The Stepfather

This 2009 film is a remake of a generally well-regarded film from 1987 that I have not seen. I believe it is considered an unnecessary remake, but having not seen the first one I can't throw too many stones at it. I will give it some credit for being slickly made and containing some nicely done suspense.

Dylan Walsh starts as the title character. As the film begins he alters his appearance after slaughtering an entire family on Christmas Day. He then travels to Portland, while the police have no idea who he is or where he went, as he is very meticulous about making sure he has no identification--he pays for everything in cash, and has no records.

He then meets Sela Ward, a recent divorcee, in the supermarket. He charms her, and six months later they are engaged. But she has an older son, Penn Badgely, who has returned from military school, and immediately suspects him of being fishy.

The film might have been more interesting if we didn't know Walsh was a psychotic killer from the beginning. Keeping the audience in the dark along with the characters might have made for more suspense. Of course, this would have drastically changed the film, as Walsh has to kill people who are on to him, including a nosy neighbor who sees a sketch who looks like him on America's Most Wanted.

The film is fairly well directed by Nelson McCormick, who doesn't complicate it much. This is not a bad film to watch on the late late show.

I should add that the film fits into Amber Heard because she co-stars as Badgley's girlfriend. There are many shots of her in a bikini, and they are the best reasons to see the film for men (and boys, too).