Other Mommy horror film opens to strong box office projections despite poor reviews

The horror film ‘Other Mommy’, directed by Rob Savage and starring Jessica Chastain, has opened in theaters to a sharp divide between commercial success and critical reception. Based on Josh Malerman’s novel ‘Incidents Around the House’, the film features Chastain in a dual role as a mother and a sinister supernatural doppelgänger targeting her daughter, Bela.

While the film is projected to perform well at the box office, with estimates suggesting an opening between $17 million and $28.5 million, critics have been largely unfavorable. Reviews on platforms like Rotten Tomatoes have been low, with some calling it one of Chastain’s worst films. Common criticisms include a reliance on excessive jump scares—reportedly around 50 in an 80-minute runtime—uneven visual effects, and a lack of sustained tension or narrative depth.

Despite the negative reviews, the film’s production, involving Universal Pictures and Blumhouse, is expected to capitalize on the Halloween season to secure a strong financial start.