How Amy Adams’ ‘Nightbitch’ Compares to the Novel

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As a woman who has gone through the transformative journey of motherhood and can relate to the struggles and frustrations portrayed in “Nightbitch,” I must say that this film is a rollercoaster ride of emotions. The story hits close to home, and it’s both terrifying and liberating to see someone else going through the same metamorphosis that I experienced.

Nightbitch

The book made its debut in July 2021, and due to its significant influence and widespread appeal, it’s not surprising that a movie version is now appearing in cinemas just a few years after its initial release. When books get turned into films, there’s always the same question on everyone’s mind – how does the adaptation stack up against the original?

The Story of ‘Nightbitch’

In the core narrative of “Nightbitch“, a woman who used to be an artist but now stays home as a mom after having a baby, struggles to adapt to this new phase of her life. However, her adjustment becomes difficult when aspects of motherhood begin to exhibit themselves in unusual and seemingly impossible ways. To put it simply, the protagonist undergoes a transformation into a canine at night, and her maternal instincts become more ferocious and animalistic over time.

At its heart, “Nightbitch” explores the simmering anger and the sense of powerlessness that many women encounter upon becoming mothers. When a woman becomes a mother, it can seem like every other aspect of her individuality is erased – her past self, her achievements, and her interests all fade into insignificance. In this new role, she may feel reduced to simply being a mother to her child, losing sight of herself as a fully-rounded person with her own identity. This experience is particularly female, as men generally do not lose their personal identities in the same way after becoming parents – they retain their individuality outside the home and family.

This frustration and anxiety doesn’t take away from the love a woman has for her child(ren) – but this frustration isn’t really about the child, it’s about the rest of the world. It’s about protecting the child from a world that isn’t safe or secure, and it’s about the way that the world will try to contort a woman into the box labeled “Mother,” even at the expense of who she was or could be outside that box. Even if it means removing pieces of her to make her fit. This is the powerful dissatisfaction that led to the writing of Nightbitch and that drives the story as the audience watches along.

The Movie Adapts Its Story and Characters Well

As a dedicated film enthusiast, I must say that the movie adaptation truly captures the essence of its core concept, immersing us in a vivid world where this idea can unfold and intensify through clever use of ambiance and dialogue. For readers of the original work, you’ll spot many elements from Mother’s viewpoint, skillfully woven into monologues and narration that are faithful to the source material. Amy Adams delivers an exceptionally compelling portrayal of Mother, a character that resonates deeply with the one we encountered in the book.

In a similar vein, Husband and Son, given their roles in relation to the main character and her perspective on them, remain true to their literary counterparts. While Mother may be more fully developed, this alignment is fitting considering the narrative is told from the protagonist’s viewpoint and centers around her personal growth. As a result, all other characters are shaped by who they are relative to her and how she perceives them.

The essential scenes and main themes of the story are faithfully captured in the movie, despite its somewhat less detailed presentation compared to the book. Given the constraints of adapting a story into a film, such as time limitations and clarity, Heller did an admirable job of conveying the same narrative with the tools available to her.

The uncanny sensation during the instances when Mother undergoes her transformation, particularly when she becomes aware of it, is also portrayed truthfully in the book. These moments, where the ordinary collides with the extraordinary, are where magical realism shines the brightest. Heller did an admirable job of depicting this juxtaposition. Regrettably, if given the chance, she could have devoted more time and focus to that aspect of the narrative.

‘Nightbitch’ Is Too Reliant on the Source Material

It seems paradoxical that a flaw in an adaptation might stem from being excessively faithful to the original source, such as with the case of Nightbitch. When transforming a book into a different format, particularly a visual one, it’s crucial for everyone involved to understand what aspects need modification. Unfortunately, like numerous literary adaptations before and after it, Nightbitch encountered the pitfalls of excessive narration and the challenge of telling rather than showing the audience.

To put it simply, the storytelling techniques used in the book, such as dialogue and internal narration, didn’t quite fit when transferred to the screen. This is because filmmaking is a unique way of storytelling compared to writing, and the adjustments necessary for an effective cinematic adaptation were either overlooked or not implemented here.

If Heller had emphasized the bizarre instances where Mother appeared to lose her sanity during her metamorphosis, thereby moving further from her human nature, the movie could have been more impactful in expressing its core themes. It’s challenging to adapt such a distinctive tale due to the pressure for it to conform to a simpler, more linear narrative. However, the film would have been more captivating if Heller had permitted it to explore the darker, enigmatic, and fantastical elements of the story without restraint.

That being said, Nightbitch still feels like a highly relevant and important narrative. Although devoted fans of the original book might want to avoid the adaptation, there’s plenty within the movie that makes it worth checking out for viewers.

Nightbitch is currently in theaters.

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2024-12-09 01:03