When troubled teen Michael (Penn Badgley) returns home after a year at military school, he finds his mother, Susan (Sela Ward), in love and his soon-to-be stepfather, David (Dylan Walsh), has moved into their home. David says he wants them to become the perfect family. But as they get to know each other, Michael quickly becomes convinced that David himself is far from perfect.
Trying to verify what he knows of David’s past, Michael finds things that don’t add up. As strange events and David’s bursts of malevolence become more frequent, Michael tells his mother and girlfriend of his suspicions, but they just think he’s being paranoid. Eventually, as Michael searches for proof that his suspicions are well-founded, cracks begin to show in David’s perfect façade…and it becomes apparent he will stop at nothing to keep his secrets.
For David has a history of trying to create the perfect family. And each time, when it becomes apparent that perfection is impossible, David has a terrifying way of clearing the slate and starting over. As the film’s events rocket towards a shocking final confrontation, it’s up to Michael to protect his family from the evil that’s been awakened once more in David.
Read the Full Production Notes
The Stepfather
Starring: Dylan Walsh, Sela Ward, Penn Badgley, Adrianne Palicki, Amber Heard, Paige Turco, Braeden LeMasters, Skyler Samuels, Jon Tenney
Directed by: Nelson McCormick
Screenplay by: Joe Cardone
Release Date: October 16th, 2009
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for intense sequences of violence, disturbing images, mature thematic material and brief sensuality.
Studio: Sony ScreenGems
Box Office Totals
Domestic: $29,062,561 (93.2%)
Foreign: $2,135,970 (6.8%)
Total: $31,198,531 (Worldwide)