The Stepfather

(1987) ****

Stephanie Maine's dad died some time ago and her reaction to it has been complex. She shares laughs with mom, has a budding romance with a high school classmate, has a normal social life under the circumstances -- but she also loses her temper sometimes and gets expelled for getting in fights. She's trying to understand, and needs people around who understand her. This is waaaay too complex for her new stepdad's fantasy world to accomodate.

Jerry's ideal is The Perfect American Family -- a doting wife and wholesome children to come home to, and a home in a neighborhood with other Perfect American Families. He looks around for families, wives and children, who have lost fathers -- a ready-made home to walk into and assume the role of Dad. He may have been doing this for a long time, jumping from family to family, but it's unclear for how long. All that's clear is that his method is destined to work for only a short time.


What he doesn't understand (and what will always expose him as a fraud) is that happiness is a fluctuating state. There is no Perfect American Family, and the ones that seem like they are are often the ones that wind up being the most dysfunctional. There has to be room for difficulty, for things to be sad, for compromise and growth. True happiness comes from proper fulfillment, which takes patience and acceptance.

The way Jerry takes his is like a drug -- it's sweet and happy and perfect; then he sobers up, and then it's time to wipe the slate clean. He can be a Perfect Dad right up until confronted with a situation in which he has to be a real Dad. Then it becomes clear that there's no goodness behind his kindness and cheer. It's just platitudes and facial expressions masking a very violent temper.


Stephanie's mom Susan doesn't see this right away because she needs a dose of perfect. She just needs a guy to be kind to her and make her feel desired, and Jerry knows how to act that part. He tries it on Stephanie too (because it's the only act he has). He calls her "pumpkin," presses gifts upon her -- never losing that "sincerity." But it's the wrong tone to strike with Stephanie. She mistrusts him for it.

Makes you wonder about Jerry's past kills, and the future kills he's maybe planning. Does he realize that this happy new life couldn't possibly stay happy for long? Would he want it to last forever, that sense of Family and Perfectness never fading? Or does he love the kill as much as he loves playing dad?


The performances in The Stepfather are all strong -- Terry O'Quinn (John Locke from the Lost series) is outstanding as Jerry. Also, the camerawork is very tasteful. It doesn't beat you about the head with how creative it is, but camera angles are well chosen and the dolly shots (there are a bunch) flow very well, and with a good sense of visual artistry. Definitely worthy of the cult buzz it gets.