The Hand That Rocks the Cradle (1992)

Directed by Curtis Hanson. Starring Annabella Sciorra, Rebecca De Mornay, Matt McCoy, Ernie Hudson, Julianne Moore, Madeline Zima, Kevin Skousen, John de Lancie. [R]

Psycho De Mornay poses as a nanny in order to steal the family of the woman (Sciorra) who unknowingly ruined her life. Formula entry in the early-90s domestic thriller cycle has a few lurid shocks and some tasteless material to leave its mark; although not exactly a good performance, De Morrnay is at least memorable in a controlled yet hammy fashion. Director Hanson’s suspense techniques are as unpolished as they are predictable, and when the script inevitably spins out of control with implausible escalations in the final act, he neither generates sticky tension for frights nor pushes it toward violent, self-possessed histrionics for laughs. The “good” couple at the heart of the movie—soft-spoken Sciorra and sensitive McCoy—are so bland and squeaky-clean, you may end up rooting for the vengeful vixen…although mothers are likely to become quite repulsed by De Mornay’s late-night activity in the newborn baby’s room. Title refers to the William Ross Wallace poem (“What Rules the World”) in a semi-ironic fashion.

48/100