The Stepfather Blu-ray Review

Sony delivers a stunning visual performance with "The Stepfather" on Blu-ray, showcasing an exceptional 1080p, 2.40:1-framed transfer. Colors are vibrant and natural, enhancing every scene with a diverse and eye-catching palette ranging from the lush green grass to the glimmering blue of the backyard pool. Such chromatic richness, combined with highly detailed textures, presents a nearly perfect cinematic experience. The sharp precision in detailing is impressive, with every facial imperfection and texture captured meticulously, bringing Dylan Walsh’s expressions to life with striking clarity. Despite a slight layer of film grain, the transfer maintains a clear and sharp image, only occasionally showing hints of softness.

However, it is important to note that the visual presentation isn't without its flaws. While the image generally enjoys high fidelity, black levels sometimes fall short, appearing brighter than one would expect for a film that relies on atmospheric tension. This occasional lapse in black depth detracts slightly from the immersion, particularly in the darker scenes where moodiness is paramount. Moreover, flesh tones can occasionally betray a slight red push, although this issue does not significantly mar what is otherwise an outstanding transfer.

Nonetheless, Sony’s Blu-ray presentation of "The Stepfather" remains commendable. The fine grain contributes to a strong filmic quality that enhances the movie-watching experience. Although imperfections exist—chiefly the softer black levels and sporadic red flesh tones—the overall video quality succeeds in delivering a richly detailed and visually engaging experience that aligns well with the high standards expected in contemporary HD transfers.

Sony's audio presentation for "The Stepfather" on Blu-ray features a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track that presents a serviceable but somewhat inconsistent listening experience. The mix achieves a respectable level of depth and fidelity, with sound effects panning fluidly across the soundstage and the atmospherics consistently enhancing the film's immersive qualities. A standout example includes the realistic rendering of a thunderstorm near the film's climax, which fully utilizes the surround channels to create an enveloping sonic experience. The film’s score is delivered with clarity, while background noises, such as the buzz of an overhead light or party chatter, are rendered convincingly, pulling the listener into the environment.

However, the audio track is not without its shortcomings. A significant flaw lies in the inconsistent dialogue levels, where viewers may find themselves adjusting the volume frequently to balance speech with other elements. This issue disrupts the viewing experience, as dialogue can become too low at times before being overwhelmed by sudden increases in music and sound effects. Additionally, while the soundtrack is technically proficient, it lacks distinctiveness; notable moments such as climactic scenes are competently executed yet fail to deliver any remarkable sonic impact.

Despite these issues, the low-end frequencies are well-controlled and precise, delivering impactful moments that add weight to pivotal scenes. Surround usage throughout the movie is sparse but effective, providing a sense of space without overwhelming the primary audio channels. Although it is overall a technically solid track, the uneven mixing of dialogue and lack of standout elements make it fall short of being truly memorable. Other language options include French and Portuguese DTS-HD MA 5.1 and Spanish Dolby Digital 5.1, with subtitles available in English, English SDH, French, Spanish, and Portuguese.

The extra features on "The Stepfather" Blu-Ray provide a detailed and somewhat varied look into the film's production. The commentary with Director Nelson McCormick and actors Penn Badgley and Dylan Walsh covers aspects like thematic similarities with the original, shooting styles, and technical decisions, offering a mix of insightful and anecdotal content. The "Open House: Making the Film" documentary dives into casting, performances, filming locations, and scene assembly, though it may overly focus on the film's house set. "Visualizing the Stunts" provides behind-the-scenes views of the stunt work, especially focusing on a notable climactic fight scene. Additional features include a gag reel, which may not live up to expectations, the theatrical trailer, several TV spots, Sony's MovieIQ functionality, and BD-Live features.

Extras included in this disc:

• Commentary with Penn Badgley, Dylan Walsh and Director Nelson McCormick: Insights into themes, motivations, and technical aspects.
• Open House: Making the Film: Behind the scenes of cast assembly and performance details.
• Visualizing the Stunts: Behind-the-scenes of the film's stunt work.
• Theatrical Trailer and 6 TV Spots: Promotional content with some inconsistencies.
• Gag Reel: Humorous outtakes from the film.
• Movie IQ
• BD-Live

"The Stepfather" (2009) remake revisits the 1987 thriller classic with mixed results. Featuring Dylan Walsh as David Harris, the narrative focuses on his chilling pattern of infiltrating families, establishing trust, and ultimately murdering them when they fail to meet his high standards. Commencing with an eerie yet superficial opening sequence of family slaughter, the film traces David's integration into Susan Harding's (Sela Ward) household. The storyline picks up as her son Michael (Penn Badgley) returns from military school and begins to suspect that David might be hiding a dark past. Despite the ominous setup, viewers acquainted with horror-thriller conventions will swiftly predict its trajectory, with the plot rigorously adhering to genre clichés.

Director Nelson McCormick's technical prowess is apparent in his visually engaging approach, maintaining viewer interest despite the film’s absence of substantial suspense. The cast delivers competent but bland performances, struggling to elevate a script that lacks originality and depth. Dylan Walsh stands out, somewhat, by injecting a nuanced dual persona into his role, especially impactful during the initial sequence that slowly discloses his deadly actions. However, subsequent scenes falter due to their predictability and reliance on formulaic thriller elements such as the stereotypical stormy night climax.

The film attempts to introduce several plot elements—Michael’s military background and swimming skills, the Christmas-time murders—that never fully integrate into the overarching narrative. The rehashing of standard thriller motifs, including unconvincing suspense sequences and uninspired murder scenes, diminishes the potential for genuine thrills. While technically proficient in terms of direction and visual presentation, "The Stepfather" ultimately fails to distinguish itself due to its derivative nature and a script that eschews character depth and innovative storytelling in favor of predictable genre conformity.

"The Stepfather" Blu-ray release offers a largely disappointing film experience, though the technical presentation by Sony is commendable. The transfer quality is noteworthy, delivering rich visuals that meet the high standards typically associated with Sony releases. However, the audio mix leaves much to be desired, suffering from inconsistencies that detract from the overall experience. Special features such as "Making the Film" and "Visualizing Stunts" provide some additional content, but they do not compensate for the film's prevalent shortcomings.

From a narrative standpoint, "The Stepfather" remake fails to build upon its predecessor, falling short with predictable plotlines and underdeveloped characters. The movie struggles to engage the audience, especially those familiar with the original or similar genre films. Lacking the intensity and cleverness that define good thrillers, it feels more like a disjointed repetition rather than a fresh take. Critics agree that the script is riddled with clichés and unresolved elements, making it a tedious watch for horror/thriller enthusiasts.

In conclusion, while Sony’s Blu-ray release showcases impressive visual quality, "The Stepfather" itself does little to stand out. Its lack of depth and innovation, combined with a subpar audio experience and unremarkable special features, make it hard to recommend for purchase. A rental may be worthwhile for those curious about the technical presentation, but fans of the genre or original would do better to look elsewhere for a more satisfying experience.