nightbitch was originally set to be released on Hulu,[18][19] but was later announced for a theatrical release by Searchlight Pictures for December 6, 2024.[20] It premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 7, 2024.[21]

Critical response

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On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 65% of 72 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 6.0/10. 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."[22] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the film a score of 64 out of 100, based on 21 critics, indicating "generally favorable" reviews.[23]

Accolades

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Award/Festival Date of ceremony Category Recipient(s) Result Ref.
Toronto International Film Festival September 8, 2024 Tribute Perfomer Award Amy Adams Won [24]
Sitges Film Festival October 13, 2024 Best Motion Picture Nightbitch Nominated [3][1]
Mill Valley Film Festival October 16, 2024 MVFF Acting Award Amy Adams Won [25]
La Roche-sur-Yon International Film Festival October 20, 2024 Prix Variété MadMovies Nightbitch Won [26]
Montclair Film Festival October 27, 2024 Director Award Marielle Heller Honored [27][28]
Chicago International Film Festival October 27, 2024 Visionary Award Honored [29]
Savannah Film Festival November 2, 2024 Outstanding Achievement in Cinema Award Amy Adams Won [30]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Nightbitch". Writers Guild of America West. December 12, 2022. Archived from the original on August 23, 2023. Retrieved August 23, 2023.
  2. ^ Jeremy Kay, "Toronto film festival world premieres to include ‘Nightbitch’, Elton John doc, ‘The Wild Robot’". Screen Daily, June 18, 2024.
  3. ^ a b 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.
  4. ^ 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.
  5. ^ 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.
  6. ^ Kit, Borys (May 19, 2022). "Searchlight Teams With Amy Adams, Annapurna for Neo-Horror Nightbitch". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on May 19, 2022. Retrieved May 20, 2022.
  7. ^ Donnelly, Matt (March 25, 2022). "Sue Naegle Departing Annapurna as Chief Content Officer". Variety. Archived from the original on May 20, 2022. Retrieved May 20, 2022.
  8. ^ 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.
  9. ^ 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.
  10. ^ Donnelly, Matt (June 27, 2022). "Scoot McNairy Joins Amy Adams in 'Nightbitch' (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Archived from the original on August 9, 2022. Retrieved September 2, 2022.
  11. ^ Squired, John (June 28, 2022). "'Nightbitch' – Scoot McNairy Starring Alongside Amy Adams in Hulu Horror Movie". Bloody Disgusting. Archived from the original on September 2, 2022. Retrieved September 2, 2022.
  12. ^ Jackson, Angelique (May 19, 2022). "Marielle Heller to Direct Amy Adams in Nightbitch, Searchlight Sets Hulu Debut". Variety. Archived from the original on October 13, 2022. Retrieved May 20, 2022.
  13. ^ 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.
  14. ^ Ruimy, Jordan (October 5, 2022). "Marielle Heller's 'NightBitch' Has Started Filming in L.A." World of Reel. Archived from the original on October 17, 2022. Retrieved October 6, 2022.
  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. ^ "Nightbitch". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved November 5, 2024.
  23. ^ "Nightbitch". Metacritic. Fandom, Inc. Retrieved October 23, 2024.
  24. ^ https://tiff.net/tribute-awards
  25. ^ https://www.mvff.com/program/nightbitch/
  26. ^ https://37cw8.r.bh.d.sendibt3.com/mk/mr/sh/OycXxlTDIzvGSVSjuWhkuyUz/c8gchFUhAro5
  27. ^ 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…
  28. ^ —. "The Montclair Film Festival Announces 2024 Opening, Closing, Centerpiece, Honors, & Creator Spotlight | Montclair Film". montclairfilm.org. Retrieved September 20, 2024.
  29. ^ Roche, Barbara (September 24, 2024). "60th Chicago International Film Festival full lineup and schedule". Reel Chicago News. Retrieved September 26, 2024.
  30. ^ https://www.scad.edu/about/news-press-and-recognition/2024-10-04-scad-savannah-film-festival-announces-additional
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