Back in 1992, Rebecca De Mornay scared parents of nannies in The Hand That Rocks the Cradle. This movie showed a woman’s plan for vengeance and what she would do to get it. Now we have an updated version of the film starring Maika Monroe as Polly Murphy, a mysterious figure who weaves into the life of Caitlin Morales (Mary Elizabeth Winstead). 

The two women meet at a renters’ rights event where Caitlin is working. She learns about Polly’s landlord issue, and after leaving the event, Caitlin goes into labor. The movie fast-forwards a few months later, and we see Caitlin and her family going to the Farmer’s Market. They run into Polly at the market, who mentions that if Caitlin ever needs a babysitter, give her a call. This is not going to end well.

Similar to the 1992 version, Polly has an alternative reason for wanting to get close to Caitlin. This reason is not revealed until the third act. Before that time, we see Polly getting close to the other family members, husband Miguel (Raúl Castillo) and daughter Emma (Mileiah Vega). Polly also gets baby Josie (Lola Contreras) on her side, but she slowly does sinister things to the baby. As a parent, it is hard to see some of these moments, but it builds to what Polly has in store for Caitlin.

As the film continues, the motive is revealed, and some of that knowledge comes from Caitlin’s friend, Stewart (Martin Starr). He finds a connection with Polly that puts Caitlin and her family in danger. This leads to a tragic event that results in a life-or-death moment for Caitlin. As a mother who is stressed with work, raising two kids, and trying to stay sane, Caitlin is pushed to the edge in the film’s final moments.

The Hand that Rocks the Cradle tells a good story while not relying too heavily on the 1992 film. While the elements are the same, the antagonist in this version is not a jilted wife looking for revenge. The moments in this movie dealing with the difficulty of parenting are presented in a way that does not feel exaggerated. Little crumbs are dropped throughout the film for the audience to catch, but at times, some of these moments are missed. The film does some things just to be edgy, but they ultimately have no real outcome in the final moments.

Final Thoughts: The Hand that Rocks the Cradle is not exactly a remake, but it slowly burns a tale of revenge. Maika Monroe is sinister, and Mary Elizabeth Winstead’s vulnerability shines! There is a fun Easter Egg in the movie regarding Maika’s character’s name.

Violence: The film does have some violent imagery in the final act. The final image of Polly might be unsettling for young kids. The film is rated R, and we would advise that no child under 17 should watch this.

Kid-Friendly: As stated above, the film is rated R for language and sexual situations. This is not suitable for younger kids.

A hauntingly modern twist on the classic film, 20th Century Studios’ “The Hand That Rocks the Cradle” will premiere October 22, exclusively on Hulu. In the psychological thriller from director Michelle Garza Cervera, Mary Elizabeth Winstead stars as Caitlin Morales, an upscale suburban mom who brings a new nanny, Polly Murphy (Maika Monroe), into her home, only to discover she is not the person she claims to be.