Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		4.5
Overall		4.0

The Stepfather 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf September 17, 2024

Scripted by Donald E. Westlake, 1987’s “The Stepfather” has a classic set-up for suspense, analyzing the ways of a serial killer as he tries to balance delusion with bloodlust while playing the part of a perfect dad. Based on a real case of domestic horror, the feature elects to go more of a Hollywood route, playing into the trends of the decade as slasher business and exploitation bits compete for screen time with a competent psychological chiller. “The Stepfather” has the benefit of being more concerned with human elements than the usual B-movie, helped along by some terrific performances and a sharp sense of escalation from Westlake, who gives director Joseph Ruben (who would go on to refine his genre work on 1991’s “Sleeping with the Enemy”) plenty of madness to handle as a seemingly idyllic domestic experience worsens for a deranged individual.

Jerry (Terry O’Quinn) is a monster who’s recently slaughtered a family that didn’t meet his expectations, quickly covering his tracks and trying again with a different identity. One year later, he’s in Washington, married to Susan (Shelley Hack), creating a peaceful life as an ideal husband making a living as a real estate agent. Standing in the way of perfection is Stephanie (Jill Schoelen), Susan’s 16-year-old daughter, who doesn’t like Terry and his candied personality, sharing this contempt with her therapist and friends. When she accidentally witnesses Terry’s true form as a raving lunatic, she tries to find more information about his mysterious past, and her detective work is soon caught by the stepfather, who moves carefully to deny her concerns. Also on the case is Jim (Stephen Shellen), the brother of Terry’s last murdered wife, who’s hunting for information to find the hiding man, trying desperately to prevent another domestic massacre as Terry begins to detach from his invented reality.

Perhaps the most effective sequence in “The Stepfather” is its first one. We watch Jerry as he gets cleaned up in a bathroom, radically changing his appearance, finding his way into a new identity. While exiting his house, what’s happened to his family is revealed in grisly detail, with the murderer walking away from his handiwork, strolling into a new adventure with another woman. An ominous tone is set, and Ruben does a capable job sustaining menace for most of the picture, returning to Terry, who’s now claimed another bride in Susan, reviving his mission to create the perfect family life, feeding his Ward Cleaver fetish.

“The Stepfather” sets up an interesting battle of wills between Stephanie and Jerry, with the former a rebellious teen girl struggling with her emotions after the death of her biological father. Westlake paints such conflict in primary colors, but tension is felt, building something between the pair as Stephanie seeks information about Jerry’s past. More direct offerings of bloodshed are offered along the journey as Jerry starts to protect his personal history in frenzied ways, giving Ruben the violence he needs to meet marketplace demands. Most intriguing is the ferocity of Jerry’s inner demon, revealed in scenes where the stepfather explodes in private, exposing his true self as a demented, dangerous person, and Stephanie has some unfortunate timing when she witnesses a freak-out, launching suspense.

The Stepfather 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Screencaps are taken from the Blu-ray

Shout Factory originally issued "The Stepfather" on Blu-ray back in 2010 (screenshots can be viewed here), returning to the title with a UHD release, listed as a "New 2024 4K restoration." The Dolby Vision viewing experience is working with the low-budget ways of the feature and its grungy but artful cinematography. Detail reaches about as far as possible, delivering a feel for skin particulars and O'Quinn's various wispy hairstyles. Clothing choices are decently textured with sweaters and suits. Interiors offer a sense of home life, with respectably defined decorative additions. Exteriors and their autumnal displays are reasonably deep. Color is stable, with warm domestic tours and chillier neighborhood visits. Nuanced lighting is preserved, with hazy sunlight, and brighter primaries are present on style choices. Skin tones are natural. Blacks are deep, protecting shadow play. Highlights are tasteful. Grain is adequately resolved. Source is in good condition.

The Stepfather 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 2.0 DTS-HD MA mix offers a basic understanding of dialogue exchanges. Intelligibility is consistent, with emotionality and argumentative behavior balanced. Scoring supports with a clear synth sound, finding softer scenes and suspense beats appreciable. Sound effects are blunt.

The Stepfather 4K Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Commentary #1 features director Joseph Ruben.

• Commentary #2 features actress Jill Schoelen and filmmaker Jackson Stewart.

• Commentary #3 features movie critic Megan Navarro.

• Commentary #4 features movie critic Kier Gomes.

• "Phantom of the Family" (12:49, HD) is an interview with actress Jill Schoelen, who recounts her initial interest in music, with an agent spying her talents, pushing her to go out for acting roles. Exploring the 1980s, the interviewees shares the excitement around her career at the time, eventually landing her part in "The Stepfather" after auditions for features such as "Labyrinth." Some talk of characterization and process is shared, and Schoelen recalls a touch of panic with casting, as Terry O'Quinn was hired after production began. An appreciation of director Joseph Ruben is offered, described as a "gentle giant." Vancouver weather proved to be problematic, with constant rain forcing the production to cover for ruined dialogue, and Schoelen offers thoughts on the ending of "The Stepfather" and the movie's botched theatrical release.

• "The Stepfather Chronicles" (26:42, HD) is a 2009 making-of featuring interviews with author Brian Garfield, producer Jay Benson, director Joseph Ruben, cinematographer John Lindley, and actress Jill Schoelen. Garfield details the history of murderer John List, who inspired work on "The Stepfather," giving the writer a chilling tale of horror to develop into a genre story. Benson found the project, which had been kicking around for over a decade, intrigued enough to send it into production, picking up director Joseph Ruben along the way, who was incredibly careful to keep the material away from becoming yet another slasher movie. Lindley shares an anecdote about his hiring, with the job offered to him by panicked producers. The casting of Terry O'Quinn is analyzed, with the actor brought into the film at the very last minute, proving easy to work with due to his thespian focus. Time is Vancouver is recalled, challenging the production as rain and snow conspired to ruin days, forcing Ruben to fight through the weather. Some technical challenges are identified, and thoughts on the cult longevity of "The Stepfather" are shared, with the interviewees admitting hesitation about the 2009 remake.

• Image Gallery (1:42) collects film stills.

• And a Theatrical Trailer (1:57, HD) is included.

The Stepfather 4K Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

"The Stepfather" is greatly boosted by O'Quinn's commitment to character, doing everything he can to keep Jerry as complex as possible while also reaching creepy scenes of intimidation. Schoelen has her moments of adolescent moxie as well, making for a decent household war. Reuben isn't Hitchcock, occasionally failing to cover the low-budget reality of the picture, and his concept of teen excitement is fairly ridiculous, clearly showing more confidence in the depiction of evil. "The Stepfather" ultimately gives in and offers a formulaic finale, but the journey there is more intriguing, with the disintegration of Jerry's faux identity leading to sharp scenes of suspense and psychological fracture.