Watch The Stepfather

The Stepfather is a psychological thriller released in 2009, directed by Nelson McCormick and starring Penn Badgley, Dylan Walsh, and Sela Ward. The film is about a man named David Harris who becomes romantically involved with a widow, Susan Harding, after meeting her through an online dating service. David quickly forms a bond with Susan's teenage son, Michael, but as time passes, Michael becomes increasingly suspicious of David's past and begins to investigate him.

The film begins with David Harris (Dylan Walsh) meticulously cleaning up a blood-soaked bathroom before leaving the house and assuming a new identity. He then checks into a hotel and begins his search for a new family. Months later, he meets Susan Harding (Sela Ward) through an online dating service and found out that she has a son named Michael (Penn Badgley) who is away at military school.

David and Susan quickly fall in love, and when Michael returns home for a break, David eagerly welcomes him into their family. However, Michael quickly realizes that David is not who he seems to be. Michael is a young man who had been away at school and is a bit of an outsider in his own family. He's dealing with resentment towards his father who left the family and has just started dating someone. He doesn't like the idea of his mom dating again.

He begins to investigate David and discovers that he has a history of violent behavior and has assumed different identities in the past. Susan is reluctant to believe Michael's claims and becomes defensive when he confronts her with his findings. Meanwhile, David becomes increasingly irritable and violent as Michael's investigation continues.

As Michael delves deeper into David's past, he learns that the man has killed all of his previous families whenever they begin to suspect him. He also discovers that David's real name is Joseph Smith and he has been on the run since murdering his previous family six months prior.

The film follows Michaels desperate attempts to stop David before he can kill again, and the tension builds as David's façade begins to crumble, and his true, violent nature is revealed. Michael's search for the truth leads him to uncover some shocking revelations about David's past, which ultimately put him in grave danger.

The film's plot is tense and dramatic, with many twists and turns as Michael inches closer to uncovering the truth. Penn Badgley delivers an outstanding performance as Michael, bringing both vulnerability and strength to his role. Dylan Walsh is also impressive as David, portraying a seemingly normal family man, hiding a dangerous secret.

The Stepfather explores themes of family, trust, and deception, and is a gripping psychological thriller. The film's climax is intense and will leave viewers on the edge of their seats, and the overall pacing of the movie is well-balanced, with enough suspense to keep the audience engaged throughout.

Overall, The Stepfather is a well-made thriller that will keep viewers entertained and on their toes until the very end. The film is a remake of the 1987 version of the same name, but it retains its own identity with strong performances from its cast and a fresh take on the story.

The Stepfather is a 2009 horror movie with a runtime of 1 hour and 42 minutes. It has received mostly poor reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 5.6 and a MetaScore of 33.