X
- 2009
- PG-13
- Screen Gems
- 1 h 41 m
- 2009
- PG-13
- Screen Gems
- 1 h 41 m
Summary 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? (Sony)
Directed By: Nelson McCormick
- 2009
- PG-13
- Screen Gems
- 1 h 41 m
- 2009
- PG-13
- Screen Gems
- 1 h 41 m
The Stepfather
33
5.3
Where to Watch
Summary 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? (Sony)
Directed By: Nelson McCormick
Where to Watch
Top Cast
Metascore
Generally Unfavorable
Based on 11 Critic Reviews
33
9% Positive
1 Review
1 Review
64% Mixed
7 Reviews
7 Reviews
27% Negative
3 Reviews
3 Reviews
Metascore
Generally Unfavorable
Based on 11 Critic Reviews
33
9% Positive
1 Review
1 Review
64% Mixed
7 Reviews
7 Reviews
27% Negative
3 Reviews
3 Reviews
Tthe film is all of a piece, a handsome, thoughtfully crafted production that generates a mounting terror securely anchored by assured performances, consistent psychological persuasiveness and believable dialogue. What's most chilling about The Stepfather is that it was inspired by an actual incident in New Jersey in 1971.
The kickoff is good -- the finale effectively literalizes the expression “broken home” -- but director Nelson McCormick doesn’t keep things “taut” in between. Rather than do scenes right the first time, he tends to déjà vu them (this usually involves Amber Heard, wearing not-too-much).
User Score
Mixed or Average
Based on 42 User Ratings
5.3
31% Positive
13 Ratings
13 Ratings
45% Mixed
19 Ratings
19 Ratings
24% Negative
10 Ratings
10 Ratings
User Score
Mixed or Average
Based on 42 User Ratings
5.3
31% Positive
13 Ratings
13 Ratings
45% Mixed
19 Ratings
19 Ratings
24% Negative
10 Ratings
10 Ratings
It's not that bad acted, it's entertaining and it's just some mindless fun. I mean the situations the characters were in were pretty unbelievable and the ending was just too much over the top but it's a mindless popcorn entertainment like most PG-13 horror movies these days.
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When I decided to see this film I didn't know it was a remake of an older one, but now I'm willing to see it too. And it should not be the first one to explore the normal discomfort that everyone feels when they start having a stepfather. In this film, however, that stepfather is a dangerous killer who attacks young widows or divorces. However, I would not consider it a horror film because it is so light that it does not scare. It involves, it creates suspense, but not enough to become scary.
In the film, the script shows Michael's difficult adaptation to his mother's new boyfriend, David. At first, things seem to be going smoothly, but the behavior of this new member of the family begins to raise suspicions, as he avoids any photograph and any mention of his own past. The film, however, never hides what he really is: right from the start, the perverse personality of this stepfather is evident when we see the way he kills an entire family. I think that was one less point for the film, which loses any mystery. The film succeeds in creating a good tense atmosphere as we get to know the characters and establish empathic bonds with them.
The cast has some familiar names, but it is not a film that adds much to the career of any of those involved, I think. Dylan Walsh was quite good in the role of the wicked stepfather, and his performance evolved in quality as the character became increasingly neurotic and mentally unstable. Sela Ward has also done an excellent job and is absolutely perfect in the role of a middle-aged woman, recently divorced and trying to give love a new chance while trying to remain a good mother. Penn Badgley was good in the role of Michael, although he doesn't always behave in a way that I find credible and logical. In the negative, I would mention the poor performance of Amber Heard, who seems to believe that it is enough to appear almost naked or in a bikini to play a character. Let's face it, it's not just her fault, director Nelson McCormick and screenwriter J.S. Cardone explored her physical attributes a lot, forgetting to develop her character. The film also features good appearances by Jon Tenney, Paige Turco and Sherry Stringfield in secondary characters.
Not being a film that stands out in technical aspects, it knows how to maintain a good quality standard within what we are expecting to find in an average film: we have good cinematography, a regular use of light and color to create an atmosphere, satisfactory effects and good sets and costumes.
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A clumsy remake of the 1987 cult thriller.
As such things go, it’s not bad: slick and proficient, The Stepfather 2.0 gets the adrenaline pumping, but the original has the brains.
This remake turns a fondly remembered horror/thriller into a mild and tedious suspense film.
Walsh is just a dumb bully who can’t see more than one or two steps ahead. He’s doomed to generic slasher villainy, and the film thoughtlessly obliges.
It was pretty good. It could have been way better though. It was entertaining and very intense most of the time but unfortunately the suspense was limited. I really hope there is a second one because it will out do this one big time since the writers know what the flaws are in this one now. Plus, the second one should really be rated R.
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Nicely acted remake of a classic thriller, but the promising beginning turns into dragged out and predictable plot. The script suffers from major illogicalities and the pacing is off until the very end. An average attempt at a thriller mostly relying on cheap jump scares. Skip this!
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C’est une sorte de nanar qui n’en a pas l’air a priori mais qui en a tous les attributs : un téléfilm de luxe si l’on peut dire et un thriller de pacotille… C’est plat, c’est fade, c’est téléphoné et en plus, ça rame ! Que des inconnus là-dedans de toute façon, des comédiens qui jouent comme des pieds si ce n’est une certaine Amber Heard dont vous avez sans doute entendu parler…
Et ça tombe bien, car on la voit de temps en temps dans la piscine…. très jolie ma foi mais contre toute attente elle n’a pas de cul, cette petite, hélas ! rien à redire sur le reste mais bon, est-ce que ça va suffire ? il suffirait justement qu’elle couine quelques chansons à la mode en tortillant du boule pour qu’elle connaisse un franc succès international…! mais pas de bol, pas de cul, pas de chocolat pour cette gentille pétasse qui a d’ailleurs disparu des écrans après quelques rôles ici et là.
Quoi qu’il en soit, ce pseudo-thriller qui n’avance pas est aussi soporifique qu’un épisode de feulleton français éventé et rediffusé pour la 1457ème fois… putain, bonjour les dégâts !
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Production Company
Screen Gems,
Maverick Films,
Imprint Entertainment,
Granada Entertainment
Release Date Oct 16, 2009
Duration 1 h 41 m
Rating PG-13
Tagline This fall Daddy's home.
Website
http://www.lebeaupere.com/
Awards
Teen Choice Awards
• 2 Nominations
