It's been called one of the great horror movies of the 1980s. The Stepfather was released in June of 1987 and has since become a cult classic. Directed by Joseph Ruben, it starred Terry O'Quinn in the title role, as Jerry Blake, a man who had the knack of marrying into the "perfect" family and then killing the family off when he deemed that they're not perfect after all. Shelley Hack played Susan Maine, the woman who marries Jerry and is willing look past the cracks she's beginning to notice. Jill Schoelen played Stephanie, Susan's daughter by her first marriage. Stephanie doesn't like Jerry, finds him weird and is determined to find out what he is hiding.
Shelley didn't have to audition for the role. Director Joseph Ruben thought she perfect was for the role. "Shelley didn't have to test," said Ruben, "Shelley got it really off King of Comedy, because I thought she was just so believable and natural and easy. She doesn't strain on camera. And I was just knocked out by her in that movie. It was again an easy choice." He had no second thoughts about casting her in the film. But upon reading the script, Shelley initially thought Susan was a silly character (How come she never noticed what a creep Jerry is?) But as she thought more deeply about it, she realized that many people were like Susan. Many people chose to overlook the obvious, blatant flaws in their partners. So she did the film and got excellent reviews for her performance.
