Introduction to a Thrilling Remake
The release of Hulu’s new remake has brought back memories of the original parenting nightmare thriller. Three decades after its release, it is a reminder of what a polished, versatile craftsman the late Curtis Hanson was. In the following ten years of his film career, he made exciting adventure thrillers, hard-boiled noir, bittersweet comedy-dramas, and hip-hop sagas – all of which still hold up today.
The Unnecessary Remake
It’s no big surprise that Hulu’s new release can be classified under “unnecessary remakes”. By these standards, it’s far from the worst. However, atrocities are a low hurdle to overcome. The remake is harmless but insignificant, and it dilutes the original’s lurid joys and destabilizes the central dynamic.
The Storyline
The modern twist on the screenplay focuses on the traumatic story and victim blaming, stoking raw homoerotic female tension. Real estate attorney Caitlin Morales is expecting her second child when she meets Polly Murphy while volunteering to advocate for tenants’ rights for low-income people in need of housing assistance. Shortly after the baby’s birth, they meet again at a farmers’ market, where Caitlin is disturbed to learn that Polly is still struggling. But she offers her services as a babysitter.
The Characters
Maika Monroe plays the quiet, intense Polly with the hollow stare of an Olsen twin and the warmth and social skills of Travis Bickle. Mary Elizabeth Winstead plays Caitlin, who hires Polly after a cursory look at her childcare experiences. Her husband, architect Miguel, agrees that Caitlin is at the end of her rope and could use some help. He fears that her struggles are a repeat of the postpartum depression that followed the birth of her first child, Emma.
The Thriller Aspect
Doing little to hide her creepy aura, Polly begins small acts of sabotage – fiddling with Caitlin’s medication, which makes her even more nervous; serving spoiled food at a dinner party, giving everyone an upset stomach; and ignoring Caitlin’s veto of giving up sugar for Emma and her little sister Josie. Instead, she makes a secret pact with Emma over cupcakes and denies the infant her mother’s unsweetened breast milk. The thriller aspect of the movie is dull, with a glacial pace and lack of suspense.
The Director and Screenwriter
Mexican filmmaker Michelle Garza Cervera’s debut was the widely acclaimed 2022 maternity body horror. But her second feature, while quite accomplished, has the bland feel of a Lifetime film. The screenwriter, Micah Bloomberg, spends far too long getting to the root of Polly’s seething resentment. Attempts to heighten the terror with a whispery synthesizer score and dark vocal tracks from Low and Nick Cave don’t do much in the way of atmosphere.
Conclusion
The acting is fine, although Monroe was more effective when faced with threats. Winstead does as she is asked, so much so that Caitlin becomes both aggressive and disturbed. But this is a remake with few compelling reasons to exist. What a sad testament to the state of the industry: While the original film topped the U.S. box office for four weeks in a row and made a tidy profit, grossing $140 million worldwide on a budget of less than $12 million, the rerun will land on Hulu and, like all but a handful of prestige streaming originals, quickly fade into obscurity.
Release Details
The movie is rated R, with a runtime of 1 hour 45 minutes. It was released on Wednesday, October 22nd, and stars Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Maika Monroe, and Raúl Castillo. The director is Michelle Garza Cervera, and the screenwriter is Micah Bloomberg, based on the screenplay by Amanda Silver.
