I like movies that are aware of what they are selling... without [any] greater aspirations than to make people laugh and that's it.

In truth, there is barely enough story here to make a film.

All of these films share one commonality, that being a kind of emotional center that humanizes a cast of monsters.

The story, direction, characters, and writing/dialogue is akin to taking a tranquilizer shot to the neck, but everything else was so well done.

Worth a watch I'd say, good plot, not stupidly over the top, and pretty realistic.

"The Stepfather" is one of the better thrillers to come out of the 1980s: a very pointed look at one very old fashioned individuals' commitment to traditional values, or to put it another way, his intense, ongoing search for perfection. Perfection that, of course, we know can never really be obtained."Jerry Blake" (character actor Terry O'Quinn, in his legendary first starring role) is a mass murderer of families. He selects widows with children, ingratiates himself to the woman, and marries into the family. Desperately seeking an ideal American family, he inevitably erupts into violence whenever the family disappoints him. And then on he moves to another brood, and another fabricated life.O'Quinns' wonderful performance, and the very resonant theme, help to make this a solid diversion. It's based on the real life story of John List, who'd murdered his whole family, and set himself up with a new identity in a new town. He wasn't caught until 'America's Most Wanted' came along in the late 1980s and profiled him. (As a matter of fact, his arrest coincided with the release of this films' first sequel.) The screen story is credited to authors Carolyn Lefcourt, Brian Garfield, and Donald E. Westlake, with Westlake writing the screenplay.Efficiently directed by Joseph Ruben, this works towards a rather conventional finale, but until then is quite gripping. The lovely Jill Schoelen is appealing as the suspicious stepdaughter Stephanie, while Shelley Hack is adequate as Susan, the unsuspecting new woman in Jerry's life. Charles Lanyer, as kindly psychiatrist Dr. Bondurant, and Stephen Shellen, as Jim Ogilvie, are fine in support.The opening sequence is nothing short of chilling, especially considering how calmly O'Quinn plays it. There is a fair amount of gore here, as well as some T & A supplied by Ms. Schoelen. The "Who am I here?" moment has become fairly iconic.O'Quinn reprised his role for the first sequel, but for the third movie, it was recast with Robert Wightman.Nine out of 10.

No need to recap the plot. Watching the movie is like sitting on a block of ice. It's that chilling. Jerry may look like a friendly neighborhood salesman, what with the winning smile and calm demeanor. Plus, his regard for home and family is almost a sacred observance. At the same time, he talks one heckuva good line. But inside all the candy coating beats the icy heart of a true psychopath.O'Quinn's terrific as Jerry Blake, stepfather extraordinaire. His sudden transitions from Jekyll to Hyde are perfectly executed, and scary as heck. And pity poor stepdaughter Stephanie (Shoelen); she senses something behind his calm demeanor but really has no idea. Then there's wife Susan (Hack) who's just happy having a complete family again; plus, a guy who's a good lover as the movie shrewdly shows.For nutcase Jerry, however, the family is a sacred ideal that allows no shortcomings. In short, it's not the usual ideal we adjust to real people. Instead, in Jerry's bloody hands, it's an impossible standard for any mortal wife or kids. And woe betide those who don't live up to that impossible ideal. Jerry's like a guy in search of a unicorn, but finding only ordinary horses, he kills them, causing the search to go endlessly on.The movie's violence is so sudden it's really jarring. Kudos to director Ruben who knows how to get the most out of Jerry's demonic character. Sure, the premise takes the all-American notion of family and carries it to a psychopathic extreme. Just watch Jerry lovingly raise the model house (bird-house) above everyone's head. It's a perfect visual metaphor for his obsession. And when it comes crashing down, we know we're back to reality. My only complaint is with the overdrawn climax, where people don't die in mortal fashion. Then again, with Jerry that may be appropriate.Anyhow, it's no wonder the 90-minutes has become a cult favorite. Come to think of it, I think I'll go sit in the warm sun for a while.

Recently widowed Susan thinks she's met the perfect new husband in Jerry Blake. Unfortunately, Jerry has a dark side to him, and only his stepdaughter Stephanie suspects the horrible truth: that "Jerry" is actually a serial killer who married widowed or divorced women with kids, plays the happy stepfather for a little while, before something sets him off, prompting him to murder every single one of them and move on to a new family and town after changing his name and appearance. Can Stephanie convince those around her of Jerry's true nature before it's too late for her and her mother? Or will Jerry's cycle of insanity and murder continue? Much has been said of Terry O'Quinn's powerful performance as Jerry and I have little to add except that I agree he's excellent in the role. His violent mood swings are truly terrifying to behold and yet, when he's calm, he honestly seems like he's trying to be a loving father.