Other Mommy Review: Jessica Chastain Goes Full Pennywise In This Lackluster Horror Movie

"Other Mommy" asks a question that we've all pondered from time to time: What if Jessica Chastain was Pennywise the Clown? In this underwhelming but occasionally effective horror movie, Chastain plays a demonic monster just like Stephen King's horrific harlequin. She can shape-shift and alter reality itself, all in the name of a good scare (Chastain, of course, already has a Pennywise connection, having starred in "It: Chapter Two").

Adapted from Josh Malerman's novel "Incidents Around the House" (and let's be honest, "Incidents Around the House" is a much better title than "Other Mommy"), the film helmed by "Host" filmmaker Rob Savage and penned by Nathan Elston, is quite loud and frequently stylish, and Chastain, a consummate professional, is giving it her all as the monster.

But "Other Mommy" feels disjointed and rushed, and worst of all, forgettable. There are hints at something much better, and much more melancholy, beneath it all, but who has time for that when there are jump scares to be had?

Bela (Arabella Olivia Clark, quite good here as far as child actors go) is a 7-year-old girl living with her frequently absent mother Ursula (Chastain) and her cool stay-at-home dad (or "Daddo," as she annoyingly calls him) Russ (Jay Duplass). "Other Mommy" wastes no time getting to the horror, revealing that Bela keeps being visited by an entity she calls Other Mommy, also played by Chastain. A more predictable route would be for Other Mommy to only be visible to Bela, but "Other Mommy" cleverly subverts expectations and reveals that Bela's parents can see the monster, too.

Other Mommy keeps asking Bela if she can go inside her heart, which clearly can't be a good thing. The monster is bound by rules, however, and she can't achieve her goal unless Bela gives her permission. What she can do, however, is torment Bela and her parents, and anyone else unlucky enough to cross their paths. This leads to one big set piece after another as the family keeps running around trying to escape Other Mommy, only for Other Mommy to show up and wreck havoc and spread death (one of the most memorable moments has her making a character's head explode in slow-motion).

Lurking beneath the horror are domestic issues that, had they been further explored, might have lead to a stronger film. Bela's parents aren't exactly what you'd call "happily married," and Ursula in particular is harboring her share of secrets and resentments. So many movies portray parenthood as a wonderful, joyful thing, and "Other Mommy" is smart enough to suggest that maybe, just maybe, having a kid isn't all it's cracked up to be. I was particularly taken with the last shot, which hints at a kind of deep sadness I wish the film had examined more.

An VFX-heavy affair, "Other Mommy" unleashes plenty of ghoulish jump scares, with Chastain's Other Mommy altering her appearance in various spooky ways. Savage manages to wring some style out of all of this, especially in the way the film transitions from one scene to the next. But the creature work is never convincing or distinct enough to be scary, and Other Mommy is so consistently violent and monstrous that it makes you wonder why Bela thought she was friendly to begin with.

Still, there's some ghoulish fun to be had here. I particularly enjoyed a moment where the family turns to Ursula's new age mother (Karen Allen!), who brings in some paranormal researchers who prove to be not very helpful when all is said and done. And fans of Chastain will no doubt get a kick out of watching her crawl around on the floor covered in monster makeup while using a creepy voice. But after an admittedly great opening scene (one that's been completely spoiled by the trailers), "Other Mommy" loses its charm. There are much better horror movies you can go see right now.

/Film Rating: 5 out of 10

"Other Mommy" opens in theaters on October 9, 2026.