In the latest episode of The Wandering Screen, I discuss Nightbitch, directed by Marielle Heller and based on Rachel Yoder’s novel.

This surreal horror/comedy is a deeply human exploration of identity and the challenges of motherhood. Amy Adams stars as an unnamed woman—called “Mother”—who feels lost after putting her creative life on hold to care for her young son.

Struggling with isolation, frustration, and self-doubt, she begins to suspect she might be turning into a dog.

In my review, I discuss why Nightbitch may initially seem unrelatable, its strength in capturing the universal experience of trying to understand who you are when life demands constant change, and the most heartbreaking, powerful moment in film this year.

Letter Grade: B+

About The Author

Partner, Deputy Awards Editor

Matthew Koss is the Deputy Awards Editor at Awards Focus and a Senior Film and TV Coverage Partner.

He is the host and creator of the weekly YouTube series The Wandering Screen with Matt Koss, which features dynamic reviews of all the latest film and TV releases. His writing has also appeared in The Movie Buff, Voyage LA, and ScreenRant, and he is a moderator for post-screening Q&As.

Since joining Awards Focus in 2020, Matthew has interviewed A-list talent, including Academy Award nominee Maggie Gyllenhaal, Emmy winner Alex Borstein, and Lovecraft Country’s Jonathan Majors, across film and TV. He also appears on red carpets for major studios and film festivals, most recently with Netflix's The Crown and Hulu’s The Bear.

After moving from Melbourne, Australia, to Los Angeles in 2014, Matthew has worked in various areas of the entertainment industry, including talent and literary representation, film/TV development as a Creative Executive, and at film festivals as a Regional Manager. Matthew is also a screenwriting consultant, most recently partnering with Roadmap Writers, where he conducted private, multi-week mentorship consultations, roundtables, and monthly coaching programs.

Matthew is also a producer, and he recently appeared at the Los Angeles Shorts International Film Festival with his film Chimera, directed by Justin Hughes.

He continues to work with entertainment companies such as Warner Bros. Discovery, Zero Gravity Management, Sundance Institute, and MGMT Entertainment.

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