‘Other Mommy’ Review Roundup: Critics Praise Jessica Chastain but Are Split on Rob Savage’s Horror Film
Few horror releases this fall have arrived with as much buzz as ‘Other Mommy’. The trailer famously rattled audiences when it played ahead of ‘The Odyssey’, and Jessica Chastain’s viral demonstration of the creature’s unblinking smile on ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live’ only added to the anticipation.
The film comes with serious pedigree. Directed by Rob Savage, the filmmaker behind ‘Host’ and ‘The Boogeyman’, it adapts Josh Malerman’s novel ‘Incidents Around the House’ from a screenplay by Nathan Elston, with James Wan producing through Blumhouse-Atomic Monster.
Now that the first ‘Other Mommy’ reviews are rolling in, the verdict is far more divided than the marketing suggested. Critics largely agree that Chastain’s dual performance is the film’s biggest strength, but many feel the movie around her doesn’t live up to it.
Chastain plays both Ursula, a worn-down mother, and Other Mommy, the entity that slips out of her daughter Bela’s closet wearing her face. Across reviews, that dual role has been singled out as the best reason to buy a ticket.
Other Mommy _ Official Trailer 2026 https://t.co/rRDIwbIQDp
— 14KARAT Info (@Women4k25) August 5, 2026
Fiction Horizon called the film an uneven but watchable creature feature carried by a fearless dual performance, awarding it 6 out of 10. The reviewer admired Savage’s eye for unforgettable images and Chastain’s nerve, while admitting the story itself was less frightening than expected.
OTHER MOMMY is truly dreadful. Despite one of the silliest horror plots of the year and a woeful script, it takes itself so staggeringly seriously. An endless parade of ineffective jump scares, awful CGI, and a finale that drew unintentional laughter several times. #OtherMommy https://t.co/CUlRVdAUJe
— Doug Jamieson (@itsdougjam) October 8, 2026
Other critics echoed that sentiment. Several described Chastain as the anchor of the production, even when the screenplay falters. Not every review was so forgiving. Peter Gray of The AU Review gave the film 2 out of 5, describing a movie that makes a strong entrance but loses its way.
#OtherMommy: Despite that trailer and one surprisingly gory sequence, this INSIDIOUS-lite supernatural “horror” flick is more silly than it is scary. Jessica Chastain commits but that isn’t enough to overcome the stupidity. https://t.co/YIGqErTv6m
— Peter Gray (@ratedPDG) October 8, 2026
He credited Chastain for fully committing to the material but felt her effort couldn’t overcome the script’s problems. Another early review handed out 2.5 stars, criticizing the direction as sloppy, the score as unremarkable, and the mix of melodrama and jump scares as unsuccessful.
Some viewers on social media were equally blunt. A few compared it to a prestige-cast version of ‘The Boogeyman’, while others suggested certain moments felt borrowed from other horror films.
Our ★★½ review of OTHER MOMMY, A hot mess and a cheap attempt at mixing melodrama with failed jump-scares in one of Jessica Chastain’s very worst movies. https://t.co/gnXNuwSJgL
— Global Box Office (@GlobalBoxOffice) October 7, 2026
Savage previously told Entertainment Weekly that the film contains around 50 jump scares, depending on how you count them. He also promised a story steeped in paranoia about whether audiences are watching Ursula or Other Mommy.
Other Mommy (2026) Review! I don’t think there’s a post credit scene. #OtherMommy #JessicaChastain https://t.co/A8LN3ipQGw
— BlackoutBone606 (@BlackoutB0ne909) October 8, 2026
That approach appears to be dividing viewers. Fans of high-tension sequences may find plenty to enjoy, but several critics felt the reliance on jolts undercut the film’s creeping dread.
With the studio holding back reviews until the last minute, aggregate scores are still forming. Early Rotten Tomatoes listings showed too few reviews to establish a Tomatometer score.
Just saw Other Mommy. Quite a bizarre movie really, though I haven’t read the book yet. I think the first half was pretty good, but the second half becomes straight up absurd. Not so scary, but very hectic.
— FL | Arah (@ArahSensei) October 8, 2026
On Letterboxd, early audiences have given it an average of 3.19 out of 5. The film runs 1 hour and 33 minutes and is rated R for language and some bloody violence.
Despite the mixed reception, ‘Other Mommy’ is still expected to dominate the weekend. Deadline projects a No. 1 debut of around $20 million from 3,200 locations, against a reported net budget of $19 million.
Well, Jessica Chastain did the best she could & I won’t blame her at all. However, #OtherMommy is a pure mess and masterfully cringe, but it’s also a bonker fun if you truly want something to killing yr time on 3am. It’s like Rob Savage remaking “Boogeyman” with a prestige cast😕 https://t.co/87zwXAsZjO
— Herb Simon’s PR Manager 👑 (@HerbSimon1986) October 8, 2026
Horror has historically been kind to Chastain. Her 2013 film ‘Mama’ opened to $28.4 million domestically and went on to earn $71.6 million in the US. For now, the consensus seems clear on one point: Chastain is the reason to see ‘Other Mommy’.
Whether the film around her works will likely depend on how much viewers enjoy a jump-scare-heavy ride. Audiences can decide for themselves when the film opens in theaters on October 9.
Are you still excited to see ‘Other Mommy’ despite the mixed reviews?
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