Admittedly, I've never seen the original of this film, however I recognize it and am familiar with it. It's taken me almost fifteen years just to get to this remake.
That being said, I'm judging it on its own merits and not comparing it to the previous work.
Just this film, standing on its own.
So, we have a slick and stylish movie. No worse for the wear over the years.
Dylan Walsh, whom I most closely relate to playing the nerdy-ish son of Paul Newman's character in the excellent, Nobody's Fool 1994), actually does a believable job at the creepy title character.
He's o.c.d. And he's off putting. He's also able to disarm effectively as he should with his intended targets in the film.
Sela Ward incinerates the screen as a newly divorced single mother.
My appreciation for her as an actress could be long lost or newfound but her performance definitely resonates.
Amber Heard, unrecognizable to me at first here in 2023, is simply stunning. No less than breathtaking. Wow. After watching her in this here and now, I am truly rooting for her to reattach to her onward and upward path of excellence in filmmaking.
It's also great to see Jon Tenney playing the ex-husband and Father. I most closely associate him with one of my favorite films of all time, Entropy (1999).
Is this movie scary?
Not really, but it makes me anxious and uncomfortable when people are snooping around where they shouldn't and there's a lot of that gong on in The Stepfather, as you can imagine. So, if that bothers you then you'll be bothered but you won't be scared. Not really.
There are some good jams on the soundtrack:
Filter, Seether, Hoobastank, Band of Horses, and Mute Math among others bringing that 2009 rock like you remember it.
The film isn't that memorable but it is short.
