Amy Adams’ ‘Nightbitch’ Weirds Out TIFF: Dog Poop, Shower Menstruation

Its a dog-eat-dog world for “Nightbitch” at TIFF.

Marielle Heller’s long-awaited dramedy had its world premiere on Saturday at the Toronto International Film Festival, exactly five years after her previous film, “A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood,” debuted at the Canadian fest. Heller was joined by producers, author Rachel Yoder (whose book the film is based on) and stars Amy Adams and Scoot McNairy. Twin child actors Arleigh Patrick Snowden and Emmett James, who collectively play the role of the “son,” charmed the audience with stuffed dogs and a message: “We hope you enjoy the movie.”

“Nightbitch” follows an unnamed mother played by Adams who pauses her career as an artist to be a stay-at-home mom. Two years into motherhood, her domesticity begins to take a surreal turn.

“One of the wonderful explorations of the film is this isolation that comes from [having children], and the transformation of motherhood and parenthood is something that is a shared experience, and yet it isn’t shared,” Adams remarked during the Q&A section after the film. “So, it’s such a gift to get to be a part of sharing that with you all, and getting to share it through the process of creation of making the film.”

The film, which explores the strange transformation of Adams’ character as she may be turning into a dog, generated laughter but also audible groans during graphic scenes of tail-cutting, menstruating in the shower and the murder of a house cat. While the film is set to open in a prime awards slot, Adams, with her six Oscar nominations, may be barking up the wrong tree with “Nightbitch,” which has received a rather “ruff” response.

Searchlight Pictures will likely place its awards season focus on other projects, including Jesse Eisenberg’s emotionally moving drama “A Real Pain,” starring Kieran Culkin, and the highly anticipated Bob Dylan biopic “A Complete Unknown,” directed by James Mangold and featuring Timothée Chalamet as the folk music legend.

“Nightbitch” is set to open in theaters on Dec. 6.