The Stepfather

It’s been called as one of the great horror movies of the 1980s, the cult classic film, The Stepfather, was released on DVD this October three days prior to the release of its remake. The Stepfather was originally released on January 25, 1987. It has since been elevated to cult classic. The new DVD contains a remastered version of the original film and also contains all-new bonus features.

The Stepfather
aka Stepfather I
[theatrical release]
filmed in 1986
(released January 25, 1987)
Horror/Thriller
Directed by Joseph Ruben
Written by Carolyn Lefcourt, Brian Garfield

Cast:

Terry O'Quinn as Henry Morrison/Jerry Blake/Bill Hodgkins
Jill Schoelen as Stephanie Maine
Shelley Hack as Susan Blake
Charles Lanyer as Dr. Bondurant
Stephen Shellen as Jim Ogilvie

Plot:

Terry O'Quinn stars as Jerry Blake, as a psychotic killer obsessed with instantly finding and being part of the “perfect” family, perfect according to his standards, which are pretty lofty. When Jerry is disappointed, he slaughters his family and moves on. A year after his last “disappointment”, he is now married to Susan (Shelley Hack) whose teenage daughter Stephanie (Jill Schoelen) isn’t quite comfortable with her new stepfather and becomes increasingly resistant to Jerry. And as the relationship between stepfather and stepdaughter deteriorates, Jerry gets ready to move on. And the horror begins.

Summary:

As Terry O'Quinn’s performance in the film was a standout, Shelley Hack herself gave a very impressive performance as Jerry’s trusting wife, Susan Blake. As mother, as spouse and as a mother protecting her child, Shelley was right on the dot. Although she had already been receiving good reviews for her past efforts, it was in this film that she received glowing reviews.