Not so much a contemporary re-make of Joseph Ruben's 1987 psychological thriller as a lobotomised bastard step-child: over-plotted, over-long, and stripped of the original's sharp, satirical subversion of suburban family values.
Overview
Michael Harding returns home from military school to find his mother happily in love and living with her new boyfriend, David. As the two men get to know each other, Michael becomes more and more suspicious of the man who is always there with a helpful hand. Is he really the man of her dreams or could David be hiding a dark side?
Director and cast
- Nelson McCormick Director
- Dylan Walsh as David Harris
- Sela Ward as Susan Harding
- Penn Badgley as Michael Harding
- Amber Heard as Kelly Porter
- Sherry Stringfield as Leah
- Paige Turco as Jackie Kerns
- Jon Tenney as Jay
- Nancy Linehan Charles as Mrs. Cutter
- Marcuis Harris as Detective Shay
- Braeden Lemasters as Sean Harding
Critics on Rotten Tomatoes
Top critics, in their words
The Stepfather is, finally, only as good as its stepfather -- and Dylan Walsh ain't bad.
That last stormy night of violence should be the shocker. Giving away his ruthlessness in earlier killings robs the movie of it its payoff as it saps the climax of much of its power.
This perfunctory retread had a tame, made-for-TV feel, and not just because the humdrum cast is composed of network and cable B-listers.
This remake turns a fondly remembered horror/thriller into a mild and tedious suspense film.
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