An overabundance of special effects and surface-level plots overshadow the strongest narrative moments of Other Mommy.
Sometimes the most unsettling character beats come from the words not said – the meaning that hangs in the silence and shadow. Other Mommy, from Blumhouse, is an interesting case where a film both succeeds and fails at hitting its objective. On the surface, director Rob Savage crafts an action-packed supernatural flick, one where the jump scares and special effects throw us into a roller coaster ride (both for its strength and its detriment). Other Mommy is a film that doesn’t let go of the gas pedal once it gets started.
On the other hand, Nathan Elston’s screenplay, adapted from “Incidents Around the House” by Josh Malerman, tiptoes around delivering the powerful hit. Beneath the surface, Other Mommy tells a gripping tale of family dynamics and a secret at the heart of the entity’s arrival. It’s both a horror blockbuster and a complex character piece. While the uneven tone doesn’t take away from its captivating fun and strong cast performances, Other Mommy feels imbalanced at times.
Other Mommy focuses on the terror that’s befallen the Martin family. Seven-year-old Bela (Arabella Olivia Clark) is being haunted by a strange entity who keeps asking to be “let into her heart.” Her parents, career-focused Ursula (Jessica Chastain) and unemployed Russ (Jay Duplass), initially doubt her, thinking it to be a game or hallucination. However, as they soon consistently encounter the entity – who wears the appearance of Ursula – the Martins must figure out how to save their daughter, and their family, in the process.
Trouble in the shadows.
Photo Credit: Universal Pictures and Blumhouse
The interpersonal dynamics of the Martins is the strongest thread throughout Other Mommy. Between every jump scare and creepy set piece, we have this family unraveling in front of us. The tensions between Ursula and Russ are palpable; you can feel the uneasiness growing, especially in the moments when they’re not interacting. And despite its surface-level treatment at times, the subtle nods help audiences to fill in the gaps. Other Mommy does a great job of establishing its family lore in the short time we have with them. It’s in those subtle glances and prolonged silences that paint the full treatment of this family.
The same goes for Bela’s interactions with every secondary character. Bela, even as a 7-year-old, notices everything; her reactions push the plot forward, capturing a real-life family dynamic. In turn, she sets the foundational horror for the film. Clark turns in a strong performance as the not-so-naive victim, steering clear of the “creepy kid” trope that horror loves so much.
Creature feature.
When it comes to horror and atmosphere, Other Mommy wastes no time. The film loves a jump scare, so prepare yourself if you get scared easily: An emerging hand, a trick of the shadows, a crash of the entity, etc. Paranormal and ghostly thematics are infused throughout the pacing, raising the tensions as the haunting becomes more vicious. The special effects, in particular, heighten the roller coaster momentum during the biggest attacks. For example, the scenes at the restaurant and the anniversary party seamlessly blend quick editing and effects, pulling us in every direction. Other Mommy leaves us unsure of what and where the entity goes next.
Chastain delivers a standout performance as Other Mommy, capturing both the façade’s serene gentleness and its creepy terror. The film hinges on the unsettling quality of its villain. While the entity doesn’t break new ground in the horror space, it’s still a fun and unnerving monster. The film’s tone emphasizes that we shouldn’t trust what we’re seeing, much to the disappointment of the entity. If the film launches a sequel, it’ll be interesting to see how the entity develops beyond its initial structure.
Hiding beneath the surface.
Photo Credit: Universal Pictures and Blumhouse
Other Mommy’s biggest issue suffers from an overarching problem. Specifically, the film’s inability to dive deeper beyond its surface-level plot. While the subtle nods build toward the character beats, Other Mommy relies too heavily on these tropes before the reveals. For instance, we know the film is heading towards a specific plot beat because the teases and nods telegraph the moment is coming. In its place, the film fails to make use of its potential, almost unwilling to explore the greater nuggets at the heart of the story. Instead, the priority seems fixated on delivering the action-filled horror set piece alone.
Why is Ursula’s mother so critical of the family? What is tearing the Martins apart? How did things get so far? Without giving any spoilers, many of the questions (including ones not mentioned here) require a level of filling the gaps yourself. Other Mommy alludes to the answers, but it never takes the time to explore the plot. The narrative is moving at a high-octane pace, so much so that everything else is being left in the dust. Not everything needs to be telegraphed or served on a plate, but audiences shouldn’t do all the heavy lifting.
The bottom line.
Other Mommy is an atmospheric, character-driven horror film that doesn’t know what it wants to be. On one side, it’s an action-filled flick with creepy encounters and scary set pieces, spotlighting an entity doing plenty of damage. On the other, there’s a juicy family drama hiding beneath the surface, dishing out little bits to fill in the gaps. Don’t get me wrong, Other Mommy is a fun time that keeps you invested from start to finish. However, the potential for a much stronger film is there, one that unpacks the levels of troubles that spurred on this intense encounter.
Other Mommy is now playing in theaters everywhere. Watch the trailer below.
Images courtesy of Universal Pictures and Blumhouse.
REVIEW RATING
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Other Mommy - 6/10
6/10
Justin is a fun-loving geek living in downtown Toronto, Canada. He’s an avid TV buff, movie fan, and gamer. He’s written for publications like Entertainment Weekly’s The Community, Virgin, TV Fanatic, FANDOM, The Young Folks, and his blog, City Boy Geekiness.
