The Stepfather (2009)

Director:

Nelson McCormick

Writers (WGA):

J.S. Cardone (screenplay)
Donald E. Westlake (earlier screenplay)
(more)

Release Date:

16 October 2009 (USA)

Genre:

Mystery | Thriller

Tagline:

This fall Daddy's home.

Plot:

Michael returns home from military school to find his mother happily in love and living with her new boyfriend. As the two men get to know each other, he becomes more and more suspicious of the man who is always there with a helpful hand. |

Plot Keywords:

Military School | Child Murder | Falling Through The Floor | Woman Drowned | Duct Tape Over Mouth

Awards:

2 nominations

Cast

Dylan Walsh	...	David Harris
Sela Ward	...	Susan Harding
Penn Badgley	...	Michael Harding
Amber Heard	...	Kelly Porter
Sherry Stringfield	...	Leah
Paige Turco	...	Jackie Kerns
Jon Tenney	...	Jay
Nancy Linehan Charles	...	Mrs. Cutter
Marcuis Harris	...	Detective Shay
Braeden Lemasters	...	Sean Harding
Deirdre Lovejoy	...	Detective Tylar
Skyler Samuels	...	Beth Harding
Blue Deckert	...	Captain Mackie
Jason Wiles	...	Dylan Bennet
Kara Ortiz	...	Real Estate Assistant (as Kara Briola)
Jessalyn Gilsig	...	Julie King
Cathy Schenkelberg	...	Waitress
David Guzzone	...	Male Buyer
Amandah Reyne	...	Woman Buyer
Carmen Mormino	...	Taxi Driver
Todd Cosgrove	...	Mailman
Tracey Costello	...	Mrs. Rivers
Cheryl Anderson	...	Older Woman
Pride Grinn	...	Car Salesman
Sean Moran	...	Gus / Hardware Clerk
Jack Chang	...	Cell Phone Clerk
Savannah Levin	...	Lisa Bennet
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Savannah Lathem	...	Murdered Child (uncredited)
Nicole Michele Sobchack	...	Mrs. Bennet (uncredited)
Vitaliy Versace	...	FBI Agent (uncredited)

Directed by
Nelson McCormick

Writing credits (WGA)
J.S. Cardone		(screenplay)
Donald E. Westlake		(earlier screenplay)
Carolyn Lefcourt		(story) (as Carolyn Starin) &
Brian Garfield		(story) and
Donald E. Westlake		(story)

Produced by
J.S. Cardone	....	executive producer
Jay Dykes	....	co-producer
Robert O. Green	....	executive producer (as Robert Green)
Julie Meldal-Johnsen	....	executive producer
Greg Mooradian	....	producer
Mark Morgan	....	producer
Guy Oseary	....	executive producer
Meredith Zamsky	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Charlie Clouser

Cinematography by
Patrick Cady		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Eric L. Beason

Casting by
Lisa London
Catherine Stroud

Production Design by
Steven J. Jordan

Art Direction by
Tim Eckel

Set Decoration by
Julieann Getman

Costume Design by
Lyn Paolo		(as Lyn Elizabeth Paolo)

Makeup Department
Bernadette Beauvais	....	key makeup artist
Stacey K. Black	....	department head hair stylist
Stephanie A. Fowler	....	makeup department head (as Stephanie Fowler)
Christopher Allen Nelson	....	special makeup effects artist
Mary Stultz	....	key hair stylist
Rebecca Wachtel	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Yoli Poropat	....	production supervisor
Meredith Zamsky	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Ingrid K. Behrens	....	second second assistant director
James Moran	....	first assistant director: second unit
James Moran	....	second assistant director
Marc Newland	....	day player second second assistant director
Jaysene Overton	....	dga trainee
Michael Phillips	....	first assistant director
Mike Smith	....	second unit director

Art Department
Max E. Brehme	....	property master
Marc Martin Del Campo	....	set dresser
James Diggs	....	lead painter
Jay Dupuy	....	plaster department head
Francesco Ferrara	....	painter
Meg Harker	....	art department coordinator
Nick P. Higgins	....	set dresser
Michael V. Maurice	....	set dresser
Lyle Maves	....	plasterer foreman
Ryan James McGrath	....	design assistant
Brieann Rich	....	construction medic
Trevor A. Rudolph	....	set dresser (as Trevor Rudolph)
Christopher Schultz	....	assistant property master
Andrew Settle	....	assistant property master
Jenna Sylvester	....	buyer
Sean Leroy West	....	set dresser
Debra Wilbur	....	assistant art director

