The Stepfather (1987)

Director:

Joseph Ruben

Writers:

Carolyn Lefcourt (story) &
Brian Garfield (story) ...
(more)

Release Date:

16 November 1987 (Denmark)

Genre:

Drama | Mystery | Thriller

Tagline:

Who Am I Here?

Plot:

A family-values man named Jerry Blake marries widows and divorcées with children in search of the perfect family...

Plot Keywords:

Search | Widow | Daughter | Blood On Hand | Cult Film

Awards:

3 wins & 7 nominations

Cast

Terry O'Quinn	...	Jerry Blake
Jill Schoelen	...	Stephanie
Shelley Hack	...	Susan
Charles Lanyer	...	Dr. Bondurant
Stephen Shellen	...	Jim Ogilvie
Stephen E. Miller	...	Al Brennan
Robyn Stevan	...	Karen
Jeff Schultz	...	Paul Baker
Lindsay Bourne	...	Art Teacher
Anna Hagan	...	Mrs. Leitner
Gillian Barber	...	Annie Barnes
Blu Mankuma	...	Lt. Jack Wall
Jackson Davies	...	Mr. Chesterton
Sandra Head	...	Receptionist
Gabrielle Rose	...	Dorothy Rinehard
Richard Sargent	...	Mr. Anderson
Margot Pinvidic	...	Mrs. Anderson
Rochelle Greenwood	...	Cindy Anderson
Don S. Williams	...	Mr. Stark
Don MacKay	...	Joe
Dale Wilson	...	Frank
Gary Hetherington	...	Herb
Andrew Snider	...	Mr. Grace
Marie Stillin	...	Mrs. Fairfax
Paul Batten	...	Mr. Fairfax
Sheila Paterson	...	Dr. Barbara Faraday

Directed by
Joseph Ruben

Writing credits
Carolyn Lefcourt		(story) &
Brian Garfield		(story) and
Donald E. Westlake		(story)
Donald E. Westlake		(screenplay)

Produced by
Jay Benson	....	producer

Original Music by
Patrick Moraz		(music composed by)

Cinematography by
John Lindley		(director of photography) (as John W. Lindley)

Film Editing by
George Bowers		(edited by)

Casting by
Jane Feinberg
Mike Fenton
Judy Taylor

Production Design by
James William Newport

Art Direction by
David Willson

Set Decoration by
Kimberley Richardson		(as Kimberly Richardson)

Costume Design by
Mina Mittelman

Makeup Department
Susan Boyd	....	hair stylist
Maurice Parkhurst	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Dennis A. Brown	....	executive in charge of production
Warren Carr	....	production manager
Tim Myers	....	post production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Casey Grant	....	second assistant director
James Marshall	....	third assistant director
Tom Rowe	....	first assistant director: second unit
Michael E. Steele	....	first assistant director (as Michael Steele)

Art Department
Jeremy Borsos	....	set dresser
Gary Brooks	....	greensman
David Chiasson	....	set dresser
Annmarie Corbett	....	assistant set decorator
R.D. 'Luther' Fairbairn	....	assistant propman
Geoff Hilliard	....	construction coordinator
Barry Kootchin	....	head painter
Len Morganti	....	story board artist
Rex Raglan	....	assistant art director
Bill Thumm	....	property master
David Russell	....	storyboard artist (uncredited)

Sound Department
John L. Anderson	....	re-recording mixer
Graham Crowell	....	boom operator
Doug Davey	....	re-recording mixer
G.W. Davis	....	sound editor (as G. W. Davis)
Chris Haire	....	re-recording mixer (as Christopher L. Haire)
Keith Stafford	....	supervising sound editor
Richard Stewart	....	assistant sound editor (as Rick Stewart)
Larry Sutton	....	production sound mixer
Alfred T. Ferrante	....	adr mixer (uncredited)
Alfred T. Ferrante	....	foley mixer (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Don Harris	....	special effects best boy
William H. Orr	....	special effects coordinator (as Bill Orr)

