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‘Other Mommy,’ ‘Whalefall’ and ‘Victorian Psycho’: The Authors Behind the Page-to-Screen Nightmares Compare Notes
Confirmed
In Short: The adaptations offer a spectrum of horror: 'Other Mommy' delves into psychological horror, 'Victorian Psycho' combines gothic horror with dark comedy, and 'Whalefall' presents a survival thriller with intense body horror.
October and November bring a flurry of theatrical and streaming releases, with horror authors Josh Malerman, Sarah Feito, and Tim Kraus discussing the adaptations of their books in a lively roundtable discussion with The Hollywood Reporter in August.
Malerman’s novel 'Incidents Around the House' is being adapted into 'Other Mommy,' starring Jessica Chastain and directed by Rob Savage. The film, based on Malerman’s book, explores intimate psychological horror and has been a topic of conversation at The Odyssey screenings.
Feito’s 'Victorian Psycho' marks her first adaptation, blending gothic horror with dark comedy. The film, which she wrote the script for herself, survived casting shake-ups and a studio exit to secure a Cannes premiere.
Kraus’ 'Whalefall,' adapted into a film directed by Brian Duffield and starring Austin Abrams and Josh Brolin, presents a survival thriller with intense body horror and visceral, claustrophobic elements. A six-minute sequence from the film was a hit at CinemaCon.
Feito notes that while the stories are reminiscent of something familiar, they feel original and refreshing for Hollywood. 'They combine different inspirations or references, or they feel purely original, and I think that’s refreshing for Hollywood,' she tells The Hollywood Reporter.
What this adds
The books themselves were released in quick succession, with Kraus’ 'Whalefall' in 2023, Malerman’s 'Incidents Around the House' (renamed 'Other Mommy' for the film) in 2024, and Feito’s 'Victorian Psycho' in 2025.
Background
Other Mommy is an upcoming American supernatural psychological horror film directed by Rob Savage and written by Nathan Elston. The film is based on the 2024 novel Incidents Around the House by Josh Malerman.
What's confirmed
- October and November bring a flurry of theatrical and streaming releases, with horror authors Josh Malerman, Sarah Feito, and Tim Kraus discussing the adaptations of their books in a lively roundtable discussion with The Hollywood Reporter in August.
- Malerman’s novel 'Incidents Around the House' is being adapted into 'Other Mommy,' starring Jessica Chastain and directed by Rob Savage. The film, based on Malerman’s book, explores intimate psychological horror and has been a topic of conversation at The Odyssey screenings.
- Feito’s 'Victorian Psycho' marks her first adaptation, blending gothic horror with dark comedy. The film, which she wrote the script for herself, survived casting shake-ups and a studio exit to secure a Cannes premiere.
- Kraus’ 'Whalefall,' adapted into a film directed by Brian Duffield and starring Austin Abrams and Josh Brolin, presents a survival thriller with intense body horror and visceral, claustrophobic elements. A six-minute sequence from the film was a hit at CinemaCon.
- Feito notes that while the stories are reminiscent of something familiar, they feel original and refreshing for Hollywood. 'They combine different inspirations or references, or they feel purely original, and I think that’s refreshing for Hollywood,' she tells The Hollywood Reporter.
What's still developing
- October alone brings a packed slate of theatrical and streaming releases before more nightmares arrive in November and December.
- Post Tags: # documentary # horror authors # josh malerman # to all the books BJ Colangelo is a green-haired Mouthy Midwest Broad in L.A. who works as an entertainment journalist, film theorist, media analyst, author, podcaster, sensitivity reader, host, interviewer, and consistent contributor to physical media releases because none of us are allowed to have one job anymore.
- Malerman’s books have been adapted into major films, including Bird Box, starring Sandra Bullock, one of the most-watched movies on Netflix (over 45 million views in its first week), and Universal Pictures’ upcoming Other Mommy, starring Jessica Chastain (based on Malerman’s Incidents around the House ).
- Over a lively roundtable discussion with THR in August, the authors discussed the upcoming adaptations of their books, their starry casts, the varied horrors they offer through their premises and divulge their fears while debating whose protagonist has it worst (hint: there’s still Geppetto trauma.) To start with an icebreaker: Between a supernatural threat invading a family’s home, a Victorian governess with a very dark secret and a murderous plan, and a teenager being swallowed by a whale, you’ve dreamed up some pretty terrible days for your protagonists.
- It’s only fitting that their film versions are now following one after another.