The Hand That Rocks the Cradle (1992)

A little revenge never hurts, right?

The Hand That Rocks the Cradle is one creepy film but I enjoyed it. Rebecca de Mornay plays a manipulative and revenge-seeking nanny. I am kinda surprised this thriller is directed by Curtis Hanson, doesn't seem like his type of movie. I won't give away too much but De Mornay's character has been through a tragedy and she will stop at nothing to seek solace even if it means driving a happily married couple insane. I highly recommend this cat and mouse game, enjoy! July 14, 2008

The Hand That Rocks the Cradle DVD Review

The Hand That Rocks the Cradle is a suspenseful film with convincing performances by Rebecca De Mornay and Annabella Sciorra. The lovely Rebecca De Mornay does a fine job playing a vicious nanny. The film also has a fine score by Graeme Revell. It is disappointing that the 1.85:1 widescreen DVD is not enhanced for 16:9 TVs. The picture is of average quality and the audio is average. June 16, 2008

The Best Psychotic Thriller Ever Is The Hand That Rocks The Cradle!

This was the best pyschotic movie ever! Rebecca DeMornay is so secretly evil and mentally disturbed yet all throughout the movie she sure does a great job of hiding it and putting on a sweet,innocent facade until the truth is finally revealed about who she really is from the help of Claire Bartel's best friend, Marlene Craving, who, unfortunately dies at hands of Peyton's dirtywork which was originally intended for Claire to face. As the movie goes on it gets creepier and more terrifying, especially towards the end of the movie, when Peyton pretends she has left yet is devilishly hiding in the house ready to kill both Michael and Claire after now feeling betrayed by both of them. The most chilling and cruel scene is the part where Peyton realizes that Clair has an "Achilles Heal"...ASTHMA...and she tries tries to kill Claire by stealing her asthma inhalers and pumping the medicine out of all of them, nearly killing Claire when she suffers an asthma attack seeing Marlene lying dead in the greenhouse and can't find an inhaler that works until it is too late and she collapses on the porch from lack of oxygen nearly dying until luckily help arrives and Claire is finally revived and ok. That scene to me was the cruelest playing on a person's weak point like that. But I guess that a crazy person will by any means do whatever it takes to get rid of someone they really resent and seek revenge upon without feeling any remorse about it as Peyton clearly showed. The other scene that was the cruelest was the scene where Peyton and Claire are fighting and Claire suddenly has an asthma attack while they are fighting and Peyton just looks down at the wheezing Claire,smiling, and saracastically asks,"Something the matter,Claire?" And then as Claire is wheezing to death Peyton bends down and whispers to Claire that she now has total control of the family. But,fortunately, to our surprise, Claire somehow becomes strong and in a rage pushes Peyton out the window ending her and dirtywork for good. What is sweet is how then Claire is ok and realizes that she can trust Solomon with her family and let's him carry baby Joey downstairs as she goes to get help for poor Michael whom was left paralyzed by Peyton in the basement because he had betrayed her by being faithful to wife Claire and admitting this to her. Wow, did Peyton take Michael by surprise in that scene hitting him with the shovel sending him flying over the steps back down on the basement floor paralyzed and smashing the lightbulb leaving him in the dark. I give this movie 5 stars because the Peyton Flanders character is one of the most evil and psychotic characters to ever chill a movie screen and its audience. This movie is the best for anyone who is a true fan of pyschotic thrillers. January 11, 2008

Rebecca can babysit me anytime

This is a great film. Direction, cinematography, editing, and acting are all terrific. I just love how evil De Mornay is here. The eyes, the body - so alluring. Not having seen this in some time, I'd forgotten that a young Julianne Moore was in it too. This is a film that needs a special edition; so come on let's have it! January 8, 2008

Thriller admirably avoids cliche

A tale of revenge and madness in white picket-fence America, exquisitely crafted and paced with excellent acting by Annabella Sciorra, Rebecca De Mornay, and especially Ernie Hudson as 'Solomon.' With its getting-closer-to-the-edge-of-your-seat escalation of menace, this film is not for the squeamish but is refreshing for its constraint from using too much graphic violence (despite the 'R' rating for intensity and adult themes). Well-integrated, unique situations you don't see every day in this genre, plus genuinely scary surprises keep it from slipping into stock mode or mean spiritedness...Veteran soundtrack composer Graeme Revell's musical score compliments the mood and action extremely well but visual DVD transfer appears less than perfect; too bad, because it's an otherwise good-looking film with rich colors and appealing locations. A MUST for Rebecca De Mornay fans, and if you're prepared to be set-up in the classic thriller manner, you'll enjoy this suspensful movie.(Famous quote/teaser: "This is MY family.") December 18, 2007

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