Stepfather II

The Stepfather was a surprisingly classy thriller stuck at the end of the 80's slasher glut. Thanks to a smart script and a phenomenal performance from Terry O'Quinn, The Stepfather ended up becoming a cult classic.

Even though it seemed as if O'Quinn's Jerry Blake was killed off at the end of the first film, the magic of the movies brings him back for yet another round of slashings in the sake of the American Dream. Jerry's now stuck in a mental hospital. He, of course, escapes and forms a new identity - this time, a psychiatrist(named Gene) specializing in suburban women, which gives him a nice group of gals to choose from for his next dream wife.

Unfortunately for Carol (the beautiful Meg Foster), Jerry fixates on her and her son (Jonathan Brandis) and wants them to become his new family. Jerry's soon up to his own tricks, dispatching of anyone that gets in his way.

This is a movie that doesn't need to exist, so it's to director Jeff Burr's credit that he's able to make it seem as if this movie has a right for being here. Bringing Terry O'Quinn back is a huge plus and he's pitch perfect here. Joining him are genre faves Meg Foster and Caroline Williams who are equally game and ground a rather ridiculous story in reality. There's a nice dose of playful, dark humor throughout and the murder set pieces will please gore fiends without turning off those in the mood for more traditional thriller stylings.

Stepfather II might not reinvent the genre, but it's a worthy and fun sequel.

I first saw this in the early 90s on a vhs.

Revisited it recently.

While the first is one of the most effective n well acted thriller, this one is an open and shut case of pure cheating aka cashing in on the success of its predecessor.

There is nothing new in this one but once again Terry O'Quinn's performance is the highlight.

Tension n suspense is zero in this one.

The plot - Jerry Blake, the psychotic n murderous fella survives the events of the first part and finds himself being institutionalized but Blake being a family man, finds it hard to stay away from his family and therefore he escapes from the institution and later assumes the identity of a deceased publisher and poses as a psychiatrist and soon begins courting a woman eventually winning over her and her teenage son but the woman's estranged husband returns, wanting to reconcile with his wife. Blake will not sit idle n watch his future family being snatched away from him.

After reading so many poor reviews about this movie, I was reluctant to see it for myself. Terry O'Quinn's stepfather character is even more psychotic than he was in part one! Mr. O'Quinn deserves an Academy Award for this performance. But seriously, the movie is good from the standpoint that it is just a thriller about a troubled man who wants to start a family. The only problem is, he will kill to make that dream happen. Thumbs up on this one for me. Take it for what it is.

The Stepfather (1987) was an enjoyable thriller telling the story of an unhinged man who joins family's, devotes himself to them but does whatever it takes to keep the family together and living by his rules.

Lost star Terry O'Quinn was fantastic and I'd only just discovered that sequels were spawned.

Following our antagonist as he breaks from an asylum and attaches himself to another single mother.

Once again O'Quinn is great, as is the always enchanting Meg Foster and the late Jonathan Brandis.

Stepfather II does not match its predecessor but is still watchable. You'll know everything that's going to happen, but that's okay.

The Good:

Terry O'Quinn

Meg Foster

Direct sequel

The Bad:

Predictable

Shadowed by the superior first movie

Things I Learnt From This Movie:

Even psychos appreciate the snaps, crackles and pops

Terry O'Quinn reprises his All I want is the perfect American family and if I don't get it I'll kill everyone and try again psycho role. Once again he manages to get an unmarried woman with a child to fall for him. This time it's Meg Foster. If you're a fan of the first then you have to see this one. If nothing else then for O'Quinns performance as Henry Morrison no Jerry Blake no Hodgkins....Wait a minute, Who is he here?