I grew up in a household with an abusive stepfather, and I couldn't make it through the first movie when I was a teen in the 90's. It hit a little too close to home and cast a light on some very real fears that I was not ready to confront. I think anyone that's experienced real-life parental abuse would find these movies more than a little disturbing and frightening.
I'd also say that Jerry's 'Who am I here?' is a general reference to his lack of identity. Jerry doesn't have a sense of self, but instead a carefully constructed facade composed of what he thinks the ideal family man looks like. It's why he keeps switching identities and has trouble maintaining the illusion. He's in danger of losing himself, whatever he is at the time. Also, his sense of self is predicated on maintaining the world he needs to stay stable. So when cracks starts to show in his family life, it cracks him too.
Same here and the sequel was great also. I love the dark humor in these two flicks. 🤡 Can't get enough of these great movies. Long Live "Good" Horror Movies , They Rule !
Someone once asked me to describe the psychology of a sociopath & a narcissist...I told that person to watch 'The Stepfather' films (more particularly the original 1987 movie)....that character fits the mold if ever there is one, in my opinion... very entertaining horror flick btw. 😁👍
Jack Torrence's mask was only metaphorical, only in the book, and HE was actually the mask for something else-- technically still making him the face. Don't think many people would call HIM "not great" in that regard.
I Saw All Three Stepfather Movies On Shout Factory TV Channel Back in 2019 And The Stepfather's 1 And 2 Are Over The Edge Scary But The Third One Put My Whole Brain To Sleep.
What makes the movie is the performance of Terry O Quinn. He makes you wince with his jarring transitions from charming family man to violent psychopath
I absolutely agree about the opening scene. As soon as it dissolved to a year later, I thought "That could have been a short film entirely on its own." Jerry is a fascinating character, terrifying in his seeming blandness. In some ways he reminds me of a con artist in a episode of Criminal Minds, who resorted to killing his marks when he slipped up from juggling too many aliases. Like that character Jerry feels like a psychopath but without antisocial personality disorder motivating him to kill; violence is merely his plan B. And though a rational mind would simply abandon one life to start another without stopping to kill anyone, to him I imagine it serves as a kind of justice. As he posits: "Perhaps they disappointed him." The little details tell us so much about Jerry. The fact that he stops to tidy up a bit of the crime scene on his way out but doesn't try to give it a proper clean (a la the obsessive-compulsive Mr Sophistication from The House That Jack Built) suggests that he's a man who likes things a certain way ("a little order around here"). He knew he was never going to return to that house but still straightened a chair and put a toy away simply because that was the correct way for them to be and he could spare the time. Given his strict (presumably abusive) childhood and love of all things old-fashioned (he looks forty in the 80s but dresses and watches TV from the 50s) show that his value system was formed young and never evolved, I'm guessing as a trauma response. Maybe young Jerry looked at the happy (fictional) families on TV and thought if he could just get a life like theirs, everything would be OK. Another detail I love is that in what feels like half his scenes, Jerry is either holding or adjacent to one or more potential weapons which to anyone else would be perfectly innocuous household objects (knives, tools, etc). However, since we know what he's done and will probably do again, every single one feels like a Chekov's Gun just waiting to fire. Final thought: when Steph witnesses his basement freakout he refers to himself as "we" a couple of times: "What we need is a little order around here" and "We are going to keep this family together, you had better believe it". This latter statement comes after he says something that sounds like "let me out" or "let me at 'em". I was hoping these details would be explored more in the film but they never come up again, but I wonder if they were hinting at some kind of Jekyll and Hyde (or Hyde and Worse Hyde) situation, though it doesn't quite match depictions of Dissociative Identity Disorder in other media (Split, United States of Tara, etc).
This is one of my favorite films also. Skip the remake. It's honestly one of the worst... Your standard PG13 post 2005 Sony remakes made by people who didn't understand the original film, didn't respect the original film and only used the existing IP to sell something they thought would be profitable. The original film is perfect.
I got to watch this gem for the first time because of JoBlo's Horror team's video they did on it last year. Thank you for putting great movies on my radar! o7
I saw the second one first cuz I had a crush on Jonathan Brandis as a kid. And I didn’t know the story about John list and how this was based on a true story until a few years ago!
Who is planning to pull their copy of The Step Father & The Step Father 2 from their huge horror movie collection tonight to watch as a double feature tonight, whom also has two thumbs ? This guy. 🤡
I grew up in a household with an abusive stepfather, and I couldn't make it through the first movie when I was a teen in the 90's. It hit a little too close to home and cast a light on some very real fears that I was not ready to confront. I think anyone that's experienced real-life parental abuse would find these movies more than a little disturbing and frightening.
It never truly heals
I'd also say that Jerry's 'Who am I here?' is a general reference to his lack of identity. Jerry doesn't have a sense of self, but instead a carefully constructed facade composed of what he thinks the ideal family man looks like. It's why he keeps switching identities and has trouble maintaining the illusion. He's in danger of losing himself, whatever he is at the time. Also, his sense of self is predicated on maintaining the world he needs to stay stable. So when cracks starts to show in his family life, it cracks him too.
I will always love the original movie. Terry O’Quinn was absolutely amazing in the role.
This is one my favorite movies the title character/ actor is so campy and insidious. Stepfather 2 is also very good
Same here and the sequel was great also. I love the dark humor in these two flicks. 🤡 Can't get enough of these great movies. Long Live "Good" Horror Movies , They Rule !
Someone once asked me to describe the psychology of a sociopath & a narcissist...I told that person to watch 'The Stepfather' films (more particularly the original 1987 movie)....that character fits the mold if ever there is one, in my opinion... very entertaining horror flick btw. 😁👍
Stepfather the greatest killer not to wear a mask.
