Other Mommy Review: A Strong Concept Buried Under Too Much CGI

Director Rob Savage is back with his latest horror film, Other Mommy. Based on the novel Incidents Around the House by Josh Malerman, the story follows a seven year old girl named Bela who is caught in the middle of her parents' failing marriage. Things take a dark turn when a demonic doppelganger of her mother starts manipulating her. It is a terrifying setup that avoids the common trope of parents refusing to believe their child, as Bela's family quickly realizes they are being hunted.

The film succeeds most when it keeps things small and focuses on the emotional connections between the characters. Arabella Olivia Clark gives a fantastic performance as Bela, and her chemistry with Jay Duplass, who plays her father, adds real weight to the story. The script touches on complex themes like the cost of lying and how broken trust affects family dynamics. When the movie allows these moments to breathe, it feels like a genuinely chilling and effective horror experience.

However, the movie runs into trouble because it tries to be a big action blockbuster. Instead of letting the psychological tension build, the film relies heavily on bloated CGI monsters. The villain keeps transforming into digital monstrosities, which ruins the suspense and feels disconnected from the more intimate story at its heart. These loud action sequences are nowhere near as interesting as the quiet, character driven scenes.

Other Mommy is not a bad film, but it is a frustrating one. It had all the pieces to be something special, yet it keeps pushing aside its best elements for generic spectacle. You can catch the film in theaters now if you want to see for yourself how it balances these conflicting styles.