A gynecologist committs suicide when he is accused for having sexually molested 5 of his patients, and his wife loses her unborn baby as a result of stress. She then takes on another name and applies to the nanny position that the first woman to make the accusation has announced. She gets the job and she's up for revenge in her sly ways.
AMAZON.COM REVIEWS FOR THE HAND THAT ROCKS THE CRADLE (1992): A potboiler featuring a demented caretaker and a seeminglyhapless suburban family, this is The Nanny of the1990s. However, it is much more predictable than that 1965 Bette Davispsychodrama, and more graphic. It works only because Rebecca De Mornaymakes us intensely uncomfortable as the disturbed au pair who wants totake care of much more than her employer's well-being.
Annabella Sciorra plays the perfect mother of a flawless family. Herobstetrician, however, is less than wonderful, having enjoyed herexamination much more than he should have. When she files sexualharassment charges against the repugnant doctor, he losesface--literally--after shooting himself in the head. Several monthslater, an ideal nanny shows up at her home. You guessed it--she's thedoc's widow.
The movie follows a tried and true formula, with the audience in oneverything. However, the story does surprise us in intense andintimate ways. The visit to the obstetrician is one of the creepiestmoments in the film. You definitely hear the voice of writer AmandaSilver in a plot concerned with the vulnerabilities of a family, anewborn, a marriage.
Since we know so much up front, there is an overall lack ofinventiveness in the plot machinations. It may not jolt us, but DeMornay does. It's unsettling to watch someone who appears soattractive and who behaves so kindly suddenly reveal hideouspsychopathic tendencies. Restraining herself from going over the top,she instead oozes such malevolence you'll want to shudder.--Rochelle O'Gorman
AWARDS FOR THE HAND THAT ROCKS THE CRADLE (1992):
- ASCAP Film and Television Music Awards
1993
Won
ASCAP Award
Top Box Office Films
Graeme Revell
- Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films, USA
1993
Nominated
Saturn Award
Best Actress
Rebecca De Mornay
Best Horror Film
Best Supporting Actress
Julianne Moore
- Cognac Festival du Film Policier
1992
Won
Audience Award
Curtis Hanson
Best Actress
Rebecca De Mornay
Grand Prix
Curtis Hanson
- MTV Movie Awards
1992
Won
MTV Movie Award
Best Villain
Rebecca De Mornay
Nominated
MTV Movie Award
Best Female Performance
Rebecca De Mornay
- Young Artist Awards
1993
Nominated
Young Artist Award
Best Young Actress Under Ten in a Motion Picture
Madeline Zima
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