Other Mommy review roundup: Jessica Chastain is creepy, but critics say the horror falls flat
The horror film Other Mommy opened at number one at the US box office on 9 October 2026, but critics have been unkind. Most praise Jessica Chastain while finding the scares uneven and the film too goofy to be truly frightening.
The story (no spoilers)
Bela, an eight-year-old girl, lives in a house strained by her parents' troubled marriage. When something sinister begins to emerge from her bedroom closet, it takes a shape that looks a lot like her mother, played by Jessica Chastain.
As the presence grows bolder, Bela and her parents have to face what is really happening in their home.
Where to watch or download
Links go to official services only. Streaming services let subscribers download titles in their app to watch offline, on supported plans; stores let you buy a copy to download and keep. Availability differs by country and changes over time (checked 18 October 2026). ElysiumHub does not host files or link to unofficial downloads.
The verdict
Worth a look for Jessica Chastain fans or a group horror night in October; set your expectations low. Critics who disliked it say the trailers give away its best moment.
- 17%Rotten TomatoesTomatometer, 87 reviews, 18 Oct 2026
- 39MetacriticMetascore, 13 critic reviews, 18 Oct 2026
- 48%RT audiencePopcornmeter, 1,000+ verified ratings, 18 Oct 2026
What critics say
“Though Rob Savage's film cares little for reason, its unbridled rollercoaster momentum”
“After an admittedly great opening scene (one that's been completely spoiled by the trailers), ‘Other Mommy’ loses its charm.”
“Other Mommy is a horror film that never figures out its own identity.”
“Other Mommy is a hollow copy, as unconvincing a version of the real thing Other Mommy herself.”
What works
- Jessica Chastain is genuinely unnerving as the stand-in mother.
- A strong, energetic opening scene and rollercoaster pace.
What doesn't
- Jump scares are uneven and the tone tips into goofiness.
- Never settles on what kind of horror film it wants to be.
- Its best moment is spoiled by the trailers.
Universal released Other Mommy on 9 October 2026, and it opened at the top of the US box office with about $27.8 million, according to The Numbers. Critics were far less welcoming: the film holds a 17% Tomatometer score from 87 reviews and a Metascore of 39.
What critics liked
Jessica Chastain is the main draw. The Rotten Tomatoes critics' consensus credits her with a creepy turn as a sinister stand-in for an overbearing parent, and some reviewers enjoyed the energy that director Rob Savage, known for the lockdown horror hit Host, brings to the set pieces. The Daily Beast was one of the few clearly positive voices, carried along by the film's rollercoaster momentum even as it admitted the story makes little sense.
Where it falls short
Most critics found the scares uneven and the tone too silly to be truly eerie. Slashfilm praised a great opening scene but noted that the trailers had already given it away and that the film loses its charm afterwards. IGN said it never figures out its own identity, and Collider called it a hollow copy of better horror films. Slant compared its pacing to a run-on sentence.
Should you watch?
If you are a horror regular looking for something new, critics suggest lowering your expectations. If you just want a Halloween-season night out with friends and enjoy Chastain, the audience score of 48% suggests it plays better with a crowd than with reviewers. It is in cinemas now.
Sources
This roundup summarises the reviews and reporting below. Follow the links for the full pieces.
- Other Mommy critic reviews · Metacritic
- Other Mommy · Rotten Tomatoes
- Weekend Domestic Box Office Chart for October 9, 2026 · The Numbers
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