The Stepfather…I’ve seen this somewhere before!

October 27, 2009 • Ashley Strommen  
Filed under Feature, Movie Review

Imagine coming home, after some time away, to learn that your mother has found a new man and will be married. This man has a deeply disturbing, gruesome past. That’s what happens to teenager Micheal Harding (Penn Badley) in “The Stepfather,” directed by Nelson McCormick.

In “The Stepfather,” a seemingly normal father wants the perfect family; when things don’t go the way he plans, all hell breaks lose.

So-called stepfather David Harris (Dylan Walsh) attempts to make a perfect family out of the Harding household. When he decides that it cannot work the way he plans, he attempts to kill them all. Early in the movie viewers learn this is not his first family murder.  Major hints at his unpleasant past are presented to the for the family, but no one quite pieces together the clues except for the son, Micheal Harding.

“The Stepfather” was an average horror film. Although this film was a remake of the 1987 edition directed by Joseph Ruben, it has a few differences in characters and names.

Sadly, this movie is too much like other movies that have recently been released. In “Disturbia”, directed by DJ Caruso, the movie is about man who is under the microscope of a teenage boy. He assumes something is suspicious about the man and lets curiosity take hold of him.  In the end Caruso finds himself defending his family from a crazed mass murderer.

The imagery and sound effects combine to create an intense, thrilling atmosphere. The film is intriguing to watch. Viewers find themselves  looking away at times to avoid the shock of a frightening face. Amazing stunts by Stunt Directors Gregory J. Barnett, Pat Romano and Mike Smith, keep viewers on the edge of their seat  The one thing that leaves a horrible, lasting impression on the story is the ending.  It is a bitter disappointment.

“Stepfather” is a disappointing combination of old horror movies. The plot is predictable, giving the movie nothing special to talk about. This movie is not worth $8.75 at a movie theatre. This is definitely a movie viewers should rent at the Red Box for $1. Save the $7.75 and rent 7 other movies.

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