The Hand That Rocks the Cradle

A woman is shown being sexually molested during a gynecological exam. A dead body impaled by falling glass is shown with lots of blood. Another dead body impaled by fence pickets briefly shows some blood. Suicide is implied by a gunshot heard off camera. A woman having a miscarriage has blood on clothing and on doctors in surgery; the woman cries in pain and fear. A woman roughly twists a child's arm and threatens him; kids who witness it think it's cool because the victim is himself a bully. A few slaps in the face. Implied sexual molestation of a child when the child's underwear is discovered hidden in a tool box. A fight with a shovel, fireplace poker, knife, kicking, punching, and banging a head repeatedly on the floor. Some scariness from characters in danger, dark hallways, and tense music.

Some kisses between a married couple. Breasts briefly visible during a medical exam. One mention of "blow jobs."

A few instances of "f--k" and variations, "son of a bitch." Some verbal hostility and threats. Name-calling includes "retard."

A secondary character smokes and a main character smokes occasionally, saying one cigarette won't kill him. One character uses asthma inhalers, and the villain is shown tampering with them. One scene takes place in a bar. Adults drink wine with dinner.

Parents need to know that The Hand That Rocks the Cradle is a tense drama with thriller elements best for mature teens and up who can handle a depiction of sexual molestation by a doctor, a traumatic miscarriage, and a couple of violent deaths that show blood. Best for mature teens, it's a good opportunity to talk to them about how to be comfortable and safe during physical exams, and what to do if you're not. A suicide is implied by an offscreen gunshot. Strong language is rare but includes a few variations of "f--k." There's verbal hostility, and "retard" is used in name calling. An adult violently twists a child's arm and threatens him, which is seen as "cool" and justified because the child is a bully. Breasts are briefly visible in a medical exam; otherwise sexual content is a few kisses. The Bartel family are all good role models, but overall messages are through negative examples about being careful whom to trust. A secondary character is usually shown smoking.

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