The Hand That Rocks The Cradle, a 1992 thriller about a nanny who operates way outside of her job description, is set to be Maika Monroe’s next leading role in the wake of Longlegs’ success.
The 1990s was a vintage era for thrillers, especially of the domestic variety. Whether it was neighbours, tenants, or the friendly neighbourhood cop suddenly revealing a dark side, the decade made it clear to audiences that suburbia wasn’t as cosy as they thought.
Films like Arlington Road, Pacific Heights and Unlawful Entry are all successful examples of the 90s thriller, but one film that really caught the imagination of audiences was 1992’s The Hand That Rocked The Cradle, directed by Curtis Hanson and starring Rebecca De Mornay as a nanny who gets a bit too close to the family she’s caring for.
Also starring Annabella Sciorra, Matt McCoy and Ernie Hudson, the domestic thriller’s about to be remade according to The Hollywood Reporter. It’s set to be directed by Michelle Garza Cervera, who previously made Huesera: The Bone Woman, a 2023 Spanish body horror about explores pregnancy and motherhood.
While we don’t yet know who will be cast in the mother’s role, Longlegs’ Maika Monroe has landed the part of the nanny played by De Mornay in the original film. The actor is currently riding high off the critical and commercial success of an impressive starring turn in Longlegs, the stylish and atmospheric independent horror that has earned an army of admirers, especially among other filmmakers (and also this website).
We’ll have to wait and see who will be cast opposite Monroe, given that the film is being described as a ‘two-hander’, meaning the mother role is set to be a fairly sizeable one. When we do hear more, we’ll let you know right here. In the meantime, why not check out Simon’s podcast episode on the original The Hand That Rocks The Cradle?
