The Stepfather
Screen Gems | Release Date: October 16, 2009 CRITIC SCORE DISTRIBUTION
33
METASCORE
Generally unfavorable reviews based on 11 Critic Reviews
Positive:
1
Mixed:
7
Negative:
3
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Critic Reviews

Critic scorePublicationBy date
60
VarietyJohn Anderson
McCormick's Stepfather boasts a decent script by J.S. Cardone, but it seems to have been made in a bubble, as if nothing had transpired in the world of slasher/horror since the late Donald Westlake ("The Grifters") wrote the much-respected original. Read full review
50
Entertainment WeeklyOwen Gleiberman
The trouble with the movie, apart from its rather monotonous dourness of tone, is that everyone in the family, especially the reformed-delinquent high school son (Penn Badgley), comes off as tougher, smarter, and quicker on the draw than the stepfather who's supposed to be outfoxing them. Read full review
50
Boston GlobeTy Burr
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. Read full review
50
Chicago ReaderCliff Doerksen
Whereas the 1987 horror hit The Stepfather was top-notch drive-in fare, this perfunctory retread had a tame, made-for-TV feel. Read full review
50
The New York TimesStephen Holden
A clumsy remake of the 1987 cult thriller. Read full review
50
L.A. WeeklyNick Pinkerton
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). Read full review
40
EmpireStaff (Not credited)
Cliché-ridden and full of plot-holes. Read full review
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