The Stepfather (2009 film)
The Stepfather is a 2009 American psychological horror film directed by Nelson McCormick and starring Dylan Walsh, Sela Ward, and Amber Heard. It is a remake of the 1987 film of the same name.
Plot:
The film centers on David Harris (Dylan Walsh), a man who insinuates himself into the lives of widowed and divorced women with families, presenting himself as the perfect stepfather. However, when his facade begins to crack, revealing a deeply disturbed and violent personality, the families he targets find themselves in mortal danger. The film follows the Harding family, led by Susan (Sela Ward) and her returning son Michael (Penn Badgley), as they come to suspect David is not who he seems. Michael becomes increasingly wary of David's controlling and manipulative behavior and begins to investigate his past. As Michael delves deeper, he uncovers a trail of lies and violence, realizing David is a serial killer who murders his families when they fail to live up to his idealized expectations.
Cast:
- Dylan Walsh as David Harris/Grady Edwards
- Sela Ward as Susan Harding
- Penn Badgley as Michael Harding
- Amber Heard as Kelly Porter
- Sherry Stringfield as Karen
- Paige Turco as Jackie Kerns
- Jon Tenney as Jay Harding
- Nelly as Detective Brock
Production:
The film was produced by Screen Gems and Maverick Films and distributed by Sony Pictures Releasing.
Reception:
The Stepfather (2009) received generally negative reviews from critics, with criticism directed towards its lack of originality and suspense compared to the original film. Many reviewers felt the remake failed to capture the unsettling atmosphere and psychological depth of the 1987 version. The film garnered a low score on review aggregation websites. While some praised Walsh's performance, it was not enough to overcome the perceived shortcomings of the script and direction.
Box Office:
Despite the negative reviews, The Stepfather performed moderately well at the box office, earning back its production budget.
Relationship to the 1987 Film:
The 2009 film is a direct remake of the 1987 film The Stepfather, directed by Joseph Ruben. While it follows a similar plot, it is considered by many to be inferior to the original in terms of suspense, character development, and overall quality. Both films explore themes of family dysfunction, idealized expectations, and the hidden darkness that can exist beneath a seemingly perfect facade.
Themes:
The film explores themes of trust, deception, the ideal family unit, and the dangers of societal expectations. It also delves into the psychological motivations of a man driven to violence by his inability to reconcile reality with his warped vision of perfection.