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A little girl sees her mother.
There’s just one problem.
It isn’t her mother.
That’s the nightmare at the center of Other Mommy, the new supernatural horror movie starring Jessica Chastain and directed by Rob Savage.
And with the movie arriving in theaters tomorrow, October 9, the first reviews are starting to appear.
The early reaction?
Not exactly what horror fans were hoping for.
But there is an interesting split developing around the movie, and that makes Other Mommy worth talking about before audiences decide for themselves.
What Is Other Mommy About?
Based on Josh Malerman’s novel Incidents Around the House, the movie follows Bela, an eight-year-old girl who encounters a strange entity that calls itself “Other Mommy.”
The creature looks and sounds like her real mother.
But it wants something much more disturbing.
It wants to get inside her heart.
Jessica Chastain plays both Bela’s mother and the terrifying entity, giving the movie one of its biggest hooks. othermommymovie.ca
And that’s a fantastic horror premise.
A child trusts her mother.
Then something wearing her mother’s face asks to come closer.
What could possibly go wrong?
Jessica Chastain Is the Big Attraction
There’s a lot riding on Chastain here.
She’s no stranger to horror, having appeared in Mama, Crimson Peak and It Chapter Two.
But Other Mommy gives her a particularly interesting challenge because she’s effectively playing two versions of the same character.
One is the mother Bela knows.
The other is something pretending to be her.
That creates plenty of opportunities for psychological horror.
And honestly, the idea of watching Chastain gradually transform from familiar mother into something completely unnatural is one of the strongest reasons to see this movie.
But the Early Reviews Are Rough
Here’s where things get interesting.
At the time of writing, Rotten Tomatoes has three critic reviews, and all three are negative. Rotten Tomatoes
The criticism is surprisingly consistent.
Some reviewers have complained about:
- Too many jump scares
- Unconvincing CGI
- Slow pacing
- An overcomplicated story
- A finale that doesn’t deliver on the setup
The Jam Report was particularly harsh, arguing that the movie’s supernatural effects and repeated jump scares undermine its intended atmosphere. thejamreport.com
That sounds bad.
But there’s an important caveat:
Three reviews aren’t enough to decide the fate of a movie.
The Tomatometer will almost certainly change as more critics publish their reviews.
Is Other Mommy Actually Scary?
This may be the most interesting question.
The trailer certainly created a strong reaction when it appeared in theaters earlier this year. Some The Odyssey audiences were reportedly so disturbed by the Other Mommy trailer that they warned others to look away. ABC News
But there’s a difference between:
“That trailer scared me.”
and
“The movie is actually scary.”
That’s what audiences will determine this weekend.
The concept itself is creepy enough.
A supernatural entity appearing as your mother?
A child who doesn’t know whether she can trust the person standing in front of her?
A creature slowly manipulating an entire family?
That’s good horror territory.
The question is whether the movie builds enough tension around that idea instead of simply throwing jump scares at the audience.
The Book May Make Things More Complicated
For horror readers, Other Mommy has another challenge.
The movie is adapting Josh Malerman’s 2024 novel Incidents Around the House, which already has its own fanbase. www.storytel.com
That means some viewers will arrive knowing exactly what kind of story they’re getting.
Others will go in completely blind.
And that’s probably the better way to experience this one.
If you haven’t read the book, avoid spoilers before watching the movie.
Especially anything involving Other Mommy’s true nature.
So, Is Other Mommy Worth Watching?
Right now, we’re saying: probably — but go in cautiously.
The premise is strong.
Jessica Chastain is an excellent horror lead.
Rob Savage knows how to create unsettling genre imagery.
James Wan is behind the production.
And the movie is only 93 minutes, so this isn’t a massive commitment. Rotten Tomatoes
But the early critical reaction suggests the movie may struggle to turn its fantastic premise into consistently effective horror.
That’s disappointing.
Because Other Mommy has one of the creepiest horror concepts of the October lineup.
GHorror Take
We’re still curious.
A horror movie doesn’t need perfect reviews to be worth seeing.
Sometimes the audience reaction is completely different from the critics.
And Other Mommy could be one of those movies.
The real test begins tomorrow.
Does the woman standing in front of Bela look like her mother?
Yes.
Is she her mother?
That’s the nightmare.
🩸 GHorror Question
Are you watching Other Mommy this weekend?
Definitely
The trailer sold me
I want to read the book first
Reviews changed my mind
Tell us what you’re expecting from it.
