Jessica Chastain’s “Other Mommy” Trailer Terrifies Audiences at “The Odyssey” Screenings

TL;DR

• Universal’s horror film Other Mommy debuted its first trailer during The Odyssey screenings this week
• The trailer features Jessica Chastain in dual roles as a mother and a sinister entity from a child’s closet
• Audiences reported genuine scares and discomfort during the preview
• The film opens October 9, 2026; directed by Rob Savage and produced by James Wan

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The Unexpected Jump Scare

So, Christopher Nolan drops The Odyssey into multiplexes this week, and somewhere between the epic sci-fi spectacle and the popcorn, Universal decided to hit audiences with something far more intimate — and far more unsettling. The first trailer for Other Mommy debuted in theaters with Nolan’s three-hour odyssey, and according to reports, it left viewers genuinely shaken.

The preview, which The Hollywood Reporter confirmed aired in theaters this week, showcases Jessica Chastain in a role unlike anything in her filmography. The Academy Award winner plays dual roles — Ursula, a mother grappling with marital collapse, and “Other Mommy,” a sinister entity that manifests in her daughter’s closet. The younger lead, Arabella Olivia Clark, carries the film as eight-year-old Bela, caught between two mothers who increasingly blur.

When A Trailer Becomes The Feature

The timing here is chef’s kiss, really. Audiences file into a theater expecting three hours of Nolan’s trademark spectacle and mythology. Instead, they get two minutes of domestic horror — the kind that crawls under your skin because it doesn’t need explosions or alien invasions. It needs a closet. It needs a child. It needs something that looks exactly like your mother, except it isn’t.

Bloody Disgusting reported that the trailer accomplishes something rare: real scares without spoiling the goods. That’s no accident. The film comes from Rob Savage (Host, The Boogeyman), who understands that what you don’t see kills you faster than what you do.

The Architects of Dread

Other Mommy is produced by James Wan, the mind behind Insidious, The Conjuring, and more recently, the box office phenomenon Obsession. Blumhouse Atomic Monster is handling production with Universal Pictures distributing. The film adapts Josh Malerman’s 2024 bestselling novel Incidents Around the House, written by Nathan Elston (Succession). The supporting cast includes Jay Duplass, Dichen Lachman, Arian Moayed, and Karen Allen.

The UK release date hasn’t been officially announced yet, though Universal typically brings October horror releases to British cinemas in early October. When it arrives, expect a BBFC certification — likely a 15 or 18 given the content.

October 9th Is Coming

Other Mommy hits North American theaters October 9, 2026. The film’s already generating serious anticipation before its official premiere — which is exactly what you want from a horror trailer. Audiences aren’t just intrigued; they’re actively unsettled. That’s the entire point.

We’ll keep you posted on updates about Other Mommy as its release approaches, including UK availability and trailer reactions.

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Related Reading

• Matthew Damon’s Set Screams Leave Robert Pattinson Rattled During The Odyssey Production
• The Odyssey Review: Nolan’s Epic Reaches for the Heavens
• Fiona Dourif Joins Cast of Horror Movie A Head Full of Ghosts

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Reported from publicly available interviews and verified press sources. Last reviewed July 23, 2026.