8 Horror Movies That Are Even Scarier Than Other Mommy

Published Oct 13, 2026, 12:37 PM EDT

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Jessica Chastain can make an ordinary smile look downright sinister in Other Mommy. Playing both a mother and the supernatural entity impersonating her, the Oscar winner gives audiences plenty of reasons to fear what might be lurking inside their own homes. But there's a difference between a horror movie that makes viewers jump and one that leaves them genuinely afraid to turn off the lights.

Directed by Rob Savage and based on Josh Malerman's novel Incidents Around the House, Other Mommy arrived in theaters on October 9, 2026. The story follows young Bela (Arabella Olivia Clark), whose relationship with a mysterious entity that resembles her mother threatens to destroy her family. It's an unnerving premise, particularly given how easily the creature exploits the girl's emotional vulnerability.

Despite topping the box office during its opening weekend, Other Mommy has been savaged by critics, including Screen Rant, earning just 16% on Rotten Tomatoes. Much of the criticism centers on its reliance on jump scares rather than sustained tension. For horror fans intrigued by the premise but left wanting something genuinely terrifying, these eight movies deliver scares that linger long after the credits roll.

Horror comes in many forms. The greatest folk horror movies of all time use ancient beliefs and isolated communities to create dread, while The Ring turned an ordinary television into a source of nightmares. The Descent, meanwhile, makes crawling through a narrow passageway feel almost as terrifying as encountering the creatures waiting underground.

From supernatural classics to modern nightmares, these eight horror movies arguably deliver even greater scares than Other Mommy. Some are considerably more disturbing, while others achieve their effects through relentless suspense. All demonstrate just how frightening the genre can become when filmmakers refuse to let audiences feel safe.

The Conjuring (2013)

James Wan's The Conjuring remains one of the most effective supernatural horror movies of the 21st century. Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga star as paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren, who attempt to help the Perron family after terrifying events begin occurring inside their Rhode Island farmhouse. What initially appears to be a conventional haunting gradually develops into something much more dangerous, particularly for the family's five daughters.

Wan, who also produced Other Mommy, demonstrates a remarkable understanding of how to manipulate audience expectations. The infamous clapping sequence, for example, creates almost unbearable tension from an extremely simple setup. Meanwhile, the film's carefully staged encounters make the possibility of something appearing in the darkness feel constant. Where Other Mommy frequently reveals its creature, The Conjuring makes viewers fear what they cannot see.

The Ring (2002)

Gore Verbinski's The Ring turned an ordinary household appliance into one of horror cinema's most frightening objects. Naomi Watts stars as Rachel Keller, a journalist investigating a mysterious videotape said to kill anyone who watches it exactly seven days later. Her investigation gradually reveals the disturbing history of Samara Morgan, a young girl whose supernatural influence extends far beyond the recording itself.

The film's unsettling imagery remains extraordinarily effective, from the grotesque photographs of victims to the horrifying contents of the tape. Yet its greatest achievement is the overwhelming sense of dread accompanying Rachel's investigation. Unlike Other Mommy, which often telegraphs its next supernatural confrontation, The Ring allows its curse to hang over virtually every scene. Its bleak ending and unforgettable television sequence remain among the genre's most disturbing achievements.

Host (2020)

Before directing Other Mommy, Rob Savage created one of the most frightening horror movies of the pandemic era. Host follows a group of friends who organize an online séance during lockdown, only to discover that their supposedly harmless experiment has attracted something malevolent. Filmed entirely through computer screens, the movie takes less than an hour to turn an ordinary video call into a terrifying supernatural encounter. Savage later directed The Boogeyman (2023), another entry in the long history of Stephen King movie adaptations from the last 25 years.

Savage uses the limitations of the format brilliantly. Characters disappear from their cameras, unexplained movements occur in otherwise empty rooms, and viewers are frequently left scanning the background for something that shouldn't be there. The film's short running time leaves practically no room for relief once the haunting escalates. In fact, one study of audiences' physiological reactions ranked Host above Sinister. Other Mommy may have considerably more elaborate effects, but Savage's earlier film makes a convincing case that less can be much scarier.

