'Other Mommy' Review: Jessica Chastain's Horror Film Lacks Scares and Logic

Jessica Chastain stars in "Other Mommy," a new horror film from director Rob Savage that has been met with a largely negative reception. The movie, which runs for 93 minutes and is rated R for some bloody violence and language, has been criticized for its lack of scares, incoherent plot, and overall dullness.

The film's promotional materials, particularly a trailer featuring Chastain in dual roles as a suburban mother and a sinister doppelgänger, generated initial anticipation. However, according to critics, the movie fails to deliver on this promise. The sole moment of perceived success highlighted in early reviews is a scene where a woman, revealed to be the malevolent "Other Mommy," unnerves a child while preparing pasta. After this initial scene, the film reportedly offers little in the way of genuine frights.

Director Rob Savage and screenwriter Nathan Elston have been noted for their claim of numerous jump scares in the film. However, reviews suggest the actual number is far lower and that these attempts at startling the audience are largely ineffective. The premise of a malevolent entity haunting a child echoes themes found in other horror films such as "Come Play" and "The Babadook," which explore primal childhood fears.

"Other Mommy" reportedly introduces its central conflict early on, with the parents, Ursula and Russell (Chastain and Jay Duplass), discovering the existence of Other Mommy within the first 10 minutes. Despite this immediate revelation, the narrative struggles with its own internal logic. The creature's abilities and motivations are described as difficult to grasp, with examples cited including the unexplained teleportation of objects like plastic balls from a fast-food play area into a car, a bedroom, and even the ocean.

Attempts to add dramatic depth through subplots, such as Ursula's marital infidelity and her strained relationship with her supernatural-obsessed mother, are also deemed feeble and insufficient to salvage the film. Critics have pointed to Chastain's committed performance as a bright spot, but even her efforts cannot overcome the perceived shortcomings in pacing, build-up, and overall fright.

The film's climax involves characters resorting to mundane weapons like an axe and a meat cleaver in an attempt to combat a supernatural entity, a detail that has been met with bewilderment. The decision to have a young child instructed to choose a weapon from a table of sharp objects has also been noted as questionable.

"Other Mommy" was reportedly screened for critics late on a Thursday evening, a timing often interpreted as a negative indicator for a film's prospects. The consensus from initial reviews suggests that the film is an unscary and unintelligent entry into the horror genre.