Metacritic Movie Ratings
The Stepfather Reviews

A sample of reviews from critics across the country.

• 70

  out of 100

  Los Angeles TimesKevin Thomas

  Tthe film is all of a piece, a handsome, thoughtfully crafted production that generates a mounting terror securely anchored by assured performances, consistent psychological persuasiveness and believable dialogue. What's most chilling about The Stepfather is that it was inspired by an actual incident in New Jersey in 1971.

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• 60

  out of 100

  Variety

  McCormick's Stepfather boasts a decent script by J.S. Cardone, but it seems to have been made in a bubble, as if nothing had transpired in the world of slasher/horror since the late Donald Westlake ("The Grifters") wrote the much-respected original.

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• 50

  out of 100

  The New York TimesStephen Holden

  A clumsy remake of the 1987 cult thriller.

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• 50

  out of 100

  Entertainment WeeklyOwen Gleiberman

  The trouble with the movie, apart from its rather monotonous dourness of tone, is that everyone in the family, especially the reformed-delinquent high school son (Penn Badgley), comes off as tougher, smarter, and quicker on the draw than the stepfather who's supposed to be outfoxing them.

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• 30

  out of 100

  The Hollywood ReporterKirk Honeycutt

  This remake turns a fondly remembered horror/thriller into a mild and tedious suspense film.

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