Jessica Chastain is no stranger to transformation, but her latest role in Universal Pictures' Other Mommy takes horror to a whole new level. The Oscar winner stars as a mother whose 8-year-old daughter, Bela (Arabella Olivia Clark), is haunted by a sinister doppelgänger that emerges from her closet. Dubbed "Other Mommy," this entity wears the mother's face but with a chilling twist that has audiences talking.
In a recent interview with Collider, Chastain and her co-star Jay Duplass opened up about the film's most terrifying moments, the psychology behind Chastain's viral face, and the surprising decision-making process that led her to join the project. Directed by Rob Savage, known for the pandemic-era hit Host, the movie promises to subvert horror conventions while delivering genuine scares.
The Bathtub Scene and Other Scares
When asked which scene they're most excited to see with a packed theater, both actors immediately pointed to the bathtub sequence. "The bathtub scene is a knockout," Duplass said, adding that the film's first scare under the table is "so powerful" and comes early. Chastain agreed, noting that Duplass's reaction to it—"You going through the glass is great"—adds to the fun.
Duplass, who plays the father, admitted he didn't get scared as often as he expected during filming, but Chastain's performance changed that. "This person is scary as fuck when she turns it on," he said. "It's the face. They thought they might do something digitally or with makeup, but when Jessica did it herself, they realized they didn't need to do anything. When I first saw that face, it was very unsettling."
Creating the Face: It's All in the Psychology
So how does an actress create a face that's so disturbing it requires no CGI? Chastain explained that it's not about external mimicry. "It doesn't start external. It all starts from what is the character, what creates it," she said. Working with Savage, she delved into the entity's motivations—if it's holding on to this skin, this being—and let that drive her physical transformation. The result is a look that's both alien and deeply unsettling.
Chastain also revealed that she had just days to decide whether to take the role. "They said it to me on a Friday, and I had to make the decision by Monday morning," she said. She was in the middle of pursuing a master's in public administration, so scheduling was tight. But after a phone call with Savage, she was sold. "I found him to be so intelligent, really knows film history, has such a good eye," she said. "I was really, really excited to sign on because I believed in Rob, and he didn't prove me wrong."
Duplass, meanwhile, shared his own reasons for joining the project, which included a desire to work with Savage and the chance to explore a more grounded family drama within a horror framework. He also mentioned his role in Peter Farrelly's I Play Rocky, a project he sought out for its emotional depth.
For fans of Chastain's work, this performance is a must-see. If you're looking to revisit some of her best roles, check out our list of five nearly perfect performances. And for more on the film's director, Rob Savage, stay tuned—he's clearly a rising star in horror.
Other Mommy hits theaters soon, and if the trailer is any indication, it's going to be a wild ride. Just don't watch it alone.
