The Stepfather

Unfortunately, Jerry has one, big problem. He expects the rest of the world to be as perfect as he sees himself as being and when the world fails to live up to that ideal, he has a tendency to go on a killing rampage. Presumably, that's why he kills his first family shortly before the film's opening credits. The rest of the movie follows Jerry as he moved to yet another wholesome suburban street and romances single mom Shelly Hack. Hack is charmed by the polite, responsible man who speaks so sincerely about how much he loves family. Her rebellious teenage daughter (Jill Schoelen) is a little less charmed. In fact, she knows something is off about Jerry from the beginning and, despite Jerry's best attempts to turn her life into an old Saturday Evening Post cover, she remains convinced that there's something not quite right about her stepdad. The more she rebels, the closer Jerry comes to snapping once again.

The Stepfather is often referred to as a slasher film and it does have many things in common with that much maligned genre -- Jerry is a remorseless, at times unstoppable killer and the main target of his wrath is a teenager. However, what sets the Stepfather apart from the Friday the 13ths of the world is Terry O'Quinn. As Jerry, O'Quinn creates one of cinema's most terrifying psychos and it is his performance that gives the film its haunting power. O'Quinn wisely underplays Jerry's madness and, in scenes where he's not killing, actually makes this killer a sympathetic figure. Indeed, the film's most terrifying moments come not when Jerry starts killing but instead during the scenes where a frustrated Jerry goes down to his pristine basement and starts muttering to himself about how nobody understands the sacrifices that he makes to keep everyone happy. It is in these scenes that we see truly see the sociopathic monster lurking so closely under the surface of Blake's friendly smile and the scenes are all the more disturbing because many viewers will probably be reminded of times when they had similar thoughts. Mention should also be made of Schoelen who doesn't play the heroine as a typical idealized horror film teen but instead reveals that her character, at times, can be a spoiled, sullen brat -- in other words, a typical teenager who isn't perfect but doesn't deserve to be murdered either. Indeed, Jill Schoelen's character is probably the most believable and sympathetic horror film heroine since Jamie Lee Curtis in the original Halloween.

The film is well directed by genre master Joseph Ruben who wisely emphasizes the blandness of his suburban setting and keeps the plot moving at a good pace. The script, by novelist Donald Westlake (who, writing as Richard Stark, created Parker, another strangely sympathetic monster) is full of nicely quirky moments and avoids most horror film cliches. Ignore the amazingly unworthy sequels and instead, watch the Stepfather and see just how brilliant the horror genre can be.


Let's have some ORDER AROUND HERE!!!   September 16, 2003
John Heck (NYC, NY)
4 out of 4 found this review helpful

First off...I am an avid,,,and extremely critical... suspense/thriller movie buff who revels in being viscerally scared out-of-his wits...without the director using buckets of blood or idiotic/sophmoric situations to accomplish this feat. The Stepfather (fiendishly and poignantly portrayed by Terry O'Quinn) will send your nerves a-jangle.

The plot here is simplistic...a very, very disturbed man is in search of the perfect family (ala ) The Brady Bunch or Father Knows Best...the problem is...is TRY telling Jerry that life isn't a idealistic cornball sitcom...see what the results are...

Brilliantly directed by Joseph Rubens (Sleeping with the Enemy/The Good Son)... the Stepfather will take you on a haunting psychological rollercoaster ride filled with jumps, jolts, heart thumping and unconscious nail biting.

The opening sequence...devoid of any dialogue and visually unnerving ...was so disturbing to one of my friends...that he wanted to take a 'raincheck' on watching the rest!

Shelley Hack ...and especially Jill Schoelen...as the respective newly found wife and daughter...turn in engaging performances. Not to mention Hans Zimmer's creep-o-rama score...filled with violinists and cellists on mesculine and caffeine...

If your genre is suspense...good suspense...if you liked Brian DePalma's Dressed to Kill & Body Double...if you liked Hitchcock's Psycho & The Birds...if you enjoyed Robert Harmon's The Hitcher or Curtis Hanson's The Hand that Rocks the Cradle...not to mention Carpenter's Halloween...then sit back and enjoy...!

Oh...by the way...do you really want to know what happens to the family's puppy...or what happens when daddy goes down to the cellar to retrieve some ice cream...or what your stepfather's reaction may be when he matter-of-factly retrieves your mail...or what a simple phone receiver can also be used for...and...just out of curiosity... do you have to hide the cutlery in your house? Do you, pumpkin?


Please release this on DVD   January 21, 2006
miked (Lincoln, NE)
4 out of 4 found this review helpful

Hands down, this is one of the most finely crafted horror/suspense movies of all time. Campy? Yes, but so insanely wonderful at the same time. I would gladly pay $50 for a copy of this movie on DVD. I have to copies of it on VHS (just in case). Seriously, if you are a fan of Terry O'Quinn or the horror/suspense genre, do yourself a favor and see this movie.

miked

www.sinikil.com