Review of The Stepfather (2009) by Filipeneto — 04 Oct 2020

When I decided to see this film I didn't know it was a remake of an older one, but now I'm willing to see it too. And it should not be the first one to explore the normal discomfort that everyone feels when they start having a stepfather. In this film, however, that stepfather is a dangerous killer who attacks young widows or divorces. However, I would not consider it a horror film because it is so light that it does not scare. It involves, it creates suspense, but not enough to become scary.

In the film, the script shows Michael's difficult adaptation to his mother's new boyfriend, David. At first, things seem to be going smoothly, but the behavior of this new member of the family begins to raise suspicions, as he avoids any photograph and any mention of his own past. The film, however, never hides what he really is: right from the start, the perverse personality of this stepfather is evident when we see the way he kills an entire family. I think that was one less point for the film, which loses any mystery. The film succeeds in creating a good tense atmosphere as we get to know the characters and establish empathic bonds with them.

The cast has some familiar names, but it is not a film that adds much to the career of any of those involved, I think. Dylan Walsh was quite good in the role of the wicked stepfather, and his performance evolved in quality as the character became increasingly neurotic and mentally unstable. Sela Ward has also done an excellent job and is absolutely perfect in the role of a middle-aged woman, recently divorced and trying to give love a new chance while trying to remain a good mother. Penn Badgley was good in the role of Michael, although he doesn't always behave in a way that I find credible and logical. In the negative, I would mention the poor performance of Amber Heard, who seems to believe that it is enough to appear almost naked or in a bikini to play a character. Let's face it, it's not just her fault, director Nelson McCormick and screenwriter J.S. Cardone explored her physical attributes a lot, forgetting to develop her character. The film also features good appearances by Jon Tenney, Paige Turco and Sherry Stringfield in secondary characters.

Not being a film that stands out in technical aspects, it knows how to maintain a good quality standard within what we are expecting to find in an average film: we have good cinematography, a regular use of light and color to create an atmosphere, satisfactory effects and good sets and costumes.