Jakarta, ThedailyID — Other Mommy, the horror film starring Jessica Chastain, has received harsh reviews from critics who say it fails to deliver a compelling story and lasting scares. Despite the negative reception, the film has performed strongly at the box office.
Released on October 7, 2026, the film scored just 16% on Rotten Tomatoes from 64 critic reviews as of October 13. The movie adapts Josh Malerman’s popular novel Incidents Around the House.
Director Rob Savage helmed the film from a screenplay by Nathan Elston, known for his work on Succession. Horror filmmaker James Wan, who helped build franchises such as Saw, Insidious and The Conjuring, served as a producer.
However, the prominent names behind the production have not shielded the film from criticism. Reviewers have questioned its storytelling, visual techniques and reliance on jump scares.
Katie Rife of Inverse argued that the film prioritizes flashy visuals and aggressive camera movements over storytelling. Meanwhile, Simon of RogerEbert.com described it as a vehicle for jump scares rather than a film with a substantial plot.
Benjamin Lee of The Guardian also suggested that the story could have delivered a quieter, more unsettling horror experience. Instead, he criticized Savage for relying too heavily on sudden shocks rather than building deeper, lingering fear.
Keith Phipps of The Reveal shared similar concerns. He wrote that the film gradually loses its tension as its supernatural threat becomes increasingly dependent on special effects.
Jacob Oller of The A.V. Club also questioned the film’s ability to create a genuine sense of danger. He compared its atmosphere to a haunted-house attraction rather than a horror story with convincing threats.
Critics also pointed to missed opportunities in the film’s emotional storytelling. Jake Wilson of the Sydney Morning Herald argued that its central idea, a child forming a bond with a supernatural entity resembling her mother, could have explored complicated questions about love and attachment.
Despite these criticisms, Nick Schager of The Daily Beast found some appeal in the film’s relentless pacing and surreal haunted-house atmosphere. He described it as an entertaining thriller for a Friday night at the cinema, even if its narrative logic falls short.
Commercially, Other Mommy has delivered a stronger performance. The film reportedly earned US$27.5 million in North America during its opening weekend, surpassing its US$18 million production budget.
With an additional US$17.69 million from international markets, its reported worldwide box office total reached approximately US$45 million. The results suggest that negative reviews have not prevented the film from attracting audiences.
