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Movies / On DVD / The Hand That Rocks the Cradle
The Hand That Rocks the Cradle

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The Hand That Rocks the Cradle (1992)

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Reviews Counted:31

Fresh:17

Rotten:14

Average Rating:5.6/10

Runtime: 1 hr 50 mins

Genre: Dramas

Synopsis: Rebecca De Mornay stars as a nanny with an evil agenda in this psychological thriller directed by Curtis Hanson (L.A. CONFIDENTIAL). When her new obstetrician Dr. Mott (John DeLancie), touches... Rebecca De Mornay stars as a nanny with an evil agenda in this psychological thriller directed by Curtis Hanson (L.A. CONFIDENTIAL). When her new obstetrician Dr. Mott (John DeLancie), touches Claire Bartel (Annabella Sciorra) inappropriately during an exam, Claire reports him. The scandal ultimately causes Dr. Mott's suicide and his wife's miscarriage. Determined to have both a child and revenge, Mrs. Mott (De Mornay), now going by the name Peyton Flanders, poses as the perfect nanny and is hired by Claire and her husband, Michael (Matt McCoy), to care for their young daughter, Emma (Madeline Zima), and infant son. Seemingly sweet and helpful, Peyton slowly infiltrates the family's world. Once she has gained their trust, she begins to wreak havoc in their lives. Claire begins to doubt her husband's fidelity, her abilities as a mother, and virtually every other aspect of her life--including her sanity--as Peyton deliberately tries to ruin her life and replace her as a wife and mother. De Mornay is a delicious villain--all sugar and spice in front of the family but positively venomous when plotting and executing her revenge. Director Hanson crafts his thriller with great skill and attention to character, making this a must-see. [More]

Starring: Rebecca De Mornay, Annabella Sciorra, Matt McCoy, Ernie Hudson

Starring: Rebecca De Mornay, Annabella Sciorra, Matt McCoy, Ernie Hudson, Julianne Moore, Madeline Zima, John DeLancie

Director: Curtis Hanson

Director: Curtis Hanson
Screenwriter: Amanda Silver
Producer: David Madden
Composer: Graeme Revell

[See More Credits]

Reviews for The Hand That Rocks the Cradle

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1 - 20 (sorted by comments; UK critics are listed first)
Text View | 1 2 >> >|
Arrange By:Fresh | Rotten | Comments | Name | Source | Date
 
 

As the film progresses, malicious schemes and loony excesses are combined, with Hanson's self-conscious direction rendering one particularly sensational murder even more implausible.

Full Review Source: Time Out | comment Comment
02/09/06
Time Out
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

De Mornay seems to have found her true vocation playing the nanny from hell, but while the ensuing thrills may well be enjoyed by many, anyone with offspring of their own would be wise to stay away.

Full Review Source: Channel 4 Film | comment Comment
04/14/08
Channel 4 Film
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

A unexpected pleasure to watch, disturbing for new parents, slightly silly but ever so enjoyable.

Full Review Source: Empire Magazine | comment Comment
01/01/00
Barry McIlheney
Barry McIlheney
Empire Magazine
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

This jovially sinister, middle-class morality tale-cum-horror show is predictable, implausible and fiendishly entertaining.

Full Review Source: TV Guide's Movie Guide | comment Comment
04/14/08
TV Guide's Movie Guide
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

No review available.

comment Comment
05/08/03
Brandon Judell
Brandon Judell
PopcornQ

No review available.

comment Comment
04/10/03
Brian J. Arthurs
Brian J. Arthurs
Beach Reporter (Southern California)

Eventually the film strangles on its own conventions.

Full Review Source: Deseret News, Salt Lake City | comment Comment
01/01/00
Chris Hicks
Chris Hicks
Deseret News, Salt Lake City

No review available.

comment Comment
05/07/07
Chuck O'Leary
Chuck O'Leary
FulvueDrive-in.com

Lots of Fun, Lots of thrills

comment Comment
03/04/04
Clint Morris
Clint Morris
Moviehole

Great suspense thriller.

comment Comment
11/14/05
Cole Smithey
Cole Smithey
ColeSmithey.com
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Newsweek | comment Comment
10/18/08
David Ansen
David Ansen
Newsweek

Touted as Fatal Attraction for the 1990s, this well-directed thrille (by Curtis Hanson) also features a blonde sociopath, except that the terror in of the family in this yarn is from within.

Full Review Source: EmanuelLevy.Com | comment Comment
10/10/06
Emanuel Levy
Emanuel Levy
EmanuelLevy.Com

No review available.

comment Comment
03/27/04
Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat
Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat
Spirituality and Practice

No review available.

comment Comment
08/04/05
Jake Euker
Jake Euker
F5 (Wichita, KS)

[An] entertaining psychodrama with a hissable villain and some satisfactory scares.

Full Review Source: Netflix | comment Comment
11/07/02
James Rocchi
James Rocchi
Netflix

Terriffic thriller that breaks through its genre.

comment Comment
07/26/02
Jeffrey Westhoff
Jeffrey Westhoff
Northwest Herald (Crystal Lake, IL)

No review available.

comment Comment
08/10/02
John J. Puccio
John J. Puccio
DVDTown.com

Curtis Hanson's direction and Amanda Silver's screenplay are both models of no-flab craft and intelligence, and all the actors (who also include Ernie Hudson and Julianne Moore) are believable from the first frame to the last.

Full Review Source: Chicago Reader | comment Comment
04/14/08
Jonathan Rosenbaum
Jonathan Rosenbaum
Chicago Reader

So bad it's almost good.

comment Comment
11/05/02
Ken Hanke
Ken Hanke
Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)

De Mornay at her diabolical best.

comment Comment
06/24/03
Kevin A. Ranson
Kevin A. Ranson
MovieCrypt.com
 
 
1 - 20 (sorted by comments; UK critics are listed first)
Text View | 1 2 >> >|
all

Latest News for The Hand That Rocks the Cradle

November 30, 2007: Samuel L. Jackson Rocks the Cradle
Once you've co-starred in an action "comedy" with Eugene Levy, the only way to go is up -- or so you'd think. Samuel L. Jackson, apparently, has other ideas. More...

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