Movie Review: ‘Other Mommy’

(L to R) Jay Duplass as Daddo and Jessica Chastain as Mommy in 'Other Mommy', directed by Rob Savage. Photo: Universal Pictures.

In theaters on October 9th is ‘Other Mommy,’ which stars Jessica Chastain (‘Crimson Peak’) and is directed by Rob Savage (‘The Boogeyman’).

Other Mommy

"Your mommy won't save you."

RHorror

Audience

Release Oct 9, 2026Runtime 1h 33mBudget $18M

The cast also includes Jay Duplass (‘Sterling Point’), Karen Allen (‘Raiders of the Lost Ark’), Arabella Olivia Clark (‘Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere’) and Dichen Lachman (‘Jurassic World: Dominion’).

Initial Thoughts

Arabella Olivia Clark as Bela in 'Other Mommy', directed by Rob Savage. Photo: Universal Pictures.

It’s been something of a banner year for horror –– usually a box office performer thanks to a built-in crowd and often low budgets –– with the likes of ‘Backrooms,’ ‘Obsession’ and ‘Resident Evil.’

Yet here comes ‘Other Mommy,’ which feels like a throwback to lesser horrors that struggle to find much that’s new to say or real twisted pleasure in its turns.

Script and Direction

(L to R) Jessica Chastain and director Rob Savage on the set of 'Other Mommy.’ Photo: Universal Pictures.

Adapted by Nathan Elston from Josh Malerman’s novel ‘Incidents Around the House,’ ‘Other Mommy’ leans on a lot of familiar horror tropes. In fact, you almost get the feel of the screenwriter having watched a load of previousj Blumhouse and Atomic Monster and trying to put together a “greatest hits” of them. Sadly, it never quite works out.

Director Rob Savage, meanwhile, has a proven track record with the likes of ‘Host,’ but his last studio effort, ‘The Boogeyman,’ didn’t work as well. ‘Other Mommy’ has a few moments that work, but for the most part it’s a strained attempt to channel well-used plot points.

Cast and Performances

Jessica Chastain as Other Mommy in 'Other Mommy', directed by Rob Savage. Photo: Universal Pictures.

Chastain puts her heart into the dual role of a woman struggling with the idea of family and her supremely creepy doppelgänger, who is looking to insinuate herself into the life of young Bela (Clark) and her dad (Duplass).

Clark gives good scared kid, and shines later in the film, but everyone else has to deal with thin characterization.

Final Thoughts

(L to R) Arabella Olivia Clark as Bela and Jay Duplass as Daddo in 'Other Mommy', directed by Rob Savage. Photo: Universal Pictures.

Given that ‘Other Mommy’ features a demonic trickster pretending to be someone else, it’s ironic that the film pretends to so many other movies, to increasingly diminishing returns. The audience will likely turn out for it, but you might fare better staying home and watching other, better titles.

‘Other Mommy’ receives 60 out of 100.

What is the plot of ‘Other Mommy’?

‘Other Mommy’ is a trip into the darkening world of a young girl, Bela, who forms a relationship with a sinister entity in her home who looks uncannily like her own mother.