Other Mommy Review

Movie Review

Other Mommy

★ 5.5/10 Average

Director

Rob Savage

Cast

Jessica Chastain, Jay Duplass, Arabella Olivia Clark, Karen Allen, Arian Moayed, Dichen Lachman

Release Date

October 9, 2026

Verdict: A stylish but uneven supernatural thriller that leans hard on jump scares and dual performances, yet struggles to build lasting tension or emotional depth. Worth a casual theatre visit for horror fans who enjoy the ride more than the story.

Pros:

• Jessica Chastain’s committed dual role brings real intensity
• Young Arabella Olivia Clark holds the screen with natural presence
• Some inventive visual set pieces and early creepy moments

Cons:

• Jump scares become repetitive and lose impact quickly
• Thin story and uneven pacing leave little room for character or atmosphere

About Other Mommy 2026

Other Mommy arrived in theatres on 9 October 2026 as a mid-October horror release from the Blumhouse and Atomic Monster team. Directed by Rob Savage, known for earlier genre efforts, the film stars Oscar winner Jessica Chastain in dual roles and introduces young Arabella Olivia Clark as the central child. Early audience discussions on X, BookMyShow, and other platforms show a clear split: some viewers found it a fun, loud night out, while many others felt the final film fell short of its striking trailer.

The story follows eight-year-old Bela, who lives with her busy mother and more present father. Feeling lonely, she forms a connection with a mysterious figure that looks exactly like her mother. This presence, which she calls Other Mommy, starts out as a strange companion before growing more aggressive and disruptive to the family. The film keeps the focus on the child’s perspective and the growing threat inside the home, without dwelling on long explanations.

On X and similar platforms, the most common praise centres on the performances. Viewers repeatedly note that Chastain throws herself fully into both the real mother and the uncanny entity, delivering unsettling smiles and physical energy that stand out. Clark also earns frequent compliments for carrying large stretches of the film with a quiet, believable presence.

A portion of the audience enjoyed the rapid succession of visual set pieces and the occasional inventive scare, describing the movie as a solid one time watch for those who like straightforward genre thrills. The complaints appear just as consistently. Many posts describe the jump scares as overused and increasingly predictable, with several saying the film runs out of genuine tension after the first half. Viewers on BookMyShow and X often mention that the story feels thin and rushed, with limited character development and a mythology that never quite lands.

Some found the CGI and later sequences more silly than frightening, and a number of reactions pointed out that the trailer packed more impact than the finished movie. Overall audience sentiment lands in the mixed-to-cool range, reflected in moderate BookMyShow scores around the mid 6s and a low CinemaScore. Horror fans who enjoy loud, image driven movies and strong central performances will likely get the most out of a theatre screening.

The film works best as a group outing for those who do not mind a messy plot in exchange for constant visual energy. Others may find the weaknesses harder to overlook and prefer waiting for a streaming release, where the shorter runtime and lower expectations can make the experience more forgiving. The movie has moments of real commitment from its cast, yet it rarely sustains the dread or emotional weight its premise suggests.

Disclaimer: This review is based on publicly available audience reactions and discussions on X at the time of writing. Individual opinions may vary.