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Event Horizon (1997)

Paul W.S. Anderson's Event Horizon takes supernatural horror into deep space, where a rescue crew investigates a spacecraft that mysteriously reappears seven years after vanishing. Led by Captain Miller (Laurence Fishburne), the team discovers that the ship's experimental gravity drive may have opened a gateway to somewhere unimaginably horrific. Sam Neill plays the increasingly disturbed scientist responsible for its creation.

Among the near-perfect '90s horror movies that remain essential viewing, Event Horizon stands out for its nightmarish imagery and almost suffocating atmosphere. Anderson combines grotesque visions with mounting psychological terror, making the spaceship itself feel malevolent. While Other Mommy relies heavily on sudden scares, Event Horizon delivers images that can haunt audiences for years.

The Descent (2005)

Neil Marshall's The Descent is already frightening long before its monstrous inhabitants make their appearance. Six women embark on a caving expedition that becomes a nightmare when they discover they're trapped inside an unexplored underground system. Sarah (Shauna Macdonald), still struggling with a devastating personal tragedy, must find a way to escape alongside her increasingly desperate companions.

Marshall makes exceptional use of the caves' narrow passages and near-total darkness, creating a level of claustrophobia that few horror movies have matched. Once the subterranean creatures begin hunting the group, the situation becomes almost unbearable. Having already earned a place among the greatest survival horror movies of all time, The Descent is particularly effective because it leaves viewers feeling trapped alongside its characters. Even without the monsters, the thought of being buried alive is terrifying enough.

The Exorcist (1973)

More than half a century after its release, William Friedkin's The Exorcist remains an extraordinarily disturbing movie. Ellen Burstyn stars as Chris MacNeil, an actress whose 12-year-old daughter, Regan (Linda Blair), begins exhibiting increasingly frightening behavior. After medical professionals fail to explain her condition, Chris reluctantly turns to the Catholic Church for help, leading to a confrontation with a malevolent supernatural force.

The film's most frightening moments emerge from the terrifying transformation of a child into something her own mother can barely recognize. Friedkin's willingness to combine grotesque physical effects with psychological torment gives the possession an almost unbearable intensity. Unlike the more fantastical supernatural displays in Other Mommy, Regan's deterioration initially resembles a medical nightmare. That grounding makes the eventual revelation of demonic possession even more horrifying.

Sinister (2012)

Scott Derrickson's Sinister is particularly effective at making audiences feel they've witnessed something they were never supposed to see. Ethan Hawke plays Ellison Oswalt, a true-crime writer who moves his family into a house where a horrific murder occurred. After discovering a collection of home movies in the attic, Ellison becomes obsessed with footage depicting the deaths of several families, unaware that his investigation is attracting the attention of a supernatural entity.

The grainy recordings are among the most disturbing sequences in modern horror, made even more unsettling by the film's deeply oppressive soundtrack. Derrickson understands that simply anticipating the next horrific discovery can be more frightening than watching it unfold. Sinister also makes the audience increasingly aware that Ellison's own family is in danger long before he fully recognizes the threat. Its combination of disturbing imagery and sustained psychological tension makes it considerably harder to shake than a conventional haunted-house movie.

Hereditary (2018)

Ari Aster's Hereditary makes audiences feel profoundly uncomfortable, in the best way possible. Toni Collette stars as Annie Graham, whose already troubled family begins experiencing increasingly disturbing events following the death of her mother. What initially appears to be an examination of grief gradually reveals a terrifying supernatural influence that has shaped the family's history for generations.

Aster's greatest achievement is the relentless tension he creates between the film's most shocking moments. A devastating family tragedy becomes the foundation for an increasingly nightmarish series of revelations, with ominous clues hidden throughout. Collette delivers a performance so emotionally raw that even ordinary conversations become difficult to watch. By the time the supernatural horror reaches its peak, the audience has already endured an extraordinary amount of psychological punishment. Hereditary offers almost no comfort, and its most disturbing images remain hard to forget.