The Hand That Rocks the Cradle Remake Lands Hard R for Strong, Bloody Violence

Maika Monroe is switching teams. After a decade of escaping (and sometimes chasing) the boogeyman in stuff like 'Longlegs', 'God Is a Bullet', 'Watcher', 'Flashback', 'Villains', 'Tau', 'Bad Blood', 'Flying Monkeys', 'It Follows', and 'The Guest', she is going full villain for a new take on 'The Hand That Rocks the Cradle'. Yes, that early-90s suburban nightmare is back.

What this version is

The remake comes from director Michelle Garza Cervera (she did the excellent 'Huesera: The Bone Woman') and writer Micah Bloomberg ('Sanctuary', 'Homecoming'). It lands October 22, exclusively on Hulu. The MPA stamped it with an R for, and I quote, 'some strong/bloody violence, sexual content and language.' The 1992 original was also rated R, but for slightly different reasons: 'terror, violence, a scene of sexual molestation, and for language.' Different era, similar energy.

'Mary Elizabeth Winstead stars as Caitlin Morales, an upscale suburban mom who brings a new nanny, Polly Murphy (Maika Monroe), into her home, only to discover she is not the person she claims to be.'

Who is involved

• Leads: Mary Elizabeth Winstead as Caitlin Morales; Maika Monroe as Polly Murphy (the nanny with secrets)
• Also starring: Raúl Castillo, Martin Starr, Mileiah Vega, Riki Lindhome, Shannon Cochran
• Director: Michelle Garza Cervera ('Huesera: The Bone Woman')
• Writer: Micah Bloomberg ('Sanctuary', 'Homecoming')
• Producers: Michael Schaefer, Mike LaRocca, Ted Field
• Executive producers: Michael Napoliello, Maria Frisk, Seth William Meier
• Release: October 22 on Hulu (streaming only)
• Rating: R for 'some strong/bloody violence, sexual content and language'

A quick refresher on the 1992 original

Directed by Curtis Hanson and written by Amanda Silver, the first 'The Hand That Rocks the Cradle' followed Claire Bartel, who reported her doctor for assault. He killed himself, and the stress caused his pregnant wife, Peyton, to miscarry. Peyton then reinvented herself as a nanny for Claire’s family with a plan to wreck their lives from the inside. Calm, cheery, and deeply unhinged. The cast: Annabella Sciorra, Rebecca De Mornay, Matt McCoy, Ernie Hudson, Julianne Moore, Madeline Zima, John de Lancie, and Kevin Skousen.

Casting note

Per The Hollywood Reporter’s sources, Monroe was the first choice for the new film’s dangerous nanny and signed on quickly. Kind of perfect casting if you have seen how icy she can go when she wants to.

My read

Winstead vs. Monroe is a smart matchup, and Cervera has the right touch for sharp, mean genre. The rating suggests this one is not shy about drawing blood, so expect some bite along with the psychological warfare. I am in.

Are you up for a fresh spin on this 90s classic? And do those R-rating reasons sound like the right kind of nasty? Tell me.