Jessica Chastain's dual-role horror film Other Mommy, directed by Rob Savage, has become a major commercial success for the 2026 Halloween season. Despite its box office dominance, the film currently holds a dismal 19% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
The 19% Rotten Tomatoes score vs. Halloween box office dominance
The 2026 horror market is witnessing a phenomenon where commercial popularity and critical acclaim are moving in opposite directions. As the report states, Rob Savage's Other Mommy has dominated the theatrical landscape during the Halloween period, even as it struggles to find favor with reviewers. This disconnect often occurs in the horror genre, where visceral thrills frequently outweigh the need for narrative depth or technical perfection.
This trend suggests a "critic-proof" era for seasonal horror, where the spectacle of a major star like Jessica Chastain is enough to drive ticket sales regardless of a low Rotten Tomatoes score. The film, which adapts Josh Malerman's 2024 novel Incidents Around the House, appears to be the primary driver of this seasonal box office surge.
Gabrielle Moss’s 'hollow copy' critique and the ScreenRant verdict
The critical response to Other Mommy has been notably harsh, centered on its perceived lack of originality. According to the source, Gabrielle Moss of Collider gave the production a meager three out of ten, labeling the film a "hollow copy" of its intended inspiration.
Further criticism came from Josh Bate of ScreenRant, who suggested the film fails in its primary mission to terrify. Bate noted that the movie lacks scares, with the exception of the very first sequence, which he described as only "slightly creepy." This suggests that while the film is drawing crowds, it may be failing to deliver the lasting psychological impact often expected from high-profile horror adaptations.
Chastain’s award-winning pivot to 'A Most Violent Year' on Plex
For viewers who find the current critical consensus for Other Mommy unappealing, there is a high-quality alternative available via Plex. Starting November 1, the platform will offer the 2014 thriller A Most Violent Year for free streaming.
This film provides a stark contrast to the recent Rob Savage production, featuring a powerhouse cast including Oscar Isaac, David Oyelowo, and Albert Brooks .. the narrative follows a fuel supplier attempting to maintain his moral compass amidst a backdrop of rampant corruption and violence. jessica Chastain's performance in this earlier role earned her sginificant accolades, including Best Supporting Actress wins from the National Board of Review, the Utah Film Critics Association, and the Indiana Film Journalists Association .
The missing link between Malerman’s novel and Savage’s film
Despite the film's financial success, several questions remain regarding the long-term impact of its poor reception. it is currently unclear if the studio intends to leverage this box office momentum into a franchise or if the 19% Rotten Tomatoes score will hinder future marketing efforts.
Furthermore, the source does not clarify whether the negative reviews are a result of the adaptation process itself or the specific directorial choices made by Rob Savage. Whether the film's "hollow" nature is a temporary grievance or a permanent stain on its legacy remains to be seen.
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