Cheap Stepfather 2 (DVD) (Terry O'Quinn, Meg Foster) (Jeff Burr) Price

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Customer Reviews of Stepfather 2

Love that Campdown Races!
Isn't about time they gave us a series of films about a malevolent stepfather? You just knew this would happen eventually what with the bad reputation stepfathers have in American culture. We all know they are evil beings with warped minds, human vultures with deranged value systems that seek out innocent families to prey upon. Now that I think about it, I heartily salute the filmmakers associated with the "Stepfather" trilogy for bringing this massive threat to wider attention. Certain individuals have formed a conspiracy to throw us off the trail by making movies about machete wielding killers wearing hockey and Halloween masks, but now that we have these films, we know the truth. Evil is more insidious than a massacre at a summer camp, more pervasive than a razorblade clawed monstrosity haunting our dreams. Wickedness, true wickedness, reaches out to us in the form of a middle aged white guy who wears cardigan sweaters while offering to play catch with us in the backyard. After watching this film, along with the two other entries in the franchise, I feel it is essential to alert the unwary to this horrific hazard. Run, don't walk, to pick up a copy of "Stepfather 2."

Terry O'Quinn returns as the enigmatic Stepfather in a sequel that continues the nightmares seen in the first installment. Locked safely away in a mental hospital at the beginning of the film, the Stepfather longs for the day when he can once again walk the streets of suburbia with his own idyllic family. First, he must escape from the facility, not an easy task considering how much the guards hate and fear him. Fortunately, a new psychiatrist decides to try a different tack with the Stepfather. By giving the inmate new freedoms and a sympathetic ear, this fool hopes to rehabilitate the sociopath. Oops. Of course, the Stepfather escapes after concocting an ingenious plan realized in part in the facility's woodworking shop and actualized in the shrink's office. As bodies fall to the floor in various states of permanent disarray, our anti-hero strolls off the grounds of the hospital as nice as you please. It isn't long before he's back to his old tricks, sitting in a hotel room sifting through advertisements and video dating tapes in search of a new bride who will give him everything he's ever dreamed of in life.

Enter Carol Grayland (Meg Foster) and her son Todd (Jonathan Brandis), a mother and child recovering from their recent separation/divorce from an overbearing father. When the Stepfather moves in across the street posing as a sensitive counselor named Gene (replete with notepad, pen, and the requisite sweaters), Carol discovers she's attracted to the guy. The clincher comes when she accidentally stumbles on Gene playing friendly authority figure to Todd. Despite a few warnings about the counselor from a nosy postal employee friend, Carol charges ahead with plans to marry Gene. Serious warning signs, like the sudden disappearance of her ex-husband and the terrible suicide of her postal employee pal, fail to register on Grayland's radar. And why should it? Certainly Gene wouldn't have anything to do with such unseemly incidents. Alas, disturbing evidence to the contrary finally emerges immediately before the two love birds exchange vows. A wedding has never been such a bloody affair as the union between Gene and Carol Grayland. And once again, if only fleetingly, the Stepfather's plans for the domination of the American family unit is once again foiled. Or is it? The existence of another sequel seems to say no. Sadly, Terry O'Quinn fails to return in that movie.

All kidding aside, "Stepfather 2" is a very effective horror film. It is rare to see so many elements click in a film in this genre. The performances are much better than you would expect, with Terry O'Quinn leading the way as the oily killer. His portrayal of a sociopath with a one-track mind is chilling to behold. One minute he's the caring suitor to Carol and the benevolent father figure to Todd, but look out when things don't go his way. Only a few people survive one of the Stepfather's killing rages. O'Quinn plays it all with ease, conveying a complex range of emotions with subtle facial gestures. Equally effective is the always awesome Meg Foster as Carol Grayland. You've seen Foster in several other films, "They Live" serving as a prime example, so you know she's the gal with the amazing eyes. I never tire of watching this actress in a movie, so her addition to the cast was a good one. Even Jonathan Brandis does an acceptable job as the surprisingly nonirritating Todd. Set these good actors up with a surprisingly engaging plot and sauce heavy murders and you have all the fixings for a great film experience.

The DVD has several surprising extras. You would think a sequel, probably a straight to video sequel at that, would be a bare bones production. Think again. You get a commentary track from the director and the producer, extensive alternate scenes, stills, and several trailers for other films like "Dracula II," "Below," "Asunder," and "Halloween: Resurrection." It's been a few years since I saw the first "Stepfather" film, but if memory serves me correctly I would have to say that this sequel is as effective, if not more so, than the original. Still, I am looking forward to the day when they release the first and third movies on DVD.

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AWESOME SEQUEL
i just wish they would bring out the first and third one on DVD, im still waiting!

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Great horror sequel that rivels the previous
I actually enjoy Stepfather 2 more than the first Stepfather movie. The haunting theme does a lot for creating a truly sinister atmosphere. Rarely does a film score stick in my head, but this one does. And then there's Terry O'Quinn who plays the character just right.

You have to remember that this film was basically made in only 4 months. That's writing the script, casting, shooting, post production, etc. It was made for about 1 and a half million dollars and originally was supposed to be a direct to video release. Some additional shots were added and changed when the studio decided it was going to run a theatrical release like the first Stepfather, and they needed a more violent "Horror Movie".

The DVD release presents the film in it's original Widescreen format, and it's a very sharp Animorphic transfer. A great thing included on the disc is that it has many alternate and extended scenes that were from the original Director's cut. There is also a short still gallery, and a very interesting full-length commentary by the Director and Producer of Stepfather 2. The only thing missing is a theatrical trailer...albeit most Buena Vista DVD's lack a trailer so it's no big surprise there.

If you like this film then you need this DVD, it easily blows away the old VHS and Laserdisc editions. Now, if only they'd release the 1st Stepfather movie on DVD!!!