*This is a spoiler-free review so feel free to read on!*
“She’s pretending to be someone else…”
The Hand that Rocks the Cradle (2025) released on Hulu on October 22nd 2025. A remake of the 1992 film, the horror thriller film stars Maika Monroe, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Martin Starr, and Raul Castillo. It runs for approximately an hour and forty-four minutes.
An overwhelmed mom agrees to hire a nanny to look after her children, but she soon discovers she’s not who she claims to be, putting the lives of her family in danger.
Here is the trailer:
The Hand that Rocks the Cradle allows two scream queens the chance to battle it out on screen. Is it worthy of YOUR next watch? Let’s find out…
The Pros:
Two powerhouse performers!
Wow, when I saw that BOTH Maika Monroe and Mary Elizabeth Winstead were starring in this, I was so excited. They are both so fantastic and I thought their performances really elevated this movie in so many ways. It was great seeing Maika Monroe play a darker character this time around, really showing off her range.
Obsessed!
A slow burn that pays off.
This film took a while to get going, but it kept building and building in such an eerie way and I loved the result. It was unhinged and unafraid to throw some surprising gore our way, making this a satisfying Lifetime-esque thriller to indulge in.
The Cons:
A touch too long.
I think this film should have been just under 90 minutes. It dragged a little bit in the beginning and I was starting to wonder if ANYTHING would happen at all. Luckily it did, but it felt like it took forever to get there. The odd music chords used almost put me to sleep a number of times.
I also just have to say that the parents here made some really questionable choices when it came to their children. This was one of the most clueless husbands I have ever seen before on screen…
The very last reveal was silly and forced, but it kind of leaned into it’s movie of the week vibe seamlessly.
So am I in or out?
I’m in!
The Hand that Rocks the Cradle does just enough to stand out from the original film with two Scream Queens leaving their mark.
This film actually delivered for a straight to streaming remake. It wasn’t perfect, but it had its twisted moments for sure. I was pleasantly surprised.
I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on The Hand that Rocks the Cradle in the comments section below. Thanks so much for reading and happy viewing!
Best,
Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl
THIS COMPETITION IS KILLER…
When former friends, Shay and Adriana team up to participate in a Halloween scavenger hunt with a cash prize, they temporarily put their differences aside to outsmart their opponents. However, they soon start to realize that a dangerous threat is playing their own version of the game, stalking them during each hunt.
Winning is now a necessity as their lives are at stake. As old wounds and memories re-surface, Shay and Adriana attempt to unmask the threat before the night is over, but soon learn that Scream Hunt is not done with them just yet…
My young adult horror thriller is out now! I hope you enjoy!
Scream Hunt is available here!
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