I watched Other Mommy last night, and I was hoping for more. Jessica Chastain plays two roles here, a mother named Ursula and the creepy double that comes out of a closet to terrorize her daughter. I love Chastain in horror. Remember Mama? So I had high hopes.

The effects were pretty good. The way Other Mommy moves gave me chills, and that’s the part I’ll remember. But the story is convoluted, and nobody ever explains it well. I kept waiting for it to click and it never did, so I walked out of the theater confused. I can’t tell you more without spoiling it, but if you like everything laid out for you, this one will frustrate you.

7:42●●● 95%

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Now, Ursula. She wasn’t believable, and she felt shallow. But I don’t blame Jessica Chastain. She’s a great actress, and I’ll watch her in anything. I blame the script. You can’t give an actress nothing to work with and expect magic. Here’s the weird part: I ended up rooting for the villain. When the “bad” mommy is more interesting than the “good” one, that’s a writing problem. I wanted to be scared for this family, and instead I was waiting for Other Mommy to show up again.

If you want a better movie about a mother and a creepy double, I’d point you to Mama or Us. If you’re a Chastain fan, or you just want to see some cool effects, give it a shot, but don’t go in expecting a great story.

Grade: C

Plot

A young girl, Bela, forms a relationship with a sinister entity in her home who looks uncannily like her own mother.