Sound Department
Scott Cannizzaro	....	adr engineer
Anthony J. Ciccolini III	....	supervising sound editor
Mark DeSimone	....	adr mixer: New York
Craig Dollinger	....	boom operator
Rickley W. Dumm	....	sound effects editor
Linda Folk	....	adr supervisor
Aaron Grice	....	utility sound
Vincent Guisetti	....	foley artist
Jeffrey J. Haboush	....	sound re-recording mixer
Susan Ham	....	sound editorial assistant
Eric Harwood	....	sound recordist
Pamela Kahn	....	foley artist
Craig Kyllonen	....	adr mixer
Steven Morrow	....	sound mixer
Kyle Rochlin	....	foley mixer
Greg P. Russell	....	sound re-recording mixer
Lynn Sable	....	assistant sound editor
Ric Schnupp	....	sound recordist

Special Effects by
John Frazier	....	effects consultant
Chris Jones	....	special effects technician
Jonathan Kombrinck	....	special effects
Jeffrey A. Wischnack	....	special effects foreman

Visual Effects by
Akemi Abe	....	main titles
Dave Isaac Santos Abuel	....	digital compositor
Casey Allen	....	senior flame artist
Spencer Armajo	....	flame artist
Raoul Bolognini	....	visual effects producer
Kristen Branan	....	head of production: Zoic Studios
Charles Bunnag	....	digital matte artist
Stephen Chiu	....	visual effects coordinator
Trent Claus	....	flame artist
Nicolas Donel	....	visual effects artist
Matthew G. Donnan	....	junior compositor
Steve Graves	....	digital artist
Brandy Handelman	....	junior compositor
Diana Hinek	....	digital compositor
Travis Wade Ivy	....	digital compositor
Thomas Nittmann	....	visual effects producer: lola visual effects
Brian Nugent	....	Flame artist
Robert Olsson	....	digital compositor
Nicholas Onstad	....	digital compositor
Nathan Overstrom	....	digital compositor
Rocco Passionino	....	visual effects supervisor
Bethany Pederson Onstad	....	digital compositor (as Bethany Pederson)
Jeremiah Sweeney	....	Flame artist: Lola VFX
Edson Williams	....	visual effects supervisor: lola visual effects
Kazuyoshi Yamagiwa	....	Flame artist: Lola VFX
Roy Yang	....	digital compositor (as Jianru Yang)
Ryan Zuttermeister	....	associate visual effects producer: Lola Visual Effects
Jeffrey Evans	....	digital artist (uncredited)

Stunts
Casey Adams	....	utility stunts
Gregory J. Barnett	....	stunts
Dickey Beer	....	stunts
Stacey Carino	....	stunt double: Paige Turco
Sean Christopher	....	utility stunts
Anthony Molinari	....	stunt double: John Tenny
Pat Romano	....	stunt rigger
Mike Smith	....	stunt coordinator

Camera and Electrical Department
Ross Addiego	....	dolly/crane operator
Jose F. Barrios	....	rigging grip
Lauren Blair	....	electrician (as Lauren Fitton)
Davie Carothers	....	first assistant camera: second unit
Carlos DePalma	....	key rigging grip
Kevin Fahey	....	rigging grip best boy
Michael FitzMaurice	....	aerial camera
Tom Gleason	....	first assistant camera
Peter Graf	....	aerial camera system tech cineflex
Matt Horochowski	....	dolly grip
Lee Jordan	....	additional second assistant camera
David Leite	....	best boy grip: second unit
Lynn Lockwood	....	camera operator
Marcos O. Lopez	....	first assistant camera
Keith Mentze	....	grip
Darby Newman	....	second assistant camera
Seth Orozco	....	second assistant camera: second unit
Hernan Otaño	....	director of photography: second unit (as Hernan Michael Otaño)
Chad Persons	....	camera operator
Ron Provenzano	....	set lighting technician
Jason Sachse	....	lighting technician
Mark Sadler	....	rigging gaffer
Diego Sanchez	....	grip
Liam Sinnott	....	b-camera second assistant
Robert Sterry	....	digital video assist operator
Don Telles	....	rigging grip
Eddie Tucker	....	rigging best boy electric
Kenny Tucker	....	lighting technician
Winona Wacker	....	film loader
Adam Ward	....	additional photography

