The Hand That Rocks the Cradle (1992)

User Rating:

6.3/10   

Director:

Curtis Hanson

Writer (WGA):

Amanda Silver (written by)

Release Date:

10 January 1992 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Horror | Thriller

Tagline:

The Bartels couldn't believe how fortunate they were to find Peyton. But they didn't find her, she chose them.

Plot:

Peyton Flanders seemed to be the perfect nanny, but secretly she was out to wreck the lives of the family she was supposed to be helping...

Plot Keywords:

Nanny | Suicide | Miscarriage | Revenge | Baby

Awards:

5 wins & 5 nominations

Cast

Annabella Sciorra	...	Claire Bartel
Rebecca De Mornay	...	Mrs. Mott / Peyton Flanders
Matt McCoy	...	Michael Bartel
Ernie Hudson	...	Solomon
Julianne Moore	...	Marlene Craven
Madeline Zima	...	Emma Bartel
John de Lancie	...	Dr. Victor Mott
Kevin Skousen	...	Marty Craven
Mitchell Laurance	...	Lawyer
Justin Zaremby	...	Roth, the Schoolyard Bully
Eric Melander	...	Joey 'Joe' Bartel
Jennifer Melander	...	Joey 'Joe' Bartel
Ashley Melander	...	Joey 'Joe' Bartel
Cliff Lenz	...	Seattle Today Host
Penny LeGate	...	Seattle Today Host

MPAA:

Rated R for terror, violence, a scene of sexual molestation, and for language.

Runtime:

110 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Iceland:16 | Netherlands:16 | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Chile:14 | Finland:K-16 | France:-12 | Germany:16 | Peru:14 | Singapore:NC-16 | South Korea:18 | Spain:13 | Sweden:15 | UK:15 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

2502 37th Ave W, Seattle, Washington, USA

Company:

Hollywood Pictures

Trivia:

The title of the film is taken from the poem of the same name written by William Ross Wallace. The poem praises motherhood as the primary impetus for changing the world.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Michael goes downstairs because he hears opera music playing in Peyton's room, the indicator lights for the alarm and PM time on the clock radio change from two lights to one and back again.

Quotes:

[on the phone]
Peyton Flanders: Who is this?
Marlene 'Marl' Craven: Marlene Craven, you want me to spell it?

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Living Single: The Hand That Robs the Cradle (#1.17)" (1994)

Soundtrack:

MY GALLANT CREW GOOD MORNING

Put your Hand on the Cradle and Rock now!

The Hand That Rocks The Cradle is a very solid thriller thanks to naturalism and realism. This is one of the best thrillers ever made, and it's just too bad it did not get the attention and praise it deserves. For one thing, we've seen many thrillers that lacked realism while some were not thrilling at all.

HTRTC has it all. A solid story, solid cast, good directing and best of all, a high level of realism. The story can actually happen to any family in America, or anywhere in the world. The cast is great, and even though there's basically no "big name phenomenon" (well, Julian Moore's now very popular but not yet here) in this film, the performances are very good. In fact, great! Rebecca De Mornay, who's young and very beautiful in this film, has the best performance as the smart-beautiful-deadly Peyton. She's very convincing as both wife and nanny, as well as temptress and killer!

Take note of some of the "sinful scenes" in this movie. Some scenes can be very disturbing (not disgusting) but if you're matured enough, then you'll get over this movie well. The "sinful scenes" do make a wake-up call in your family life. Heck, better watch out for those evil nannies!

I highly recommend watching this movie, even though it does not have any big superstardom at all. No special effects, no high tech gimmicks, no big super stars, just a great story to watch. What are you waiting for? Put your Hand on the Cradle and Rock!