I recently viewed the remake of "The Stepfather" and it so would have been better if I'd never seen the original with the incredible performance by Terry O'Quinn. I watched the original back in the 80's and O'Quinn who I remembered as the college football recruiter from "All The Right Moves" was definitely not someone that young Mr. Stefen Djordjevic should have dissappointed..
The Stepfather (1987) - (Terry O'Quinn, Shelly Hack, Jill Schoelen)
Many people today also know Terry O'Quinn as John Locke from "Lost", but not all realize that some of his best work came much earlier in his career, as a psycho in "The Stepfather". O'Quinn proves he is a master at being very creepy and insane in this masterpiece of family life horror. When Jerry Blake's families don't live up to his wholesome, all-American family expectations, The Stepfather simply kills them. After he disposes of a family he is on to a new town, with a new name, a new job, and as soon as he can smooth talk his way in.. a new family. Jill Schoelen is awesome as the rebellious daughter that eventually becomes the stepfather's worst nemesis. I've been lucky to never have to deal with a stepfather, but if it ever happened.. this movie would always be in the back of my mind.
The Stepfather II (1989) - (Terry O'Quinn, Meg Foster, Jonathan Brandis, Caroline Williams, Mitchell Laurence)
Terry O'Quinn returns as The Stepfather in one of those rare sequels that measures up to the original. The secret? Terry O'Quinn is so over the top, you might actually start to think he really is psychotic. The story is essentially the same as the first, the only difference is, O'Quinn just escaped from the mental institution where he was being held after killing all the people in original "The Stepfather". O'Quinn obviously gets right down to business of starting a new family after his escape. His new wife to be is played by Meg Foster who could challenge Keith Gordon for the most crazy eyes of the 80's. The Stepfather's son to be is played by Jonathan Brandis who sadly could never escape the demons that haunted him in real life. (We miss you Jonathan!) People are always talking about good 'double features'.. Stepfather I and II should definitely be on this list.
The Stepfather III (1992) - (Robert Wightman, Priscilla Barnes, David Tom, Season Hubley)
No Terry O'Quinn and not from the 80's? Disaster! If you feel you must watch every film in a series once you start it.. then that is the only reason I would recommend watching Stepfather III. Be warned however, it is pretty weak in comparison to the first two movies. Robert Wightman is not a very convincing psycho at all, and the movie almost makes fun of itself even though the cover art leads one believe it is a serious horror flick.
Fans?
[ 05. July 2011, 07:43: Message edited by: Valley ]
Posted by Veronica Sawyer (Member # 2221) on :
I was just talking about the step father movies last night with someone! Most people don't realize that the stepfather movie that came out last year is actually a remake. Valley, what did you think of the remake? I thought it was ok....nothing special.
Posted by aTomiK (Member # 6575) on :
I have the first two movies but havenīt watched them yet. It sounds like a really good double feature Valley, so iīll try to check them out later this week.
Posted by pettyfan (Member # 2260) on :
I've seen the first two and the remake (which, um, I liked) but haven't seen the third. It's not available on DVD is it?
Posted by xchazx (Member # 7158) on :
i re-watched the first stepfather movie a few months ago. i'll have to remember to get part II.
Posted by Veronica Sawyer (Member # 2221) on :
Just watched the original Stepfather movie for the first time tonight and I thought it was an excellent thriller/horror movie. Great atmosphere, acting, suspense, character development, etc. It seemed very real, almost like watching a documentary. I thought the remake was decent, but now that I've seen the original, it seems like an episode of "The Hills," with it's SoCal locations and just the glossy look of it all. The original had a grittiness that made the story much more effective to me.
Looking forward to seeing part 2. Don't think I will bother with part 3 though....
Posted by aTomiK (Member # 6575) on :
I watched The Stepfather movies last night.
The first one is a great horror thriller. Creepy atmosphere and story. Terry O'Quinn was fantastic. He was born to do this role. I really cared what would happen to the Schoelen/Hack characters and thatīs a big plus.
I loved the score from ex-YES, ex-Moody Blues, progrock man Patrick Moraz. Perfect horror movie stuff.
The sequel wasnīt quite as strong but it was still a good flick. I didnīt feel so strong about what would happen to the Foster/Brandis family and that Matty character played by Caroline Williams was so nosy that i almost was on O'Quinnīs side
Recommended!
[ 29. February 2012, 09:20: Message edited by: aTomiK ]
Posted by Valley (Member # 1322) on :
Watched "The Stepfather" remake awhile back and it stayed fairly true to the original.. but without Terry O'Quinn and Jill Schoelen it just can't compare. Kind of like new "The Karate Kid" .. good effort and it presents the story to a new generation.. but it is hard to overcome an already brilliant film from the past.
Posted by Pyro (Member # 7658) on :
I watched the remake a couple times too myself..It wasn't terrible. But I didn't put too much stock into it considering how much I really enjoy the original. You're too right Valley about Terry O'Quinn & Jill Schoelen. They're splendid in the original. I think I already mentioned that this was the movie that certified my ongoing infatuation with Jill. But O'Quinn is certainly not one to be overlooked in this either. And I think he did a fine job in the sequel too. Part 3??..lol..Let's not even bother with that one.
So overall, Yeah, 1 & 2 are well worth a viewing if you haven't seen and are any kind of a slasher fan at all.
Heck, I even still think the opening sequence in part 1 is one of the better opening scenes in any slasher flick in history..indeed very creepy. But very Good! But, don't take my word for it...you be the judge and check it out for yourself.
Guys, I love the original "The Stepfather," for all the reasons that you've stated: O'Quinn is brilliant, the true personification of "normal-looking evil"; Schoelen is great; and that opening scene, well, Alfred Hitch couldn't have improved upon it. I would also add that Joseph Ruben, a fine director of interesting films, like "Sleeping with the Enemy," "Dreamscape," and "True Believer" did a nice job. And lest we forget the film's high pedigree of a story and screenplay by novelists Brian Garfield ("Death Wish") and Donald E. Westlake (many wonderful noir books, with his "The Hunter" made into the fantastic Lee Marvin film "Point Blank" (1967) and the less-than-fantastic "Payback" with Mel Gibson). You couldn't really fail with this line-up of talent--and they didn't. It's an extremely effective thriller, one of my favorites.
Posted by the young warrior (Member # 9554) on :
i love the first 2 stepfather films but i can only vaguely remember bits of part 3,am i right in thinking (warning! potential spoilers) it opens with the stepfather having plastic surgery to conceal his indetity and he then goes on to murder the surgeon as so to keep his operation a secret,also at the finale does he get thrown into some kind of wood shredder?
from what i remember it wasn't a patch on parts 1 or 2, but that's not surprising really what with the absence of terry o'quinn plus notable supporting cast members such as jill schoelen,meg foster and the late jonathan brandis. i'd go as far as saying terry o'quinn is to the character of jerry blake as to what anthony perkins is to the character of norman bates ,there is no substitute for them! they truly fit there roles like a glove!
[ 05. April 2012, 10:22: Message edited by: the young warrior ]
Posted by Pyro (Member # 7658) on :
Just watched these again not too long ago. Of course my original views on the original first film still have not changed. I still love it.
Part two was a little bit more enjoyable for me this time around than I remember from when I saw it the first time years ago.
And part 3?...LOL..whatever..
So yeah, my favs of this series happen to be in the order they were released..1, 2, 3...pretty easy huh?
Posted by xchazx (Member # 7158) on :
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