Jessica Chastain’s New Horror Film ‘Other Mommy’ Gets Slammed as a ‘Mess’ by Early Viewers

Jessica Chastain's latest terror flick is facing a chilly reception from early audiences. The Academy Award winner takes the lead in *Other Mommy*, an 80-minute spine-chiller helmed by director Rob Savage. However, those who managed to catch advance screenings are already issuing harsh verdicts before the film even has a chance to settle into theaters. Buzz surrounding the theatrical debut has taken a dramatic hit following an influx of negative online reactions. Despite high hopes for the project, early viewers and commentators have called the feature a chaotic misfire. Some hot takes have gone so far as to label the picture one of the most disappointing entries in Chastain's recent filmography.

The narrative brings author Josh Malerman’s 2024 horror book *Incidents Around the House* to the big screen. The plot follows an eight-year-old child named Bela, portrayed by young actor Arabella Oli. Things go from tragic to terrifying when a malevolent paranormal entity enters the household, perfectly mimicking the look and voice of her mother Ursula, played by Chastain. To build anticipation, director Rob Savage previously touted the movie's relentless pacing, revealing that the tight 80-minute runtime is crammed with no fewer than 50 jump scares. Chastain also teased fans online prior to release by sharing a behind-the-scenes look at how she developed the sinister, unnatural smile featured on her demonic counterpart.

BUZZBEAT

Despite the spooky premise and top-tier cast, early watchers feel the final product falls completely flat. Even though formal review embargos remained tightly enforced right until the official theatrical launch on Friday, movie bloggers and international reviewers who saw preview screenings took to social platforms to express their frustration. Many early reactions noted that the film attempts to masquerade as elevated horror but ultimately stumbles under the weight of its own ambitions. Critics argued that the movie relies too heavily on tropes seen in superior genre hits rather than establishing its own frightening atmosphere. For horror fans expecting another masterclass performance from Chastain, this latest release appears to be missing the mark.