Casting Department
Tanya Cioffari	....	extras casting
Benjamin G. Malbrough	....	casting associate
Lauren Stamm	....	casting assistant

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Lisa Eisler	....	assistant costume designer
Laurel Frushour	....	set costumer
Herman Hudson Jr.	....	set costumer
Christopher Koelsch	....	set costumer
Deanna Soria	....	costume assistant

Editorial Department
Marlena Brown	....	post-production assistant
Tricia Chiarenza	....	color timer
Scott Gregory	....	digital film colorist
Michael L. Holland	....	digital intermediate producer
Frank Pass	....	colorist
Bart Rachmil	....	first assistant editor
David Reale	....	first assistant editor
Reza Amidi	....	digital intermediate editor (uncredited)
Benjamin Sutor	....	digital intermediate editor (uncredited)
Darin Wooldridge	....	additional digital colorist: Technicolor (uncredited)

Music Department
Michael Friedman	....	music supervisor
Jaclyn Newman	....	assistant music editor (as Jaclyn Newman Dorn)
Lee Scott	....	music editor
Michael Wandmacher	....	composer: additional music

Transportation Department
Rupert Cole	....	transportation dispatcher
Jay Fulton	....	driver
Teresa Haney	....	transportation
Alan Kaminsky	....	driver
Kelly Murphy	....	transportation
John Orlebeck	....	transportation coordinator
William R. Peck	....	driver
John Siedenburg	....	driver
John F. Teeple	....	driver
Christopher Weippert	....	driver

Other crew
Philip Banks	....	production assistant
Armando Boquiren	....	assistant location manager
Jody Braun	....	assistant to cast
Randin Brown	....	production assistant
Elida Cerda	....	key medic
John Charles	....	software manager: Sony DAC
B.J. Farmer	....	production assistant
Tim Farrands	....	layout board
Matthew F. Fuller	....	assistant: Mr. McCormick (as Matthew Fuller)
Danny Giles	....	second director assistant
Adam Green	....	production assistant
Wes Hagan	....	key assistant location manager/scout
Michael Haro	....	location manager
Rich Heichel	....	assistant location manager
Mark Hochman	....	computer and video playback supervisor
Mackenzie Horras	....	production assistant
Lindsay Hudson	....	medic
Lynn Johnson	....	set medic
Simeon Jones	....	production assistant
Lorna Jean Katz	....	stand-in
Craig Langus	....	production assistant
Cary Sato Lee	....	craft service
Jamie Lieberman	....	assistant: Glenn S. Gainor
Drew Lindo	....	office production assistant
Andrew Lipschultz	....	unit publicist/epk producer
Heather Longerbeam	....	production secretary
Amber Mazzamuto	....	assistant: Mr. Morgan and Mr. Mooradian
Meredith Meade	....	production coordinator
Yvette Metoyer	....	assistant: Ms. Zamsky
Diane H. Newman	....	script supervisor
Frédéric North	....	aerial coordinator
Elyse Punia	....	production assistant
Michael Rich	....	production assistant
Rick Roesch	....	payroll accountant
Jordan Romano	....	production assistant
Jill Rosenblatt	....	production accountant
Nick Rufca	....	assistant production coordinator (as Nicholas Rufca)
Charlie E. Scott Jr.	....	key craft service
Tim Seitter	....	production assistant
Christina Hwang	....	title producer (uncredited)
Jesse Rosenblatt	....	legal services: rights (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Screen Gems (presents)
• Maverick Films
• Imprint Entertainment
• Granada Entertainment (as Granada)

