The Stepfather (2009) - 6 stars out of 10

The Stepfather (2009) - 6 stars out of 10

"The Stepfather" exceeded my (admittedly low) expectations.  Instead of taking the scary movie route, this film thrives as a psychological thriller with a diabolical villain who is almost animalistic in his preying on vulnerable, recently single mothers.  The opening sequence is chilling as the music keeps you on edge just enough to be upset by the first twist (occuring within the first 4 minutes of the film).  Dylan Walsh makes a fantastic villain, quickly transitioning from caring boyfriend to psychotic antagonist and back again.  The film is pretty realistic up until the closing sequence but manages to end with the perfect final image.  It isn't your typical "bad" scary movie and is worth looking into.