6.4 | / 10 |
Users | 3.1 | |
Reviewer | 2.5 | |
Overall | 3.1 |
When a teenager returns home from military school, he begins to suspect his mother’s new boyfriend is not the charming man he appears to be in this riveting, psychological thriller.
Starring: Dylan Walsh, Sela Ward, Penn Badgley, Amber Heard, Sherry StringfieldHorror | 100% |
Thriller | 74% |
Mystery | 11% |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 2.40:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.39:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
French: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
Portuguese: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
Spanish: Dolby Digital 5.1
English, English SDH, French, Portuguese, Spanish
50GB Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
BD-Live
movieIQ
Region free
Movie | 1.5 | |
Video | 4.5 | |
Audio | 4.0 | |
Extras | 2.0 | |
Overall | 2.5 |
Who am I here?
It's remake time in the land of movie magic, and the latest entrant into the annals of blah, bland,
and blasphemous is the The Stepfather, a film following up on the picture of the same
name released all the way back in the year of our Lord, nineteen hundred and eighty-seven
(spelling it out makes it sound older and more "worthy" of a remake). Glossed up and dumbed
down, this 2009 "Horror"-slash-"Thriller" is nothing but a retread of Horror-lite movies past.
Haven't
seen the original? No problem. Viewers familiar with pseudo-Horror/Thriller convention will have
this one figured out just by looking at the poster, and indeed, the film follows the formula so
precisely that any semblance of suspense is canceled out by the picture's insistence
on doing everything it can to stay within strict, and apparently inflexible according to The
Stepfather, genre guidelines. The Stepfather
is
so one-dimensional and by-the-book that one can't help but think that there's going to be
some
major twist at some point to lull the audience out of a false sense of security, but no, the film
plays out exactly as expected. Everyone expected to live lives, everyone expected to die dies, and
the final shot is the final insult in what is one of cinema's laziest forays into Remake-ville yet.
Gourmet cookies? Really? Stepfather prefers a tub of raw cookie dough. My preciousssss....
The Stepfather moves into Blu-ray and yields and incredibly film-like and altogether splendid 1080p, 2.40:1-framed transfer. This is a natural, high quality image, retaining a slight layer of film grain that allows for a nearly perfect cinematic appearance. Colors are incredibly rich and natural in tone, and the film sports a diverse and eye-popping palette that sparkles in every scene. Whether bright green grass, party adornments, or the striking blue shade of a pristine backyard swimming pool, The Stepfather delivers a consistently convincing color scheme that practically places the viewer in and around the Harding household. Detail is exceptionally natural throughout, with faces -- and that of Dylan Walsh in particular -- showcasing every bump, line, and imperfection with precision. Additionally, the image is sharp as a tack and only rarely shows even a hint of softness, and it also features a deep, realistic appearance that, in addition to the colors and detail, brings the image to sparkling life. The print is absolutely pristine with nary a hint of debris or other distracting artifacts, leaving only the fine film grain to convey a strong filmic appearance. Unfortunately, blacks do suffer from an unnatural tone, appearing a bit too bright and altogether unconvincing in a few shots, and flesh tones sometimes showcase a slight red push. Otherwise, The Stepfather makes for a handsome transfer that's another in a long lineage of high quality images from Sony.
Sony sets up The Stepfather with a technically proficient but fairly routine DTS-HD MA 5.1 lossless soundtrack. Indeed, this mix is fine in almost every regard, but there's not much to speak of in terms of out-of-the-ordinary or otherwise noteworthy elements. Sound effects do pan naturally across the soundstage, and there's often a rich, fulfilling feel to the track; never does it seem cramped or in any way stuck in one speaker or portion of the soundstage. Atmospherics are nicely rendered, too; the constant buzz of an overhead light in the basement makes for a constant companion in appropriate scenes, and the random background din of the party sequence early in the film transports listeners into the midst of the festivities. Music enjoys fine clarity in all its generic Horror/Thriller glory, whether front-and-center or playing as background noise in a lounge scene or through Michael's stereo. Surrounds are implemented sparsely but effectively; the thunderstorm as heard near the end of the film does well to fill the back speakers with a realistic tone that convinces the listener of the approaching storm. Unfortunately, dialogue can sound a bit uneven, but that's the only true mar on what is a technically strong but sonically uninteresting soundtrack.
The Stepfather contains several extra features. First is a commentary track with Director Nelson McCormick and Actors Penn Badgley and Dylan Walsh. They speak on the scenes that share similarities with the original The Stepfather, the film's themes and "David's" motivations, shooting with a particular rating in mind, shooting styles and equipment, how the participants came to be involved in the picture, filming locations, cuts and edits, visual effects enhancements, and plenty of other pertinent and anecdotal observations. This is a solid track that listeners might find worthwhile should they be so inclined. Open House: Marking the Film (1080p, 20:12) features information on cast assembly and their performances, shooting in a Pasadena Craftsman home, shooting styles, assembling particular scenes, storyboarding, the work and talent of Director Nelson McCormick, and the nature of the story and the message of the film. Visualizing the Stunts (1080p, 11:35) takes viewers behind-the-scenes of the film's stunt work. Also included is a gag reel (480p, 4:52); the film's theatrical trailer (1080p, 2:33); six TV ads (1080i, 0:32 each); BD-Live functionality; Sony's MovieIQ connectivity; and additional 1080p trailers for The Boondock Saints II: All Saint's Day, Armored, Soul Power, 2012, The Damned United, Zombieland, "Breaking Bad," Michael Jackson's This is It, Prom Night, The Exorcism of Emily Rose, and Universal Soldier: Regeneration.
Another day, another terrible remake. The Stepfather is certainly far from the worst movie out there, or even the worst of 2009. Its short list of positives -- all of which are technical rather than thematic in nature -- simply cannot save an otherwise terrible movie that's full of holes, unresolved or completely superfluous character traits and developments, and a plot that proves to be one of the most predictable and generic of all time. The Stepfather might work well for someone that's never seen a movie before, but for those with a few Horror/Thriller films under the belt -- and Heaven help genre veterans -- this one's really a stinky stinker of a movie. Sony's Blu-ray release, on the other hand, is of the studio's usual high quality output. The disc features a borderline reference-quality transfer, a fine but fairly boring lossless soundtrack, and an appropriately small collection of extras. The Stepfather is worth a rental for anyone that doesn't want to have think even in the slightest, but otherwise, this one's best left sitting pretty on the shelf.
2D-only version
2009
2006
2007
Unrated
2009
2016
2010
Collector's Edition
1991
Unrated Director's Cut
2009
Director's Cut
2005
Collector's Edition
2009
2006
2009
Unrated Version
2008
2010
Scre4m
2011
2000
2004
Unrated Collector's Edition
2007
Unrated
2010
Collector's Edition
1988