Stunts
John Wardlow	....	stunt coordinator (as V. John Wardlow)
Jim Dunn	....	stunts (uncredited)
Kathy Hubble	....	stunts (uncredited)
Jacob Rupp	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
David R. Anderson	....	gaffer
Ken W. Anderson	....	best boy (as Ken Anderson)
Dan Bennett	....	grip (as Don Bennett)
Oliver Berg	....	grip
Peter Borkent	....	lamp operator (as Pete Borkent)
John L. Brown	....	dolly grip
Robert Crone	....	steadicam operator (as Robert C. Crone)
Barry Donlevy	....	grip (as Berry Donlevy)
Dale Garrison	....	lamp operator
Anthony J. Giacinti	....	lamp operator (as Toni Giacinti)
Chris Harris	....	second assistant camera (as Chris J. Harris)
Geordie Harrower	....	lamp operator
Ken Hemphill	....	second grip
R.K. Hill	....	grip (as R. K. Hill)
Tim Hogan	....	key grip
Brewster Ingram	....	additional camera operator
Joseph Lederer	....	still photographer
Duncan MacGregor	....	best boy
Alan MacKinnon	....	lamp operator
John McCallum	....	first assistant camera (as Sandy McCallum)
Rod Parkhurst	....	camera operator
Jeff Plecas	....	grip
James Sallis	....	lamp operator (as James Sullis)
John W. Scott	....	lamp operator (as John Scott)
Mike Tepley	....	lamp operator
Ian Tracey	....	lamp operator (as Ian Tracy)
Jeff Upton	....	lamp operator
Steve Vincent	....	lamp operator
Chris Helcermanas-Benge	....	still photographer (uncredited)

Casting Department
Barbara Harris	....	adr voice casting: The Looping Group
Jim Jasterzebski	....	casting assistant: Canadian (as Jim Jastrzebski)
Sid Kozak	....	casting: Canadian

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Andrew Brown	....	costume supervisor
Jean Murphy	....	costumer

Editorial Department
Bruce Giesbrecht	....	assistant editor (as Bruce Allan Giebrecht)
Christopher Koefoed	....	assistant editor
Michael Smith	....	assistant editor

Music Department
Kathleen Bennett	....	music editor
Mark Coffin	....	music engineer: sound track (as Mark T. Coffin)
Patrick Moraz	....	music performer
Patrick Moraz	....	music producer: sound track
Barry Radman	....	music engineer: sound track
Barry Radman	....	music producer: sound track
Barry Redman	....	soundtrack music engineer
John Ross	....	music engineer: sound track

Transportation Department
Dave Bowe	....	transportation captain (as David K. Bowe)
Scott Irvine	....	transportation coordinator
Bill McCurraugh	....	transportation co-captain (as William McCurrach)
Bruce Scott	....	set driver (uncredited)

Other crew
Patti Allen	....	production coordinator (as Patrice Allen)
Michael Beattie	....	production assistant
Myrna Cobb	....	assistant production coordinator
Diana Conway	....	production assistant
Kellam de Forest	....	research (as Kellam De Forrest)
Lynn Elston	....	assistant production accountant
Tink Ten Eyck	....	production controller
Linda Kelly	....	production accountant
Susan Leh	....	publicity coordinator
Michael Mazo	....	production assistant
Ben Montanio	....	production estimator
Skates Naiman	....	coordinator: Los Angeles (as Sandra V. Naiman)
Matthew O'Connor	....	location manager
Tammy Oates	....	assistant to: Mr. Benson (as Tammy S. Oates)
Michael Ruben	....	assistant to: Mr. Ruben
Joanne Ryan	....	craft service
Robert Weinberger	....	unit publicist
Christine Wilson	....	script supervisor
Tana Tocher	....	caterer (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Incorporated Television Company (ITC) (as ITC Productions) (presents)

