It's a world where the strong eat the weak for the film “Nightbitch” at the Toronto International Film Festival.
Director Marielle Heller’s long-awaited comedy-drama had its world premiere Saturday at the Toronto International Film Festival, exactly five years after her previous film, “A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood,” premiered at the Canadian festival. Heller was joined by producers and writer Rachel Yoder (whose book the film is based on) and stars Amy Adams and Scoot McNairy. Twins Arlie Patrick Snowden and Emmett James, who play “the son,” wowed the audience with stuffed dogs and a message: “We hope you enjoy the film.”
Nightbitch is about a nameless mother, played by Adams, who takes a break from her acting career to become a full-time stay-at-home mom. After two years of motherhood, her home life takes a surreal turn.
“One of the great explorations in the film is this isolation that comes from [having children]“The transition of motherhood and fatherhood is something that is a shared experience, yet it is not shared,” Adams said during the Q&A after the film. “So to be able to share that with all of you, and to share it through the process of creating the film, is such a gift.”
The film, which explores the bizarre transformation of Adams’ character who might be a dog, has drawn laughs but also audible groans during graphic scenes of tail-cutting, menstruating in the bathroom and killing a house cat. While the film is set to open in the major awards category, Adams, who has six Oscar nominations, may have made a mistake in choosing her film “Nightpitch,” which received a somewhat “harsh” response.
Searchlight Pictures will likely focus its awards season on other projects, including Jesse Eisenberg's poignant emotional drama “A Real Pain,” starring Kieran Culkin, and the highly anticipated Bob Dylan biopic “A Complete Unknown,” directed by James Mangold and starring Timothée Chalamet as the folk music legend.
“Nightbitch” is scheduled to be released in theaters on December 6.