Technically, he is wearing a mask. Just Metaphorically.
@wstine79 facts! You got me he was changing his appearance, and in the totally underrated pt 3 got plastic surgery.
Jack Torrence's mask was only metaphorical, only in the book, and HE was actually the mask for something else-- technically still making him the face. Don't think many people would call HIM "not great" in that regard.
@@wstine79lmao; “metaphorically speaking” thinking of Jim for the mask 😅
I Saw All Three Stepfather Movies On Shout Factory TV Channel Back in 2019 And The Stepfather's 1 And 2 Are Over The Edge Scary But The Third One Put My Whole Brain To Sleep.
What makes the movie is the performance of Terry O Quinn. He makes you wince with his jarring transitions from charming family man to violent psychopath
Spectacular! Thank you so much for the heartfelt and concise analysis. ❤
Thank you!
Terry O'Quinn can play a good wholesome character and I'd still wouldn't trust him
I feel the same about Everett McGill ever since seeing him in The People Under the Stairs.
excellent, simple thriller/horror...one of the creepiest characters ever, and being real makes him truly horrifying!
I absolutely agree about the opening scene. As soon as it dissolved to a year later, I thought "That could have been a short film entirely on its own."
Jerry is a fascinating character, terrifying in his seeming blandness. In some ways he reminds me of a con artist in a episode of Criminal Minds, who resorted to killing his marks when he slipped up from juggling too many aliases. Like that character Jerry feels like a psychopath but without antisocial personality disorder motivating him to kill; violence is merely his plan B. And though a rational mind would simply abandon one life to start another without stopping to kill anyone, to him I imagine it serves as a kind of justice. As he posits: "Perhaps they disappointed him."
The little details tell us so much about Jerry. The fact that he stops to tidy up a bit of the crime scene on his way out but doesn't try to give it a proper clean (a la the obsessive-compulsive Mr Sophistication from The House That Jack Built) suggests that he's a man who likes things a certain way ("a little order around here"). He knew he was never going to return to that house but still straightened a chair and put a toy away simply because that was the correct way for them to be and he could spare the time. Given his strict (presumably abusive) childhood and love of all things old-fashioned (he looks forty in the 80s but dresses and watches TV from the 50s) show that his value system was formed young and never evolved, I'm guessing as a trauma response. Maybe young Jerry looked at the happy (fictional) families on TV and thought if he could just get a life like theirs, everything would be OK.
Another detail I love is that in what feels like half his scenes, Jerry is either holding or adjacent to one or more potential weapons which to anyone else would be perfectly innocuous household objects (knives, tools, etc). However, since we know what he's done and will probably do again, every single one feels like a Chekov's Gun just waiting to fire.
Final thought: when Steph witnesses his basement freakout he refers to himself as "we" a couple of times: "What we need is a little order around here" and "We are going to keep this family together, you had better believe it". This latter statement comes after he says something that sounds like "let me out" or "let me at 'em". I was hoping these details would be explored more in the film but they never come up again, but I wonder if they were hinting at some kind of Jekyll and Hyde (or Hyde and Worse Hyde) situation, though it doesn't quite match depictions of Dissociative Identity Disorder in other media (Split, United States of Tara, etc).
One of my favorite films. It’s pretty much perfect.
ah "The Stepfather" the movie that would give Lady Tremaine from "Cinderella" a run for her money when it comes to the title of Evil Stepparent
This is one of my favorite films also. Skip the remake. It's honestly one of the worst... Your standard PG13 post 2005 Sony remakes made by people who didn't understand the original film, didn't respect the original film and only used the existing IP to sell something they thought would be profitable. The original film is perfect.
Dylan Walsh was pretty good as the Stepfather in that movie.
Did you just say, "let's keep it real"? -who are you, Salt n Peppa?
There is a movie called The Dentist, anyone seen it? It is something to see, nice guy who goes wild.
I got to watch this gem for the first time because of JoBlo's Horror team's video they did on it last year.
Thank you for putting great movies on my radar!
o7
7:58 Of course 🙄
8:23 I'm glad I never ever took any professional film critic seriously. They dont understand movies nor the audience.
Outsiders
I would hate to think how many times I rented this from video crazy ,rent this and Pin another.Terry awesome in both
Wait, you forgot to break down Stephanie's shower scene!😢
I saw the second one first cuz I had a crush on Jonathan Brandis as a kid. And I didn’t know the story about John list and how this was based on a true story until a few years ago!
I don't this film would've been as impactful if it weren't for Terry O'Quinn.
For some weird reason I always confuse this movie with raising cain lol
How great you were able to get guest host Trey Kennedy 😄
Charming sociopath
I always wish there was a prequel.
Wow, 1987 had a lot of great movies.
This is the first thing I ever saw with Terry O'Quinn, and I thought it was brilliant. I never trust any character he plays now, LOL!
Who is planning to pull their copy of The Step Father & The Step Father 2 from their huge horror movie collection tonight to watch as a double feature tonight, whom also has two thumbs ? This guy. 🤡
The movie had a Schoelen, a Shellen and a Shelley.
I always wonder how old the JoBlo horror makers are?
I'm 52.
Greetings from Germany 🇩🇪 ✌🏻
Donald Westlake? I wonder if Darkman borrowed the name for Peyton?
Omg I used to love these films!
Actually the 2009 version wasn’t bad
Ebert contributed nothing but a smug opinion. Good riddance
Like wtf you are trying to do a deep dive into a film you claim to love but refuse to watch the remake of it for BS reasons
In the shady new family member genre, Linda Blair's 1978 telly movie Stranger in Our House is fun, albeit a tad dopey. 😀
Yes great movie part 2 was good too