‘Other Mommy’ movie review: Jessica Chastain and Arabella Olivia Clark deliver creepy chills
The horror film 'Other Mommy', directed by Rob Savage and produced by James Wan, is reviewed as a layered, psychological experience. The film features strong performances from Jessica Chastain and Arabella Olivia Clark, though it suffers from some pacing issues in the second half.
Why it matters
This review provides cultural commentary on the current state of horror cinema and the effectiveness of specific production techniques.
It is October and time for scary movies to hit the cinemas. Rob Savage’s Other Mommy , based on Josh Malerman’s 2024 novel, Incidents Around the House , is a serviceable little horror film with just that touch of guilt and psychological underpinnings to make for a layered experience rather than a simple slice-and-dice affair. Malerman, incidentally, made his writing debut with the post-apocalyptic horror novel, Bird Box in 2014.
Produced by James Wan, Other Mommy tells the story of seven-year-old Bela (Arabella Olivia Clark) who lives with her working mum Ursula (Jessica Chastain) and stay-at-home dad, Russell (Jay Duplass).
After her parents put her to bed, Bela whispers for Other Mommy (also Chastain) to come out to play. And we realise that there is an entity that might not be wishing the little girl well.
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