'Other Mommy' Review
Release Date: 10/09/26 [Cinemas]
Genre: Horror. Thriller.
MPAA: Rated R.
Distributor: Universal Pictures.
The Verdict: A Mistake
Rob Savage’s new film Other Mommy is the latest in a 2026 horror pack, though it does little to stand out. This year has set a high bar for horror. While Other Mommy boasted an exciting trailer, the movie deviates from expectations, delivering mild chills and leaning more into family drama. And ultimately does not make a splash in either case.
Based on Josh Malerman’s novel “Incidents Around the House,” Nathan Elston's screenplay stays mostly faithful while leaving out some of the bleaker, more powerful plot points. I suspect book fans will leave this film a little puzzled that the forces that be at Atomic Monster and Blumhouse didn't let the filmmakers go all the way.
For the rest of us who didn’t read the book, which treads more into child-cosmic fantasy than actual horror, we are likely walking away from Other Mommy wondering why the marketing was so misleading. The trailers boasted shocking and creepy moments, with reports of 50+ jump scares throughout the runtime. The final product is not so much a scary film as it is a suburban family navigating tropes of infidelity, marriage, and parenthood.
Jessica Chastain and Jay Duplass play parents Ursula and Russel to Bela (Arabella Olivia Clark), a young girl with an imaginary friend she dubs “Other Mommy,” an entity that manifests as Ursula's doppelgänger. “Other Mommy” talks with Bela at night, hoping to merge the two into one, a possession gambit Bela constantly rebuffs. Ursula and Russel have a strained marriage, hinted at subtly at first before becoming increasingly apparent. As the stress of their marriage continues, and “Other Mommy” turns more aggressive, the family is put in danger, running from “Other Mommy” to save Bela’s life.
The performances in Other Mommy are adequate. Jay Duplass gives a nuanced performance as a stressed father and husband; Clark’s turn as Bela is fitting and apt. Jessica Chastain, who has the most to do here and plays both roles, is strong as always. I can appreciate Chastain’s commitment to the genre, even though the film itself lacks depth and emotional investment.
Other Mommy is a fast-paced film that barrels through its 90-minute runtime, dotted with the occasional creepy moment. Some of those moments work, specifically during a critical sequence in an indoor playground and ball pit. Other moments feel silly and low-stakes. One such scene is a visit to Ursula’s mom, played by 80s icon Karen Allen, where the family entertains a crew of paranormal hunters trying to trap “Other Mommy.”
Other Mommy’s thematic issues drag it down from an average spooky supernatural flick into a boring jump-a-thon. This film wants it both ways, leaning heavily into horror while also exploring the complexities of motherhood, fear of safety, and loss of trust. The film’s breakneck speed leaves little room to absorb or reflect on those themes; the mild scares that pepper the script also rob the viewer of the urge to try.
A crowd of horror fans will still appreciate the atmosphere and compositions laid out by cinematographer Lowell A. Meyer. Some striking visuals that capture the cosmic feel tonally and smartly are interesting and fun. A few scary sequences and one gnarly kill may help those dedicated viewers carry this film over the finish line into memorable territory. I would not bet on it, though.
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