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Other Mommy (2026)

 

Other Mommy is directed by Rob Savage and written by Nathan Elston, adapting Josh Malerman's novel Incidents Around the House. Rob Savage has shown that he can make an effective horror movie, but this one struggles to deliver on its potential. The film has some genuinely creepy moments, yet it never manages to turn them into anything particularly frightening. The biggest problem is that the source material simply is not strong enough to support the kind of horror the movie is trying to deliver, and some laughable CGI only makes matters worse.

Jessica Chastain, known for Interstellar and The Eyes of Tammy Faye, plays both Mommy and Other Mommy. She does a great job handling both roles and gives the characters the distinction they need, working with what the source material provides. Unfortunately, the CGI occasionally undermines her performance, especially when the movie tries to make Other Mommy look terrifying. There is only so much an actress can do when the visual effects make a supposedly frightening moment look ridiculous.

Arabella Olivia Clark is easily the best part of the film as Bela. She knows how to emote remarkably well for a young actress, giving the character a level of authenticity that helps sell some of the film's creepier moments. She has also improved since The Housemaid, showing that she is developing into a capable young performer. Her work is one of the few things that consistently keeps the movie engaging.

Jay Duplass plays the weak male supporting character the writing gives him. The character never feels particularly strong or compelling, but Duplass does a decent job with what he is given. The acting is generally solid across the board, which makes it all the more frustrating that the story itself never rises to the same level.

The biggest issue with Other Mommy is that adapting a book still requires good source material, and Incidents Around the House simply is not that good of a book. The movie has a few creepy moments, and Jessica Chastain and Arabella Olivia Clark do what they can to make it work, but the story never builds into anything genuinely terrifying. Pair the weak writing with some laughable CGI, and you are left with a mediocre horror movie that has a few moments of promise but very little staying power. Result: C



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