Jessica Chastain’s new horror film Other Mommy is receiving a rough reception from the first critics to see it. Directed by Rob Savage, the film reaches cinemas on October 9, placing it in the middle of the spooky-season movie rush.
Chastain’s presence may attract curious viewers, but the early response suggests the film’s most effective material could have appeared in its marketing rather than the feature itself. For more entertainment and gaming news, visit the RETROCADE Arcade Blog.
The trailer may have revealed the best scare
Rob Savage has spent much of his career working in horror, and the first trailer for Other Mommy created substantial interest. Its standout image shows Chastain contorting as she emerges from beneath a table, a memorable moment that now appears to have set expectations especially high.
Universal Studios kept the film away from most critics before its cinema release. Only a small number of reviewers saw preview screenings, meaning the first wave of responses arrived shortly before audiences could watch the film for themselves.
Early reviews question the scares and structure
At the time of writing, Other Mommy has a 20% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. That score may change as more reviews are added, although the initial consensus is strongly negative.
Critics have pointed to awkward pacing, an uneven structure, insufficient build-up, underdeveloped mythology and horror moments that do not land. Some have also found parts of the film unintentionally funny rather than frightening.
One review argued that the film lacks the sustained dread needed to make its scares resonate, describing it as an attractive but hollow collection of sudden shocks and unfinished mythology. The Hollywood Reporter published that assessment.
Jump scares are a repeated target of the criticism. Fresh Fiction gave the film 2 out of 5 and suggested that anyone who has seen the trailer may already have encountered its strongest sequence. The roughly 90-minute film was also promoted for its unusually high number of jump scares, a detail discussed by NME.
The concern is not simply the number of shocks. Without enough tension between them, repeated sudden images can become predictable, leaving viewers braced for the next interruption instead of genuinely unsettled.
Another early reaction criticised the direction, score and screenplay, arguing that cheap melodrama and repetitive failed jump scares weaken a straightforward premise. It also suggested the book may be considerably better than this adaptation. Global Box Office shared that response.
Could it work as chaotic seasonal entertainment?
The poor early reviews do not necessarily rule out a viewing for audiences seeking an uncomplicated popcorn horror film. One critic called the experience an “unintentionally hilarious endurance test”, giving adventurous viewers a different reason to approach it.
Australian moviegoers planning an October horror night may want to set expectations accordingly. Viewers looking for carefully constructed dread could be disappointed, while those happy to embrace a messy, discussion-worthy cinema experience may find the film more entertaining than its reviews suggest.
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