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The Hand That Rocks The Cradle Details

1992 DVD Certificate 15.gif
  • Rated:
  • 70
  • from 5457 members

Rebecca De Mornay stars as Peyton, 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 her inappropriately during an exam, Claire (Annabella Sciorra) reports him. Dr. Mott reacts severely when the accusations .. Read more

Starring Rebecca De Mornay, Annabella Sciorra, Ernie Hudson, John De Lancie
Director Curtis Hanson
Genres Drama, Thriller

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The Hand That Rocks The Cradle

Rebecca De Mornay stars as Peyton, 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 her inappropriately during an exam, Claire (Annabella Sciorra) reports him. Dr. Mott reacts severely when the accusations become public knowledge, resulting in his own 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 Zina), 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.

Starring Rebecca De Mornay, Annabella Sciorra, Ernie Hudson, John De Lancie, Julianne Moore, Matt McCoy
Director Curtis Hanson
Studio WALT DISNEY STUDIOS HOME ENTERTAINMENT
Run time DVD: 1 hr 46 mins
Certificate DVD Certificate 15.gif
Collections 100 Feisty Females
Genres Drama, Thriller
Language English
Released DVD: 15 Jun 2006
Production year: 1992
Format DVD
  • Critics' reviews (5) of The Hand That Rocks The Cradle

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  • 4 stars out of 5

    Cool, Teutonic-looking Rebecca De Mornay plays the “Nanny from Hell”, wreaking havoc on the sunny designer family life of Annabella Sciorra and Matt McCoy, in this nerve-racking psychological thriller. Director Curtis Hanson successfully plugs into every deep-seated fear of middle-class parents, with De Mornay doing a neat turn in icy malevolence wrapped up in the guise of responsible carer. This is pure unbridled hokum, of course, but extremely effective until the last 30 minutes, when the plot rapidly self-destructs.

    • Radio Times
  • Claire (Sciorra), happily married and pregnant, is molested during a visit to her gynaecologist. The ensuing... read more on Time Out

    • Time Out
  • Most helpful member's review of The Hand That Rocks The Cradle

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  • 4 out of 4 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 4 stars

    Super Suspense Thriller

    Rebecca De Mornay gives a magnificent performance in this edge of your seat thriller.One of the best suspense films I have ever seen. 'Hitchcock' would have been proud of it!

      • Michael Wheeler from East London
  • Most recent members' review of The Hand That Rocks The Cradle

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  • 1 out of 1 person found this review helpful

    Rated - 4 stars

    The hand that rocks the cradle

    Excellent suspense, thriller .

      • A customer from Crawley
  • News and features

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    Little Children

    Lucky You

    • 19 Jun 2007

    Remember Swingers? 'You're money, baby!' Well Huck Cheever (Eric Bana) is so not money, he's flat broke. And that may as well stand for Lucky You, too. Curtis Hanson's film has been sitting on the shelf for some time now, and was finally released in the US the same week as Spider-man 3 (not even the incredible hulk would relish that fight). Not surprisingly it bombed. Although he's a chronic gambler and a card sharp, Huck only cares about money in so much as it buys him a seat at the table.... Read more

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Rating breakdown

5,457 Member ratings
  • 100
340
  • 90
358
  • 80
1,058
  • 70
1,244
  • 60
1,309
  • 50
551
  • 40
320
  • 30
133
  • 20
109
  • 10
35

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    • Rebecca De Mornay stars as Peyton, 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), ...