The Hand that Rocks the Cradle (1992)
69%RT Audience Score: 61%
Awards & Nominations: 6 wins & 6 nominations
The Hand That Rocks the Cradle is a film that has stood the test of time, with its gripping plot and standout performance by Rebecca De Mornay. While some elements may have aged poorly, the film’s exploration of motherhood and the female psyche still resonates today. De Mornay’s portrayal of the villainous Peyton is both chilling and surprisingly sympathetic, drawing in viewers with her wild vacillation between sweet and murderous. The film’s careful structure guarantees suspense throughout, and while it may spoon-feed audiences at times, it ultimately delivers a terrifying climax that will leave you on the edge of your seat.
The Hand That Rocks the Cradle” is a wickedly entertaining thriller that will have you on the edge of your seat. Rebecca De Mornay is a standout as the villainous Peyton, who manages to be both sweet and sinister at the same time. The film’s structure keeps the suspense high throughout, even if it does feel a bit spoon-fed at times. But once you’re invested in the story, you won’t be able to look away. Just be prepared for some cursing and violence, and maybe don’t hire a babysitter anytime soon.
Production Company(ies)
Dino de Laurentiis Cinematografica, Les Films, Marceau
Distributor
Buena Vista Pictures
Release Type
Theatrical
Filming Location(s)
2502 37th Ave W, Seattle, Washington, USA
MPAA / Certificate
Rated R for terror, violence, a scene of sexual molestation, and for language
Year of Release
1992
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby
-
Aspect ratio:1.85 : 1
-
Runtime:1h 50m
-
Language(s):English
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Jan 10, 1992 Original
Release Date (Streaming): Dec 8, 1998
Genre(s)
Mystery & thriller
Keyword(s)
starring Annabella Sciorra, Rebecca De Mornay, Matt McCoy, Ernie Hudson, Julianne Moore, Madeline Zima, directed by Curtis Hanson, written by Amanda Silver, Mystery & thriller, box office performance, budget, reviewed by Henry Sheehan, Michael Upchurch, Carrie Rickey, Jay Boyar, Michael Sragow, Peter Rainer, Quentin Crisp, Joe Lipsett, David Nusair, Malcolm Johnson, Andrea Beach, Candice Russell, produced by David Madden, R-rated, Buena Vista Pictures, English, Surround, Stereo, Claire Bartel, Peyton Flanders, Mrs Mott, Michael Bartel, Solomon, Marlene Craven, Emma Bartel, psychological thriller, nanny, seduction, murder, assault, doctor, police, suicide, miscarriage, rage, enemy within, villain, suspense, realistic thriller, demented and dangerous women, nanny from hell, predictable thriller
Worldwide gross: $88,036,683
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $188,444,769
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 731
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 20,550,138
US/Canada gross: $88,036,683
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $188,444,769
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 389
US/Canada opening weekend: $7,675,016
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $16,428,568
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 745
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $11,700,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $25,044,149
Production budget ranking: 1,245
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $13,486,274
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): $149,914,346
ROI to date (est.): 389%
ROI ranking: 347
Rebecca De Mornay – Peyton Flanders, Mrs. Mott
Matt McCoy – Michael Bartel
Ernie Hudson – Solomon
Julianne Moore – Marlene Craven
Madeline Zima – Emma Bartel
Director(s)
Curtis Hanson
Writer(s)
Amanda Silver
Producer(s)
David Madden
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
6 wins & 6 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (52) | Top Critics (18) | Fresh (34) | Rotten (18)
Hanson doesn’t take any plot shortcuts either. We know right from the start who Peyton is and what she’s up to. The film even plays fair with our sympathies…
May 26, 2022 | Rating: 3/4
Henry Sheehan
Chicago Reader
TOP CRITIC
This is De Mornay’s film and she’s a wicked treat, looking daggers at her enemy one moment and then glazing over with sweetness the next.
July 10, 2013 | Rating: 3/4
Michael Upchurch
Seattle Times
TOP CRITIC
The film is unusually gripping.
July 10, 2013 | Rating: 2.5/4
Carrie Rickey
Philadelphia Inquirer
TOP CRITIC
The careful structure of THTRTC guarantees that the movie will generate a fair amount of suspense throughout. But the single-mindedness of the movie is a genuine limitation, and, watching it, you begin to feel spoon-fed.
July 10, 2013 | Rating: 3/5
Jay Boyar
Orlando Sentinel
TOP CRITIC
With its banal, docile household threatened by an enemy within, the film is like The Stepfather without wit or irony.
July 10, 2013
Michael Sragow
New Yorker
TOP CRITIC
At its best, The Hand That Rocks the Cradle is a bright, nasty psychological thriller with a joker up its sleeve.
July 10, 2013 | Rating: 3.5/5
Peter Rainer
Los Angeles Times
TOP CRITIC
No one who comes to the house ever recognizes the domestic helper as the dead physician’s wife, but once you have swallowed this improbability, you become completely enthralled by the ingenuity of the story, by its suspense, and by its terrifying climax.
April 6, 2022
Quentin Crisp
Christopher Street
While certain elements (such as the depiction of people with disabilities) has aged poorly, the consideration of women and motherhood still resonates. This is 100 De Mornay’s show and Peyton is a hugely compelling, and surprisingly sympathetic, villain
March 9, 2022 | Rating: 3.5/5
Joe Lipsett
Anatomy of a Scream Podcast Network
…a sterling endeavor that kicks off with an absorbing opening stretch…
January 12, 2022 | Rating: 3.5/4
David Nusair
Reel Film Reviews
De Mornay’s performance vacillates so wildly between sweet solicitousness and icy murderousness that it draws as many giggles as gasps.
May 30, 2018
Malcolm Johnson
Hartford Courant
Disturbing thriller about a babysitter; cursing, violence.
November 28, 2017 | Rating: 3/5
Andrea Beach
Common Sense Media
The Hand That Rocks the Cradle is that rare thing, a realistic thriller wise enough not to sell short any of its characters. Just be prepared to become very, very scared when you see it.
July 10, 2013
Candice Russell
South Florida Sun-Sentinel…
Plot
Peyton Flanders (Rebecca De Mornay) seemed to be the perfect nanny, but secretly she was out to wreck the lives of the family she was supposed to be helping. Before becoming the nanny, Peyton had a miscarriage due to the stress caused by the death of her husband, Dr. Victor Mott (John de Lancie), and blamed it on Claire (the mother, played by Annabella Sciorra),. Claire suspects nothing, having never met Peyton before.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Nothing to add here about “The Hand That Rocks the Cradle.”
Curtis-Hanson.jpg
