Mary Elizabeth Winstead Stars in Hulu's 'The Hand That Rocks the Cradle' Remake

The 2025 Hulu remake of the psychological thriller The Hand That Rocks the Cradle stars Mary Elizabeth Winstead as Caitlin Morales, an upscale suburban mother who hires a nanny, Polly Murphy (played by Maika Monroe), who is not as she seems. This modern reimagining retains the eerie tension of the 1992 original, while incorporating contemporary themes including maternal anxieties and homoerotic tension between the leads. Winstead drew on her own maternal fears, inspired by her son, to portray a mother fiercely protective of her children amidst mounting terror. Both Winstead and Monroe emphasized the complexity of their characters, with Monroe highlighting the slow unraveling of Polly's true nature and Winstead exploring the layered facade Caitlin maintains under pressure. The film also tackles themes of trust, mental health, and the challenges of motherhood, particularly the struggle to trust feminine intuition amid gaslighting by family members. Directed by Michelle Garza Cervera, the remake offers a fresh, emotionally charged update that honors the original's legacy while appealing to a new generation of horror fans.