What happens when your new dad turns out to be disturbed? Following a killing spree perpetrated by a pleasant man (Terry O'Quinn) near Seattle, he establishes a fresh household using an assumed name. However, his perceptive stepdaughter (Jill Schoelen) notices troubling aspects of his character. “The Stepfather” (1987) proves to be a well-made crime thriller with horror elements mixed in. It brings to mind films such as “Psycho” (1960), “Play Misty for Me” (1971), “Halloween” (1978), “The Shining” (1980), and “Fatal Attraction” (1987), but it also shares qualities with a coming-of-age story like “The Crush” (1993) – though told in reverse. O'Quinn delivers a convincing performance as the unstable man at the center of the story, while Schoelen evokes comparisons to a younger Demi Moore. The soundtrack, typical of its era, feels somewhat dated now. The movie has a running time of 1 hour and 29 minutes and was filmed in the Vancouver area, specifically including Edgemont Village. Additional cast members include Shelley Hack (the girl’s mother), Charles Lanyer (her therapist), and Stephen Shellen (the brother who seeks justice for the first family). GRADE: B+

Source on TMDB