Distributors

• New Century Vista Film Company (1987) (USA) (theatrical)
• Oy Europa Vision AB (1988) (Finland) (theatrical)
• Virgin Vision (198?) (UK) (theatrical)
• AVU-Video-Vertriebs-GmbH (2003) (Germany) (DVD)
• Astro Distribution (2003) (Germany) (DVD)
• CMV Laservision (2003) (Germany) (DVD)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (1996) (USA) (VHS)
• Elephant Films (2005) (France) (DVD)
• Embassy Home Entertainment (1992) (USA) (VHS)
• Epix Media (2010) (Germany) (DVD)
• Future Film (2002) (Finland) (DVD)
• ITV DVD (2002) (UK) (DVD)
• Indigo (2010) (Germany) (DVD)
• Mainostelevisio (MTV3) (1992) (Finland) (TV)
• Nelson Entertainment (????) (USA) (VHS)
• Oy Europa Vision AB (1988) (Finland) (VHS)
• Shout! Factory (2009) (USA) (DVD)
• Shout! Factory (2010) (USA) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Tohokushinsha Home Video (1987) (Japan) (VHS)
• Umbrella Entertainment (2002) (Australia) (DVD)
• Umbrella Entertainment (2011) (Australia) (video) (VOD)
• VTI Home Vídeo (Brazil) (VHS)

Other Companies

• City and People of Vancouver, British Columbia  the producers thank: for their friendship and cooperation (as the people and the city of Vancouver)
• City of Vancouver Film Department and Special Events  the producers thank: for their friendship and cooperation (as Vancouver Film Promotion Office)
• Compact Sound Services  re-recording by
• Extraordinary Casting  extras casting (as Extraordinary Casting, Inc.)
• International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE)  this picture made under the jurisdiction of (as I.A.T.S.E.)
• Kurzweil Music Systems  special thanks to
• Reel Appetites  catering (as Reel Appetites, Ltd.)
• Segue Music  music editor
• Shan Productions Company Inc.  script material provided by (as Shan Productions Company, Inc.)
• The Clearing House Ltd.  music clearances by (as Clearing House, Ltd.)
• The Looping Group  adr voice casting
• William F. White International  grip and lighting equipment

Also Known As:

Runtime:

89 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Ultra Stereo

Certification:

Australia:M | Denmark:15 (DVD rating) | Finland:K-18 (uncut) (1988) | France:-12 | Norway:16 | Sweden:15 | UK:18 | USA:R (PCA #28150) | West Germany:18 | Iceland:16 | Finland:K-16 (cut) (1988) (VHS) | Mexico:D (original release) | Portugal:M/16

Filming Locations:

Edgemont Village, British Columbia, Canada

Company:

Incorporated Television Company (ITC)

Trivia:

Cinematographer John Lindley was hired as a last minute replacement for the original director of photography who was arrested in a domestic dispute right before shooting was to start.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: When Jerry Blake is hitting Dr. Bondurant with the 2x4 in the house it is clear that the 2x4 bends on the last hit to his ribs.

Quotes:

Stephanie:It's like living with Ward Cleaver

Movie Connections:

References "The Adventures of Rin Tin Tin" (1954)

Soundtrack:

Run Between the Raindrops

Great Performance, Bad Script

Terry O'Quinn is excellent here. He has a definite menacing presence, and his subdued behavior around people only heightens the shock of his raging outbursts. However, the mediocre script ruins what could have been a great film. As a character study of O'Quinn, this would have been chilling and effective. But it makes for a mediocre thriller. O'Quinn plays a psychotic man obsessed with perfection, and the ideal "American Dream". Inevitably, his family disappoints him, so he creates a new identity, kills them and moves on. The scenes with Jerry are strong and frightening, but the film becomes formulaic when we're introduced to Jim, who amazingly discovers a vital clue to his whereabouts in a few minutes of poking around. The police missed this? Too many dumb plot points and the predictable finale spoil it. O'Quinn's performance deserved a better film.