A remake of the 1992 film, 20th Century Studios' The Hand That Rocks The Cradle, has a lot to say about childhood traumas, keeping secrets, and what happens when you don't do a thorough background check.
The Hand That Rocks The Cradle Review
When the original film debuted I was not in the right age group to watch it nor any of the other “domestic life can be scary” type movies that also came out in 1992. From Sleeping with the Enemy and Unlawful Entry to Basic Instinct, stalker-thrillers were a big draw. I meanwhile was content with Home Alone, Beethoven, and Disney movies. As I got older I knew about them thanks to countless references and the fact that millennials seemed to learn about things without the help of social media. Before watching the 2025 version I went back to watch Rebecca De Mornay worm her way into Annabella Sciorra's life. Although the remake ultimately plays it safe, it does attempt to go deeper into the trauma that fuels the characters.
The Hand That Rocks The Cradle has a lot to say about childhood traumas, keeping secrets, and what happens when you don't do a thorough background check. Honestly, that last part makes me laugh because who in 2025 would let a stranger near their children based only on the word of another stranger? Wouldn't be me but I digress. The film is a slow-burn, with the final face-off coming in somewhat underwhelming and definitely with a few head scratches. However, thanks to Mary Elizabeth Winstead and Maika Monroe who have good onscreen chemistry and solid performances, the film is intriguing enough to lure you in and keep you watching until the end. I just wish the themes of repressed trauma, misplaced anger, and the pressures of being a perfect mother were explored more in detail.
With some updates to the technology and turning the housewife into a lawyer, the plot is largely unchanged. A mom with two kids hires a younger woman as a nanny. In this case, Caitlin Morales (Winstead) is an overwhelmed attorney, wife, and mother who is hiding something traumatic from her childhood. This manifests in her need to protect her family from the dangers of sugar to microplastic. Along with a bout of postpartum and over all life stresses, Caitlin definitely could use some help. Enter Polly (Monroe), a young woman whom Caitlin meets via her firm. Polly needs a job and a place to stay. At first it seems like Polly “gets” Caitlin and the two become close, but Polly is also hiding something that puts Caitlin in danger.
Even if you went in blind to this film it is very obvious that something is off with Polly. Monroe's sly babysitter is not as explicitly evil as De Mornay’s character. Despite her background, revealed first in a story time to the children before more comes into the light later, viewers never sympathize with her. Sure it was horrible but perhaps a therapy session or three would've been beneficial. Winstead's Caitlin is equally nuanced and, at times, unlikeable (compliment). As a mother, I could feel for Caitlin struggling to do it all and be everything for everyone but at the same time…therapy. The actresses did a great job with their performances and as I mentioned, they are what kept my attention.
Director Michelle Garza Cervera (Huesera: The Bone Woman) and screenwriter Michael Bloomberg touch on some interesting topics but don't take the time to fully explore any of them. The big twist, what ties these two women together, is revealed a little too late (much later than the original film) to really matter. By that point you just want to see them fight it out without really caring as to why. Had the reveal come earlier, there would have been time to explore how people displace blame, creating false narratives that they believe to be the truth. During an impassioned conversation, the leads elevate the moment with their exchange but again it comes too late, as the conclusion of the story must swiftly follow. If we had gotten this early on, Polly's motivation and Caitlin's neurotic tendencies would have made their interactions all the more meaningful, building the tension until that pivotal moment.
Verdict
The Hand that Rocks the Cradle is a modern remake that keeps you curious thanks to Winstead and Monroe's solid chemistry and committed performances. This is a film that seemingly has a lot to say but never quite gets there, as the filmmakers choose to play it safe. It's a breezy enough watch and fans of the original will likely enjoy the updated story even if it is a little thin.
The Hand That Rocks The Cradle is now streaming on Hulu. It is rated R for some strong/bloody violence, sexual content and language with a runtime of 95 minutes.
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