The Film
Director Nelson McCormick decided to remake this 1987 film starring Terry O'Quinn (LOST) after a list of top thrillers was released and he hadn't even heard of the original. This retelling of The Stepfather, starring Dylan Walsh (Nip/Tuck) in the lead never quite tells the viewer how or why he discards the family he tries to be involved with once things go sour.
David Harris (Walsh) starts to slip up during this courtship where the young family also comes with a teenage son -- a little older than he can control. Frustration builds as everyone but the wife-to-be (Sela Ward) notices any of the warning signs. With the audience in on the plot, The Stepfather trails its viewers in where the storyline is going.
For another look at The Stepfather, check out Lora Grady's review.
The Pictures
Cinematographers in this film did a good job of emulating the lush, green Pacific Northwest despite the fact The Stepfather was filmed in a Los Angeles suburb. A soft focus on the film's 2.40:1 picture observes detail in the backdrop of what's happening. Despite the soft edges of the picture, the Blu-ray accurately captures skin tones, particularly when they're on prominent display in the often-used backyard pool.
The Sound
From the first moment where David Harris is shown grooming himself and walking out of a house strewn with the bodies of his previous "family," the score has a stringy, airy feel of suspense. The foreboding chords heard in 5.1 channel DTS-HD Master Audio blend effectively behind the dialog of the film while other sounds such as a videogame played too loud in another part of the house, or the distant splash in the pool miss the opportunities that surround sound can offer. When the film turns to action as the titular character tries to close the door on this new family, we felt the sound was a bit disjointed. The soundtrack could have done a better job conveying the underlying menace in the rain, shattering mirrors, and deadly struggles around the room.
The Extras
The Stepfather on Blu-ray includes two featurettes, commentary with the director and actor Dylan Walsh, and a gag reel featuring the slip-ups that happen while filming any movie. Considering the film's dark plot, the gag reel didn't feature anything all hat funny, and even having one may not be appropriate for this film [hey, film stock is expensive - might as well get some use out of it - Ed.]. The featurette "Open House: Making the Film" answers questions such as why remake a film that's just 20 years old, and fills in a few other blanks.
Final Thoughts
It's unclear why exactly this film was remade -- even though the director explains this point in the "Making Of" featurette -- and the film is lacking in what it could have been. At times, this Blu-ray isn't much more than a pretty picture -- worth a rental perhaps, but this step parent will have trouble winning over a permanent space in anyone's home.
Product Details
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