Other Mommy Review

On October 9th, Other Mommy came for audiences with the highly anticipated movie ripping into movie theaters, releasing all across the world.

Based on the bestselling novel, Incidents Around the House by Josh Malerman, the author of the blockbuster Bird Box franchise, fans of the book and horror enthusiasts are thrilled and highly anticipating the release of the movie. The horror story sets its eyes on Bella, a 7-year-old girl whose imaginary friend whom she names Other Mommy is constantly asking her if she could, “Go into her heart.” It may seem odd and harmless, that is until the entity begins mimicking her actual mother, making Bella question who she can trust and if her “imaginary friend” is really her friend.

The film stars the praised actress Jessica Chastain as Bela’s mother and Other Mommy itself, Arabella Olivia Clark as Bela, the young girl haunted by the entity, and Jay Duplass as Daddo, Bella’s nickname for her father. Released by Blumhouse, Other Mommy is directed by Rob Savage, who has directed popular movies like Stephen King’s The Boogeyman and Host. This movie is even produced by James Wan, who is known for blockbuster franchises like The Conjuring and Saw. Originally written by Josh Malerman, Other Mommy was brought to the screen by Nathan Elston, who created the script. When Other Mommy released in theaters, it came to surprising reviews.

Receiving a sad 16 to 20% score on Rotton Tomatoes, many audiences followed along with the critical reviews. Viewers stated that even though Jessica Chastain played her role well, they felt the movie was not very scary and relied on numerous cheap jump scares and a clumsy script. The film was also criticized for a shallow plot that lacked depth and had illogical elements.

The movie wasn’t all bad though according to some audiences. Arabella Olivia Clark’s portrayal of the 7-year-old child Bella was praised by critics for her realistic and empathetic acting scenes. The vivid and amazing camerawork for the film was also
praised for its creative filming segments paired along with a high-quality set for the film.

When asked about the movie, various students have their opinions on the matter. Paula Boniche, a junior, said, “As a huge fan of horror, I personally don’t find this movie scary, but if you’re easily scared it will be just for you.” As commented by Paula, the movie may not terrify a horror veteran, but if you’re new to the game, you better watch your back. Paula isn’t the only student to give her opinion, though. “The movie was great and terrifying. It was packed with jump scares and moments that made me jump out of my seat. Overall, I personally thought that this movie was a great and thrilling experience,” said freshman Nicholas Ruiz when asked about his review. This review shows that even though people may not like the movie, it can still swim happily in someone’s head. go, if you dare to, go face Other Mommy in theaters, and she might just terrify you.