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The Stepfather

  • 2009
  • K-15
  • 1h 41m
IMDb RATING
5.6/10
38K
YOUR RATING
The Stepfather (2009)
Michael Harding (Badgley) returns from military school to find his mother (Ward) living with her new boyfriend, David (Walsh). As the two men get to know each other, Michael becomes suspicious of the man in his mother's life: Is he really the man of her dreams, or could David be hiding a dark side?
Play trailer2:35
10 Videos
99+ Photos
MysteryThriller

Michael Harding (Penn Badgely) returns home from military school to find his mother Susan (Sela Ward) happily in love and living with her new boyfriend David (Dylan Walsh). As the two men ge... Read allMichael Harding (Penn Badgely) returns home from military school to find his mother Susan (Sela Ward) happily in love and living with her new boyfriend David (Dylan Walsh). As the two men get to know each other, he becomes more and more suspicious of the man who is always there t... Read allMichael Harding (Penn Badgely) returns home from military school to find his mother Susan (Sela Ward) happily in love and living with her new boyfriend David (Dylan Walsh). As the two men get to know each other, he becomes more and more suspicious of the man who is always there to help.

  • Director
    • Nelson McCormick
  • Writers
    • J.S. Cardone
    • Donald E. Westlake
    • Carolyn Lefcourt
  • Stars
    • Penn Badgley
    • Dylan Walsh
    • Sela Ward
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • IMDb RATING
    5.6/10
    38K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Nelson McCormick
    • Writers
      • J.S. Cardone
      • Donald E. Westlake
      • Carolyn Lefcourt
    • Stars
      • Penn Badgley
      • Dylan Walsh
      • Sela Ward
    • 209User reviews
    • 129Critic reviews
    • 33Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 2 nominations

    Videos10

    The Stepfather - Trailer #1
    Trailer 2:35
    Watch The Stepfather - Trailer #1
    The Stepfather
    Clip 0:51
    Watch The Stepfather
    The Stepfather: Searching The Basement
    Clip 0:51
    Watch The Stepfather: Searching The Basement
    The Stepfather: Stepfather And Son
    Clip 0:54
    Watch The Stepfather: Stepfather And Son
    The Stepfather: Who Am I Here?
    Clip 0:47
    Watch The Stepfather: Who Am I Here?
    The Stepfather
    Featurette 2:52
    Watch The Stepfather
    The Stepfather
    Interview 0:25
    Watch The Stepfather
    The Stepfather
    Interview 0:32
    Watch The Stepfather
    The Stepfather
    Interview 0:38
    Watch The Stepfather
    The Stepfather
    Interview 0:26
    Watch The Stepfather

    Photos188

    Penn Badgley in The Stepfather (2009)
    Penn Badgley in The Stepfather (2009)
    Penn Badgley in The Stepfather (2009)
    Penn Badgley in The Stepfather (2009)
    Dylan Walsh in The Stepfather (2009)
    Dylan Walsh in The Stepfather (2009)
    Dylan Walsh in The Stepfather (2009)
    Dylan Walsh in The Stepfather (2009)
    Sela Ward in The Stepfather (2009)
    Sela Ward in The Stepfather (2009)
    Sela Ward in The Stepfather (2009)
    Amber Heard in The Stepfather (2009)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Penn Badgley
    Penn Badgley
    • Michael Harding
    Dylan Walsh
    Dylan Walsh
    • David Harris
    Sela Ward
    Sela Ward
    • Susan Harding
    Amber Heard
    Amber Heard
    • Kelly Porter
    Sherry Stringfield
    Sherry Stringfield
    • Leah
    Paige Turco
    Paige Turco
    • Jackie Kerns
    Jon Tenney
    Jon Tenney
    • Jay
    Nancy Linehan Charles
    Nancy Linehan Charles
    • Mrs. Cutter
    Marcuis Harris
    Marcuis Harris
    • Detective Shay
    Braeden Lemasters
    Braeden Lemasters
    • Sean Harding
    Deirdre Lovejoy
    Deirdre Lovejoy
    • Detective Tylar
    Skyler Samuels
    Skyler Samuels
    • Beth Harding
    Blue Deckert
    Blue Deckert
    • Captain Mackie
    Jason Wiles
    Jason Wiles
    • Dylan Bennet
    Kara Ortiz
    Kara Ortiz
    • Real Estate Assistant
    • (as Kara Briola)
    Jessalyn Gilsig
    Jessalyn Gilsig
    • Julie King
    Cathy Schenkelberg
    • Waitress
    David Guzzone
    David Guzzone
    • Male Buyer
    • Director
      • Nelson McCormick
    • Writers
      • J.S. Cardone
      • Donald E. Westlake
      • Carolyn Lefcourt
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The Stepfather (1987) was loosely based on John List, a New Jersey accountant who murdered his family in November 1971 and disappeared. He was found nearly eighteen years later living under an alias when his neighbor recognized him on America's Most Wanted: America Fights Back (1988) and reported it to the Police.
    • Goofs
      There is a large storm that the son and his girlfriend are seen sitting in the car and he finally runs into the house and she is left in the car watching him enter. In the background of the neighbors circular driveway you can see where the "rain" has a nice arc on the driveway and the area farther away from this arc is dry.
    • Quotes

      David Harris: I thought I could make this work. But I can't! This isn't the right family for me. The boy is a problem. He has no respect for me. You haven't been hard enough on him. You've got to make a boy understand! You've got to break him if necessary! You're too weak to do that.

      Susan Harding: What are you talking about?

      David Harris: I thought it could work, but it can't! I thought you could be Mrs. Grady Edwards, but you can't!

      Susan Harding: What did you say? Who is Grady Edwards?

      David Harris: Wait, wait... it just... wait a minute. I... uh...

      [there is a long tense pause as David/The Stepfather, too late, realizes his slip]

      David Harris: Who am I here?

    • Alternate versions
      Unrated version was released on Region 1 DVD and Region A Blu-ray.
    • Connections
      Featured in WatchMojo: Another Top 10 Worst Horror Movie Remakes (2015)
    • Soundtracks
      Typical
      Written by Paul Meany
      Performed by Mutemath (as Mute Math)
      Courtesy of Warner Bros. Records Inc.
      By Arrangement with Warner Music Group Film & TV Licensing

    User reviews209

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    5/10
    Would Be Fine for Lifetime TV
    Dylan Walsh is a strong actor, but the material he's been given doesn't help him attempt to go toe to toe with Terry O'Quinn's iconic performance in the original. The stepchild's gender has been switched and Penn Badgley brings a lot of welcome vulnerability to the role while Sela Ward's concerned wife and mother doesn't get as much to do nor does Amber Heard as the concerned girlfriend.

    The script has more cliches and bad scares than the original which hurts it a lot, but it's entertaining enough if you just want to decompress and watch something that doesn't require you to do much thinking.
    helpful•5
    1
    • barrynewblood
    • Apr 23, 2022

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    FAQ24

    • How long is The Stepfather?Powered by Alexa
    • Is "The Stepfather" based on a book?
    • Does Aunt Jackie or Aunt Leah die ?
    • What became of List?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • October 16, 2009 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official sites
      • Official site (France)
      • Official site (Mexico)
    • Languages
      • English
      • German
    • Also known as
      • Stepfather 4
    • Filming locations
      • Los Angeles, California, USA
    • Production companies
      • Screen Gems
      • Maverick Films
      • Imprint Entertainment
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $20,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $29,062,561
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $11,581,586
      • Oct 18, 2009
    • Gross worldwide
      • $31,198,531
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 41 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
      • SDDS
      • DTS
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1

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