Distributors

• Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE) (2009-) (worldwide) (all media)
• Screen Gems (2009) (USA) (theatrical)
• Audio Visual Enterprises (2009) (Greece) (theatrical)
• Sony Pictures Releasing (2009) (Belgium) (theatrical)
• Sony Pictures Releasing (2009) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Sony Pictures Releasing (2009) (France) (theatrical)
• Sony Pictures Releasing (2009) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Sony Pictures Releasing (2009) (Singapore) (theatrical)
• RTL Entertainment (2012) (Netherlands) (TV) (RTL8)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment Nordic (2010) (Finland) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2010) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2010) (Australia) (DVD)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2010) (Germany) (DVD) (Blu-ray) (director's cut)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2010) (Germany) (DVD) (director's cut)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2010) (UK) (DVD) (extreme director's cut)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2010) (Greece) (DVD)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2010) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2010) (Netherlands) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2010) (USA) (DVD)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2010) (USA) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Sony Pictures Releasing (2010) (Argentina) (all media)

Special Effects

• Zoic Studios (visual effects)

Other Companies

• Central Casting  extras casting
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  camera cranes
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  camera dollies
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  hydrascope telescoping crane arm
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  remote camera systems
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  stabilized remote camera systems
• Direct Tools & Fasteners  expendables
• Doggicam Systems  BodyMount provided by
• DoggieCam Systems  BodyMount provided by
• Hula Post  editing systems
• Klass Security and Investigations  film security
• Klass Security and Investigations  screening services
• Lakeshore Records  soundtrack
• Movie Movers  cast trailers
• On Tour Productions  grip and lighting equipment
• On Tour Productions  transportation services
• Paramount Transportation Services  transportation services
• Postworks LA  digital intermediate
• Reel Security  production security
• Rockbottom Rentals  cell phone rentals
• Scarlet Letters  end titles
• Star Waggons  cast trailers
• Star Waggons  hair and make-up trailers
• Star Waggons  production trailers

Also Known As:

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of violence, disturbing images, mature thematic material and brief sensuality

Runtime:

101 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | German

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

USA:PG-13 (certificate #44268) | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Canada:14A (Alberta/British Columbia/Manitoba/Ontario) | Ireland:15A | UK:15 | South Korea:15 | Netherlands:16 | Germany:16 | Australia:MA | Singapore:NC-16 | Finland:K-15 | Argentina:13 | Peru:14 | Sweden:15

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Screen Gems

Trivia:

A scene in the trailer in which a buzz saw swings back and forth mere inches away from a character's face was cut from the film for pacing reasons, but it had already been used in multiple advertising materials before it was trimmed from the final release of the film.

Goofs:

Incorrectly regarded as goofs: In the beginning David Harris cuts himself and places a tissue on the left side of his chin. As he leaves the bathroom and turns around for the camera shot, the tissue is on the right side of his chin. This is because the image is a mirror shot, so it appears that the tissue is on the wrong side.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Leah:One female in her late 30s, three minors. Multiple stab wounds and blunt force trauma.

Movie Connections:

References Psycho (1960)

Soundtrack:

The Air I Breath

Poor Remake of a Classic B-Thriller

After killing the whole family in Salt Lake City, the psychopath David Harris (Dylan Walsh) moves to Portland where he approaches to the divorced Susan Harding (Sela Ward) with her son Sean (Braeden Lemasters) and her daughter Beth (Skyler Samuels) in a supermarket. Six months later, David is living with Susan in her suburban house and the couple is planning to get married. When her rebel son Michael (Penn Badgley) returns home from military school, David welcomes Michael and supports him to stay home. But sooner Michael observes that the past of David is absolutely unknown and he suspects that his stepfather might be the missing killer. But neither her girlfriend Kelly Porter (Amber Heard) nor his mother see anything wrong with the stranger.

The 1987 "The Stepfather" is a classic B-thriller, with Terry "John Locke" O'Quinn very convincing in the role of the deranged psychopath. This poor remake is terrible, beginning with the cast of the weirdo Dylan Walsh in the lead role. The transposition of the story from the late 80's to 2009 is absurd since with the present means of communication, the identity of David Harris would never remain unknown with the facility to retrieve his social security number or use of the Internet and software like Photoshop to check his face without beard, especially considering that he is among the ten most wanted criminals in America. The exaggerated use of clichés and the conclusion are awful, and I would like to ask the writers who would survive to a stab in the neck with such piece of glass. My vote is four.

Title (Brazil): "O Padrasto" ("The Stepfather")