Has it really been 15 years since Ramona Flowers allowed Scott Pilgrim to fight her seven evil ex-boyfriends in exchange for her affection? It’s been even shorter since the same actress, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, was locked in a dingy basement during an alien invasion, but my point remains the same: Where has the time gone? Now appearing as a harrowed homemaker in The Hand That Rocks the Cradle, Winstead places a little too much trust into the newly hired nanny as her character’s life gets turned upside down in this newly released Hulu exclusive.

And speaking of creepy chameleons, Maika Monroe (Longlegs, Independence Day: Resurgence, It Follows) portrays Polly Murphy, a young woman who always looks like she’s got a thinly veiled secret she just can’t keep to herself. Polly’s entrance is innocent enough, making an appearance at Caitlan’s (played by Winstead) place of employment during her pregnancy. But after giving birth, a not-so-random encounter with Polly eventually leads to a babysitting gig for the overstressed Caitlan.

In hopes of “taking care of herself,” Caitlin hires Polly as a nanny, but did she really check the finer details of the girl’s past? Now a mother of two, Caitlin puts a whole lot of trust into a complete stranger, asking her to watch the children, feed them and everything else that comes with the responsibilities. So, finally, Caitlin should begin to relax… until she realizes there might be a problem. Or two.

But why can’t her husband (played by Raúl Castillo) fully understand the situation? It’s because there are multiple dark secrets awaiting to be revealed.

“You’re my favorite psycho.”

Mary Elizabeth Winstead as Caitlin Morales in 20th Century Studios’ THE HAND THAT ROCKS THE CRADLE. Photo Courtesy: Suzanne Tenner.

OK, what gives with this modern-day remake, intentionally released for the spooky season? As a fan of the original, I can safely state that I remember watching it inside a movie theater and truly enjoying its twists. In fact, not only was I impressed with Curtis Hanson’s 1992 drama, I enjoyed watching its box office accumulate back in the day. Whatever happened to $10 million movies that wound up raking in $100 million domestic paydays? Oh, right, they’re streaming now — which is where this one is released.

As an upscale, suburban mama, Winstead’s Caitlan is a helicopter, granola mom who doesn’t like change (or relinquishing her parental control). But once Polly moves in, getting even closer to the family, the talons have already been entrenched. The level of impending dread and controlled chaos that erupts is no understatement. It feels like a home invasion with a hug.

Evil intentions are hidden in plain sight, as secrets intentionally undermine the previously established trust from multiple people. Confusion, frustration and a general sense of being upset sets in as an unwilling disclosure before one-third of the film has finished, bringing untold terrorizing lingering doubts into my mind. Even the blinking lights of a Christmas tree feel hauntingly foreboding.

“You said our lives were endangered…”

I enjoyed seeing different types of characters from our female leads and was impressed by the work of Winstead and Monroe.

The storyline isn’t exactly the same this time around, but the 2025 version feels like a spiritual sister to the original release. Child-endangerment safety issues are present, but this time there’s some Peeping Tom vibes leading to longing, with a little body horror involved, as well. Sinister forces seduce our characters to the dark side, making a general societal statement: Is it acceptable for traditional parents to actually raise their children the way they choose, or should they follow other people’s rules? It’s not a difficult question, but it sure seems that way, with public school systems and private universities going to court all the time, trying to force specific ideologies down everyone’s throats.

I was jittery and uneasy watching this, which is exactly what the filmmakers wanted, I’m sure. The mounting distrust and long-suffering traumas eventually reveal themselves, which feels a little predictable at times. It’s sort of like watching a trainwreck, knowing full well about the outcome and having little power to prevent it. These characters definitely don’t act like they’ve watched too many horror movies before, because they eventually play into their expected stereotypes.

The pain runs deep, as there’s some serious psychological manipulation going on here. Jealousy, depression and anger issues are on full display, while a struggling personality gets overwhelmed by something menacing. The uneasiness wore me out from the start. Sounds exactly like a feel-good film for All Hallow’s Eve — don’t let time get away from you before watching this one.

“You made me do this. I hope you realize that.”