What happens when the man who marries your mother isn’t what he seems? Following a tragic event involving his previous family, an unassuming individual (Dylan Walsh) begins anew with a new identity in Portland, Oregon. However, his observant stepson (Penn Badgley) senses something sinister beneath the surface. Sela Ward takes on the role of the man's intended bride, while Amber Heard appears as the stepson’s girlfriend. "The Stepfather" (2009) delivers a well-made crime thriller with touches of slasher horror, drawing from both the 1987 original and its 1989 sequel. The films are inspired by the story of mass murderer John List and incorporate elements reminiscent of movies such as "Psycho" (1960/1998), combined with aspects of coming-of-age stories like “Fright Night” (1985) and “Disturbia” (2007). Walsh delivers a convincing performance as the disturbed central character, and Badgley is adequate in his role as the teenage son. The director seems intent on featuring Heard in revealing clothing, but her extremely slender physique doesn't generate much excitement, despite her conventional attractiveness; she’s more engaging now that she has gained some weight, for example, as Mera in “Aquaman” (2018). Ultimately, this is a refreshed and somewhat more interesting take on the initial film and its follow-up. The alterations are sufficient to warrant a viewing if you're acquainted with the earlier installments. However, the plot does become somewhat foreseeable, which isn’t really surprising. The movie has a running time of 1 hour and 40 minutes and was filmed in Los Angeles & Santa Clarita, California (with studio filming taking place in Culver City). GRADE: B+

Source on TMDB