Remakes can be tricky. They have to strike that balance between honoring what came before and reimagining it for modern audiences. Hulu’s The Hand That Rocks the Cradle (2025) — directed by Michelle Garza Cervera (Huesera: The Bone Woman) — unfortunately leans more toward forgettable than fresh. Despite a talented cast that includes Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Maika Monroe, Raúl Castillo, and Martin Starr, this new version never finds its own pulse.
In this reimagining of the 1992 thriller, Caitlyn and Miguel Morales (Winstead and Castillo) hire Polly Murphy (Monroe) as a live-in nanny — only to discover she isn’t who she seems. It’s a simple premise that should lend itself to tension and paranoia, but the execution here is painfully straightforward.
I went in cautiously optimistic. Garza Cervera’s previous work (Huesera) was a visually and thematically striking horror film that explored motherhood and identity through a dark, symbolic lens. While I didn’t love that film’s pacing or structure, it at least had ambition. Unfortunately, this remake feels like a step backward — safe, predictable, and paper-thin in both story and emotion.
Let’s start with what works. The performances are not the problem. Winstead delivers a grounded presence as Caitlyn, and Monroe — who had a huge year with Longlegs — commits fully to her unnerving role. Raúl Castillo also gives a believable turn as the supportive husband. Everyone involved is clearly trying.
The issue lies in the writing and direction. The screenplay lacks nuance, presenting every emotional beat and character motivation right on the surface. From the moment Monroe’s character appears, she’s framed and performed as unsettling, giving the audience no ambiguity to work with. You never buy that anyone — especially parents — would willingly invite this person into their home.
The result? A story with no tension. Every reveal is telegraphed, every “shocking” moment expected. Even the film’s one major twist, which does recontextualize some earlier events, isn’t strong enough to elevate what’s otherwise a generic streaming thriller.
To the film’s credit, it looks fine. It’s shot cleanly, edited competently, and the production value feels polished for a Hulu release. Some practical effects and a few moments of visual tension stand out, but they’re fleeting.
Where the movie truly falters is in its rhythm and emotional core. Scenes build to potential drama or conflict, only for those threads to fizzle out seconds later. The dialogue often feels unnatural, making interactions feel scripted rather than lived-in. Even the cold open — meant to grab you from the start — lands flat, setting the tone for what becomes an underwhelming experience.
At its best, The Hand That Rocks the Cradle (2025) is passable background entertainment — something you might put on while scrolling through your phone. At its worst, it’s a completely unnecessary remake that doesn’t justify its own existence.
The cast does what they can, and Garza Cervera shows flashes of style, but the script never digs deeper than the logline. There’s no tension, no emotional payoff, and nothing that lingers after the credits roll.
If you’re curious, it might be worth streaming just to see how it compares to the 1992 original — but don’t expect much beyond that. The Hand That Rocks the Cradle (2025) is technically fine but narratively hollow, offering little more than a reminder that not every classic needs to be revisited.
Rating: 3/10