“The Hand That Rocks The Cradle” (1992) – Director Curtis Hanson’s thriller features an unusual antagonist: a nanny. This particular sitter, Peyton Flanders (Rebecca De Mornay) – hired by Claire and Michael Bartel (Annabella Sciorra and Matt McCoy) to help watch their two small children – is, unbeknownst to them, horribly cruel.
There’s a method to Peyton’s madness and for targeting the Bartels. With her seemingly sweet demeanor and good looks, she’s fooled them quite well.
Perfecting the art of manipulation, Peyton makes small maneuvers to cause havoc at the Bartel home. De Mornay delivers a depraved performance as the villain, and hey, Peyton is one scary nanny! Granted, “Cradle” falls into familiar paint-by-numbers clichés at times, but this ferocious flick features an unlikely adversary!
Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon: 2
Rebecca De Mornay stars in “The Hand that Rocks the Cradle” (1992)
Rebecca De Mornay stars in “Risky Business” (1983) with Tom Cruise
Tom Cruise in “A Few Good Men” (1992) with Kevin Bacon
Directed by: Curtis Hanson
Written by: Amanda Silver
Starring: Annabella Sciorra, Matt McCoy, Julianne Moore, John de Lancie, and Rebecca De Mornay
Runtime: 110 minutes
Rated: R
Image credits: Buena Vista Pictures Distribution
