Watch Mary Elizabeth Winstead and Maika Monroe Descend Into Maternal Madness in The Hand That Rocks the Cradle Trailer
Hulu unleashes a chilling new trailer for The Hand That Rocks the Cradle, as Mary Elizabeth Winstead and Maika Monroe plunge into a nightmare of maternal madness that turns domestic bliss into a battleground.
Hiring a nanny is basically handing a stranger your house keys and your sanity. Hulu clearly agrees, because its new take on The Hand That Rocks the Cradle leans hard into that specific dread. The trailer sets up Mary Elizabeth Winstead and Maika Monroe on a collision course over parenting styles, domestic bliss, and, yes, keeping the spark alive when there is a baby monitor on the nightstand.
The setup
Winstead plays Caitlin Morales, an upscale suburban mom who thinks she has found the perfect in-home help in Polly Murphy (Monroe). Except Polly is not who she says she is, and the mask slips fast. The vibe is psychological thriller with a sharp, domestic edge — the kind where you start triple-checking your child locks and your spouse's calendar.
'A suburban mom hires a nanny who is not who she claims to be.'
Who is involved
- Stars: Mary Elizabeth Winstead ('10 Cloverfield Lane', 'Birds of Prey', 'Kate') as Caitlin Morales; Maika Monroe ('Longlegs', 'It Follows', 'Independence Day: Resurgence') as Polly Murphy
- Also starring: Raul Castillo, Martin Starr, Mileiah Vega, Riki Lindhome, Shannon Cochran
- Director: Michelle Garza Cervera ('Huesera: The Bone Woman', 'La Rabia de Clara')
- Writer: Micah Bloomberg, working from a screenplay by Amanda Silver
- Producers: Michael Schaefer, Mike LaRocca, Ted Field
- Executive producers: Michael Napoliello, Maria Frisk, Seth William Meier
Inside baseball
The writing credit is a little unusual: it is 'written by Micah Bloomberg based on a screenplay by Amanda Silver.' Translation: Bloomberg wrote this version using Silver's script as the foundation. If that name rings a bell, it should — Amanda Silver wrote the 1992 film.
Yes, it is the one you think it is
This is a new take on the 1992 thriller directed by Curtis Hanson, which starred Annabella Sciorra, Rebecca De Mornay, and Matt McCoy. That movie seriously rattled audiences and made people side-eye live-in caretakers for years. Consider it the original 'maybe we should run another background check' movie. And speaking of the times changing: these days, families have internet sleuthing, formal vetting, and old-fashioned snooping to lean on — which should make things safer. Should.
When and where to watch
The Hand That Rocks the Cradle premieres October 22, exclusively on Hulu. The trailer is out now, and if you are into sleek, slow-burn domestic thrillers, it is very much aiming at your watchlist.
Curious where you land: team original or ready for the new spin? And does the trailer make you want to change your Wi-Fi password or is that just me?