The first wave of reactions to Rob Savage's new horror thriller Other Mommy has landed, and they are anything but kind. The film, which opened in theaters on October 7, stars Jessica Chastain in a dual role as Ursula and the titular entity, and early viewers are calling it one of the weakest entries in the Oscar winner's filmography. Social media buzzed with sharp criticism within hours of preview screenings, with one widely shared post labeling it bluntly as "Jessica Chastain's worst movie in a long time." That sentiment, while harsh, appears to capture a growing consensus among those who caught the first showings.
The premise, at least on paper, sounds like fertile ground for a Savage project. Young Bela, played by Arabella Olivia Clark, strikes up a bond with a malevolent presence inside her home that bears an unsettling resemblance to her own mother. What begins as a strange connection spirals into a dark and increasingly nightmarish world. Reviews suggest the execution falls short of that promising setup. Clocking in at just 93 minutes, the film moves quickly, but critics argue it wastes its cast and squanders a concept that could have carried more weight.
A Stellar Cast Left Adrift
Chastain leads a ensemble that includes Jay Duplass as Daddo, also known as Russ, alongside Dichen Lachman, Arian Moayed as Uncle Frank, Karen Allen as Grandma Ruth, Sean Kaufman, and Adam Silver. It is a lineup with serious dramatic credentials, which makes the lukewarm reception sting all the more. Several reactions pointed to the actors being underused, with Chastain's dual performance described as committed but ultimately trapped in material that never rises to her level. Duplass, a reliable presence in both indie drama and offbeat comedy, drew similar notes of underutilization.
Savage, who built a following with tightly wound, high-concept horror, appears to have divided his fanbase here. Some defenders praised the film's visual atmosphere and a handful of genuinely creepy set pieces, arguing that the director's knack for tension still shines through in isolated moments. But that minority view struggled to gain traction against the broader disappointment. The tone of the early discourse suggests a movie that may struggle to find its audience once wider release brings in casual viewers.
Release Timing and Reception
Other Mommy arrived in theaters on October 7, 2026, positioning itself squarely in the Halloween season corridor. That slot has historically rewarded horror titles with even modest buzz, and the studio will be hoping the genre's built-in audience turns out despite the rough early word. The film carries an English-language Hollywood production pedigree, and its 93-minute runtime makes for a brisk theatrical commitment, something that could work in its favor for viewers who prioritize efficiency over epic scope. The listed TMDb rating of 8.7 out of 10 stands in sharp contrast to the negative first reactions, though early platform scores often reflect a small, self-selecting sample and can shift dramatically as more viewers weigh in. It is a reminder that aggregate numbers and vocal social media opinion do not always tell the same story.
What This Means Going Forward
For Chastain, the response represents a rare misstep. She has spent years alternating between prestige dramas, franchise work, and the occasional genre swing, and that willingness to take risks has generally served her well. A single poorly received horror outing is unlikely to dent her standing, but it does raise questions about what drew her to the project and whether the dual role offered enough to justify the commitment. For Savage, the reaction is a more pointed test. He has cultivated a reputation as a filmmaker who can wring maximum dread from minimal resources, and Other Mommy was seen by many as a step toward bigger, more star-driven territory. If the film's commercial performance follows the critical trajectory, that upward trajectory could stall.
It is worth noting that first reactions, particularly in the horror space, are notoriously unreliable predictors of long-term reception. Genre films have a long history of being dismissed early only to find passionate audiences later, sometimes becoming cult favorites years after their initial release. The specific elements that frustrated early viewers, the thin characterization, the abrupt pacing, the sense of wasted potential, are not the kind of qualities that typically generate belated adoration. Still, a movie this strange and this committed to its unsettling premise may yet find its defenders among horror devotees who value atmosphere over cohesion.
For now, Other Mommy enters its opening weekend with more skepticism than excitement. Whether audiences agree with the early naysayers or carve out their own path to the film will become clear in the coming days. What seems certain is that the conversation around it will remain louder than the film's own box office ambitions, and for a title built on the idea of a sinister mirror image, there is something almost fitting about a movie that cannot escape its own reflection.
Source: The Hollywood Reporter
