OTHER MOMMY
Running time: 93 minutes. Rated R (some bloody violence and language). In theaters.
If you can, do yourself a favor and watch something else.
Here’s a little insight into how the industry works: When a studio schedules a press screening at 6:30 p.m. on a Thursday—after many places have already opened to the public—that’s usually a bad indicator.
Such is the situation with “Other Mommy,” an unfortunate horror movie featuring Jessica Chastain that, honestly, I just wanted to escape from after a while.
If you manage to sit through the whole thing, you might come out feeling a bit less sharp. I mean, you could accidentally walk into a glass door or try to pay for something with a library card. You know, basic math mistakes like 5 x 2 somehow equating to 7.
This film, directed by Rob Savage, has built up some buzz thanks to a creepy trailer. In it, Chastain plays dual roles: a suburban mother and a menacing dark counterpart who threatens a child.
One memorable moment from that trailer—a woman jovially cooking pasta for her child—actually ended up being the film’s singular successful scene. Spoiler alert: she’s not just mom; she’s Other Mommy! But, let me tell you, that’s where the chills stop. After that intense start, nothing follows—even with Chastain’s admirable but extreme intensity. I can’t really blame her for trying so hard.
Savage claimed there are about 50 jump scares, and honestly, that’s like boasting about using lots of trans fats in cooking. I counted a mere twenty-two, which raised a puzzling question: If no one jumps or feels scared, then what are we really calling jump scares?
The concept behind Nathan Elston’s screenplay isn’t exactly groundbreaking. We’ve seen the trope of sinister imaginary friends haunting children in movies like “Come Play” or even “The Babadook.” Those stories tap into fundamental childhood fears: What lurks in the closet? What’s hiding under the bed?
But in “Other Mommy,” the pressing question is: Did the filmmakers perhaps kidnap Jessica Chastain? The movie kicks off with a bizarre quote from Greek mythology, making it seem more like a biopic about someone historic rather than a flawed horror flick. This mythological reference, from Erebus—the god of darkness—relates to his desire to become human, mirroring the sinister Other Mommy’s wish as she resides in little Bela’s closet, awaiting her parents’ absence to strike.
Honestly, understanding the creature’s rules is tricky—is there any at all? Like in one particularly silly scene that attempts to channel Stephen King’s “It,” Other Mommy follows Bela into a fast food play area, and somehow plastic balls end up in their car, her bedroom, and even the ocean. It takes some real leaps in logic.
If you find the phrase “Other Mommy” grating, wait until you see the film—it’s what every character endlessly repeats.
Later on, a ghost hunter dramatically declares, “We’re not afraid of you, Other Mommy! Your fun is over!” Savage and Elston do sprinkle in attempts at backstory and drama, suggesting Ursula might be cheating on her husband with their friend Frank and highlighting the estrangement of her supernatural-obsessed mother, Ruth.
But none of these weak attempts at plot or Chastain’s dedication can cover up the glaring absence of suspense, pacing, or genuine fright. Within the first ten minutes, Russell and Ursula confront Other Mommy, showing no real skepticism about its existence, and making plans to eliminate it with an axe and a meat cleaver.
Like, who brings a knife to a god fight?
Before this ill-conceived climax, there’s a cringeworthy moment where Ursula tells her eight-year-old to “pick one” from a table covered in sharp, dangerous weapons.
Tempting, right?
