Review of The Stepfather (1987) by Andrew D — 30 Jul 2009

Another 1980s horror film they plan to remake. Terry O'Quinn, a very good character actor, plays a very creepy "family values" man who marries widows and divorcees with children in his endless search for "Father Knows Best" perfection. Since people are people, and not robots, he is frustrated in his quest and frequently disposes of his family, alters his appearance, assumes a new identity, and stats over again. He has recently married Shelley Hack (yes, Shelley Hack) but her daughter (Jill Schoelen) is not taken with her new "stepfather" and his 1950s attitudes.

The movie works well because O'Quinn is very believable as the titular-villian. Outwardly friendly (in his current identity, he sells real-estate), a jack-of-all-trades, seemingly the perfect neighbor, husband, and father we see glimpses of the seething rage beneath the surface. What he demands is perfection in his family life, a demand which will never be met.

Set in Seattle (and I think it was actually filmed in Seattle, I don't recall recognizing any Vancouver-area landmarks) at the tail-end of the Reagan era, this movie was a surprise hit on VHS and cable and spawned several sequels (O'Quinn was only on board for the first sequel).