Good condition DVD of a taut suspense film
A potboiler featuring a demented caretaker and a seemingly hapless suburban family, this is The Nanny of the 1990s. However, it is much more predictable than that 1965 Bette Davis psychodrama, and more graphic. It works only because Rebecca De Mornay makes us intensely uncomfortable as the disturbed au pair who wants to take care of much more than her employer's well-being.
Annabella Sciorra plays the perfect mother of a flawless family. Her obstetrician, however, is less than wonderful, having enjoyed her examination much more than he should have. When she files sexual harassment charges against the repugnant doctor, he loses face--literally--after shooting himself in the head. Several months later, an ideal nanny shows up at her home. You guessed it--she's the doc's widow.
The movie follows a tried and trusted formula, with the audience in on everything. However, the story does surprise us in intense and intimate ways. The visit to the obstetrician is one of the creepiest moments in the film. You definitely hear the voice of writer Amanda Silver in a plot concerned with the vulnerabilities of a family, a newborn, a marriage.
Since we know so much up front, there is an overall lack of inventiveness in the plot machinations. It may not jolt us, but De Mornay does. It's unsettling to watch someone who appears so attractive and who behaves so kindly suddenly reveal hideous psychopathic tendencies. Restraining herself from going over the top, she instead oozes such malevolence you'll want to shudder.
After an awkward beginning this family drama thriller panned out to be one of the best in it's genre with fantastic acting and characters brilliantly portrayed by the director of Oscar winning L.A Confidential, Curtis Hudson. Rebecca De Morney (Risky Business, The three Musketeers) stars as the psychotically crushed want to be mother who sweeps in on the wealthy parent Claire, played with great belief by Annabella Sciorra (Jungle Fever, Find me guilty) and tries to muscle her way through the family, causing mayhem to ruin her life.
Never in my entire film watching life have I seen a character as demented, determined and manipulative as De Morney's character Mrs Mott. This villain is unbelievably awful to Claire and is very surprising and clever in her moves and you can't help but chuckle at her sneakiness to
manipulate the family. De Morney is amazing in her role and conforms to the characters personality perfectly.
The unlucky mother Claire is a character most mothers will sympathize with as she tries to deal with her family as well as other issues ruining her life. Sciorra acts perfectly as the depressed and sometimes cheerful mother.
Ernie Hudson is magnificent playing a retard and is also sometimes humorous as well as serious and apologetic.
The story is excellent. It is fast flowing, consistent, enjoyable and down right realistic of society. It was very difficult viewing when the doctor was feeling up his patients and there is somewhat an anticlimax at the end but through reinforced stereotypes and real life situations the whole film is pure genius but is a must watch because of Rebecca De Morney's character.
There are also many twists which will keep audiences hooked throughout as well as many scenes of violence and sex ideologies conforming to a real life scenario centred film about family issues, relationships, parenthood, jobs and crime.
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