The Stepfather (1987), directed by Joesph Ruben, is one of the hidden crown jewels of horror cinema, one that elevated the slasher category (a genre of horror that was growing lifeless at the time) into something primal and realistic. It also emphasized an issue that continues to hit too close to home: the Step-Parent Syndrome, which is what I call (and can relate to) a condition where a child or children instantly become suspicious of the new significant others in either their widowed or divorced parents’ lives.
Buy The Stepfather 4K UHDTerry O’Quinn (in an astounding, signature performance) plays Henry Horrison, a so-called “family man” who murders his family (in a pitch-perfect opening sequence), shaves his hair, and changes his name to Jerry Blake. He then moves to a suburban small town and instantly marries into the life of beautiful, widowed mother Susan (Shelley Hack) and troubled daughter Stephanie (Jill Schoelen). He becomes a real estate agent and tries to create the perfect family, but Stephanie isn’t buying it. So, she does her own sleuthing and finds that Jerry obviously isn’t the ideal man he appears to be. Eventually, he discovers what she’s been up to and vows to keep his new family together, by any means necessary.
Although we know where the film leads, it still manages to have enough suspense, a good script and direction, and a solid lead villain to make it feel fresh and grounded, despite its limited budget. I also like Schoelen in it too, bringing a great amount of likability to a role that could just another bratty teenager role (odd considering she was 23 at the time). You are with her at every step and are scared for her when shit goes down. It’s no wonder she became a “scream queen” (a moniker that now feels derogatory, but still) afterwards.
Making its 4K UHD/Blu debut from Scream Factory, it pretty much seems to outshine the previous Blu-ray release, especially with the special features, which include four commentaries: 1) with Ruben 2) Schoelen and Jackson Stewart 3) film critic Meagan Navarro and 4) film critic Kier Gomes; a new interview with Schoelen; “The Stepfather Chronicles”- retrospective documentary; trailers for the film and its two sequels; and a still gallery.
If you’re a big fan of this underrated cult classic, then this release is a winner!
Other releases:
All of Us Strangers (Criterion): Andrew Haigh’s sensitive film starring Andrew Scott as a screenwriter who goes back to his childhood home and starts a newfound relationship with a handsome neighbor (Paul Mescal). He then discovers his parents (Jamie Bell & Claire Foy) appear to be alive just as they were 30 years ago before they died.
The Strangers 4K UHD/Blu (Scream Factory): Creepy, fact-based horror thriller about three mysterious strangers who terrorize a young couple (Liv Tyler & Scott Speedman) in their isolated home after they return.
Viva La Muerte! (Radiance Films): A bizarre and hallucinatory war allegory about a young boy’s conflicted and repressed feelings towards his mother, whom he suspects was part of his father’s capturing during the end of the Spanish Civil War. Read my review.
Clockwatchers (Shout Factory): An overlooked but funny film of office politics starring Toni Collette, Parker Posey, Lisa Kudrow, and Alanna Ubach as temps dealing with everyday corporate oppression. It gets worse when a new permanent hire comes into the mix.
