We've got our filthy little hands on the official synopsis for Sony Screen Gems' remake of The Stepfather. Michael Harding (Penn Badgley) returns home from military school to find his mother (Sela Ward) happily in love and living with her new boyfriend, David (Dylan Walsh). As the two men get to know each other, Michael becomes more and more suspicious of the man who is always there with a helpful hand. Is he really the man of her dreams or could David be hiding a dark side? The film arrives in theaters October 16th, 2009.
I'm not sure I'm liking the plot. The original was sort of based on the real life crimes of John List and his murdering of his entire family then dissapearing for decades before "America's Most Wanted" caught him. I thought it was one of the better horror/suspense films of the late 80's. This is sounding like a diluted version probably made for the teen crowd like they did with "When a Stranger Calls" and "Prom Night". And how did those films turn out ?
Hellen Cellar, you are spot on. i was just going to say the same thing. this total lamo director is the co-butcher of PROM NIGHT 08. you know, PROM NIGHT, one of THE worst pieces of...tripe to ever "grace" the big screen...EVER! this will be another piece or garbage. i really like the original w/ Jill Schoelen (love her) and Terry 0'Quinn. this will be another Lifetime TV movie of the week, JUST LIKE his Prom Blight was.
The original Stepfather, being based on a real story as Johnny Horror has pointed out was suspensful chiller and quite a very very good film. I dont see why it needs to be remade and yes, as other posters have pointed out, for the tween market!
Look, (IMO) the director Nelson McCormick isn't really bad. I think he did a solid job on the 'remake' of Prom Night, but that movie's main problem was the script. Screenwriter J.S. Cardone did a sucky job on the script for Prom Night. Too much of a bad dialogue, plot holes and things that just...blah!
I've actually heard that the scrip this tie isn't too bad, of course, they said they read the ORIGINAL draft before it was decided to make it PG-13. If it was a good script before, the loss of maybe some extra gore shouldn't hurt it. After all I can't remember any blood in the original. I really don't remember anything in the original besides a nude scene that would get it any more than a PG-13 these days.
Hell, Disturbia turned out pretty good and that had a similar story, so who knows...I'm waiting for a trailer.
Macabre Pictures, i totally hear what you're saying, but remember in the original Prom Night there was hardly any blood either. it was still creepy (at times and suspenseful (awesome chase scene w/ the bitch girl). the remake, even though it didn't NEED blood STILL sucked major ass and it wasn't suspenseful
in the slightest.
I had high hopes for this since I heard Dylan Walsh was in it, but now that I know its the director of the Prom Night remake, I'm going to go out of my way to avoid this piece of crap.
I see what you're saying, too, djblack! The original Prom Night, IMO, is a slasher classic. It's simple, classy, and very suspenseful indeed. I think the remake's kiss of death was deciding to change the story from the interesting childhood murder cover up to the typical Lifetime movie-esque one they came up with. Sure, it was similar to I Know What You Did Last Summer, but does Screen Gems really think today's teens even know what that movie is? Give me a break. Teenagers today have a memory span of about 3 months.
It's hard to believe that Cardone once wrote AND directed the enjoyable and atmospheric slasher film The Slayer back in the early 80's.
I'm still hoping this movie will be good, but I'm not holding my breath. The cast is GREAT through. I'm a big Dylan Walsh/Nip Tuck fan.
I JUST HOPE WHEN THIS REMAKE COMES OUT THE ORIGINAL FIRST STEPFATHER MOVIE WITH TERRY O'QUINN HITS REGION 1 DVD WITH A BARE-BONES OR SPECIAL EDITION OF THE ORIGINAL WHOEVER OWNS THE RIGHTS TO IT
fceurich, I hate to one up you, but how about a box set of Stepfather 1-3 with all the trimings and whatever else you can think of. That would be nice. I think that Sony must have the rights for it since they are remaking it. Will see Sony can be basterds and just release a remake or sometimes they release alot of stuff to come out whet the movie hits theaters. Only time will tell.
PUMKINHEADFAN you maybe right but the last i heard part II was on dvd but is out of print now dimension owns the rights to part 2 and part 3 is owned by lionsgate i think so a box set would be alot better but is more unlikely since all the films are owned by different studios unless sony or someone else got the rights to all 3
hey johnny horror didnt know that this was based on real stuff. man i dont like the plot of this at all. and i HATED the prom night remake. greaaat just what we need more lame watered down stuff for tweens who think oo a lil jump i am scared.........this film should have never been remade. i agree with u Boilersuit_Mayhem. some movies should be left alone and not be remade.....
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