Why 'other mommy' is Trending in India: Jessica Chastain's Horror Film Explained

The Surge in 'Other Mommy' Searches in India

On 8 October 2026, Google Trends recorded a significant spike in searches for "other mommy" within India, totaling approximately 5,000 searches with a 100% growth rate over a 24-hour period. This trend coincides with the global release of the supernatural psychological horror film of the same name, which debuted in the United States on 9 October 2026.

Film Overview and Production

Directed by Rob Savage and written by Nathan Elston, Other Mommy is an adaptation of the 2024 novel Incidents Around the House by Josh Malerman, the author of Bird Box. The film was produced by James Wan under his Blumhouse–Atomic Monster banner in association with Spin a Black Yarn. Principal photography for the project took place in Dublin, Ireland, between May and July 2025, with a reported budget of $19 million.

Cast and Dual Roles

The film features Jessica Chastain in a demanding dual role, portraying both the mother, Ursula Martin, and the primary antagonist, a supernatural entity known as "Other Mommy." Chastain is joined by Jay Duplass as the father, Russell ("Daddo"), and Arabella Olivia Clark as their daughter, Bela. Supporting roles include Karen Allen as Grandma Ruth and Dichen Lachman as an exorcist.

Plot and Psychological Themes

The story centers on seven-year-old Bela, who begins encountering a sinister entity that looks and sounds exactly like her mother. This entity, which Bela calls "Other Mommy," repeatedly attempts to manipulate the child and asks to be "let into her heart." The plot explores the breakdown of family stability, as the entity exploits the distance between Ursula's corporate career and Russell's role as a househusband.

Beyond the supernatural elements, the film delves into the psychological trauma of a child's lost security. In an interview with SYFY Wire, Jessica Chastain noted that the most frightening aspect of the movie is the violation of the parental bond, stating that the idea of a child's safe harbor being compromised is the core of the film's horror source 1.

Critical and Audience Reception

Despite the high-profile cast and production, Other Mommy has been poorly received by both critics and general audiences. As of 11 October 2026, the film holds a Tomatometer score of only 18% based on 56 reviews on Rotten Tomatoes source 3. Critics have described the movie as inconsistent, with some calling it a "schlockfest" and others criticizing its reliance on bloated CGI and ineffective jump scares.

Audience reactions have been similarly lukewarm; CinemaScore polled viewers who gave the film an average grade of "D+" on an A+ to F scale. While some viewers praised the special effects and Chastain's performance, many found the plot confusing and the scares lacking.