20 Most Disappointing Horror Movies of the 2020s (So Far)

Nightbitch is a film that near-instantly sold itself on premise and casting alone.

Amy Adams in a horror-comedy where she plays an overworked mother who transforms into a dog, based on a popular novel and directed by acclaimed filmmaker Marielle Heller? This is all gravy.

On paper this had the potential to be Amy Adams' Hereditary moment - a full-throated horror romp that would offer her one hell of an acting showcase, and with the Academy's slow-growing fondness for horror, perhaps even net her another Oscar nomination.

But Nightbitch was ultimately a totally fine film that fell far short of its promise, in large part because Heller dialled back the body horror aspect for a greater focus on relatively by-the-numbers motherhood drama.

Adams still manages to give a brilliant, firmly committed performance, but by neutering the sharper edges of Rachel Yoder's source material in pursuit of a more commercial adaptation, Nightbitch didn't do its inspiration full justice.

It's telling that, despite the film's A-list star and absolutely wild premise, it vanished into obscurity within a few short weeks of release.