Stepfather II

R

Released Nov 3, 1989

1h 26m

Horror

List

13%

8 Reviews

Tomatometer

34%

2,500+ Ratings

Audience Score

After cheating death by surviving being both stabbed and shot, psychotic killer Jerry (Terry O'Quinn) is placed in a mental institution, but he soon murders his doctor and escapes. Taking on a dead man's identity, he moves to an upscale neighborhood in Los Angeles and sets his sights on local woman Carol (Meg Foster), slowly winning her heart. Carol's son, Todd (Jonathan Brandis), grows suspicious of his mom's new lover, however, and tensions reach the boiling point at the couple's wedding.

Read More

Read Less

Prime Video

Rent Stepfather II on Prime Video, or buy it on Prime Video.

Bill Cosford

Miami Herald

One of the defining characteristics of modem horror films is that no villain is ever truly dead, at least until the revenue curve is flat. And so comes Stepfather II.

Rated: 2/4

Aug 18, 2021

Full Review

Nick Schager

Lessons of Darkness

Rarely has a sequel followed its predecessor's exact template like this thoroughly imitative follow-up.

Rated: C-

May 20, 2011

Full Review

Calum Baker

Radio Times

A plot that teeters on so many improbabilities, all the way up to its murderous wedding reception, needs more than O'Quinn's priceless expression when his breakfast snaps, crackles and pops.

Rated: 2/5

Jan 25, 2024

Full Review

Brian Eggert

Deep Focus Review

This brand of bad movie is unique because even while being bad, it allows the viewer to relish its awfulness and transform the experience into something enjoyable. This doesn’t happen often, but when it does, you should savor it.

Rated: 3/4

Aug 30, 2023

Full Review

David Nusair

Reel Film Reviews

...a tiresome sequel that boasts little worth recommending aside from Terry O'Quinn's expectedly electrifying performance.

Rated: 2/4

Nov 25, 2009

Full Review

Lori Hoffman

Atlantic City Weekly

The original is great; this is lousy.

Rated: 2/5

Apr 20, 2007

Full Review

Read all reviews

Alec B

In a way it is more ambitious than its predecessor (trying to get into O'Quinn's head more is a great idea) but that doesn't translate into a better movie. Ultimately the problem is that the setup requires too many unbelievable situations and scenarios.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

01/10/24

Full Review

Damien T

Now this is one of my favourite Horror films, Stepfather II. Terry O'Quinn's, Meg Foster's and Jonathan Brandis' performances were wonderful for me, along with Jim Manzie's score which I liked better than the original Stepfather film. The screenplay was also decent for me, but I was happy that I saw some gore in this film. I think that the director Jeff Burr did a pretty good job at this film. I'll give this film 5 out of 5 stars, and an average "A" grade. I recommend this film as well to people who are fans of Terry O'Quinn or the Stepfather films!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

10/07/23

Full Review

Saso Q

The original Stepfather series and this entry in particular are criminally underrated cinematic statements, in my opinion. For they are nothing less than crystalline indictments of Conservativism; precise and definitive portraits of Conservatism as emotional illness. In this sense they are more effective than political argumentation, as they depict with tremendous clarity and precision -- not to mention great sense of humor -- the consequences and repercussions of the obsessive love of family values, the incapacity for flexibility and tolerating frustration... all the inevitable incongruences and imperfections in relating to the will of the other. This man, the protagonist, is an idealist, a Platonic optimist, a traditionalist, and as such given to outright expressions of the Death Instinct when things don't go the right way, the patriarchal way. This is to say, the conservative loves creation so much he is willing to kill in order to stop creativity. This is the final desperate cry of the Father, captured brilliantly in this lively filmic meditation on the terminal, lethal equation of societal collapse with change.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

09/27/23

Full Review

Justin T

I'm going to start with the ending and the ending was weaker than the previous one as it was less conclusive. Oh yes, that is possible. The film moved along at the same pace as the first film with the same formula. Even the ending was just the same. The only difference was that the camera work was far more static and dull. It almost looked like they took the few good bits of the first film and removed them for the sequel. I could watch the film with little offence. Not being offended is the height of the entertainment from this movie. This is not bad but this is also not good. More forgettable than the first with nothing standing out about it whatsoever. There was nothing really bad about the experience but there was certainly nothing good about it. The violence was rare and not gory. It didn't make me jump and the first one did. You know what, there is so little about this film except its bland attributes that I would recommend saving your time and not watching. It is utterly humourless so repeat watching is out of the question.

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

03/29/23

Full Review

Deke P

Stepfather killer thriller Sequel made just 2 years after the first, which got sky high RT reviews. This one got terrible reviews. But I think it was just about as good as the first. Giving it 3 1/2 RT stars. 'Good, I rec Saw it on tv 3.3.23

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

03/04/23

Full Review

Liam D

While not as Chilling as the original but Terry O'Quinn (The X Files, Rated X) once again shines as the Title Character

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

11/10/21

Full Review

Read all reviews

Post a rating

Jeff Burr

Director

Terry O'Quinn

The Stepfather

Meg Foster

Carol Grayland

Caroline Williams

Matty Crimmins

Jonathan Brandis

Todd Grayland

Henry Brown

Dr. Joseph Danvers

Show Less Cast & Crew

Show More Cast & Crew

86%

73%

The Company of Wolves

33%

57%

Phantasm II

33%

37%

Friday the 13th Part VII -- The New Blood

TRAILER

for Friday the 13th Part VII -- The New Blood

74%

65%

Child's Play

31%

31%

A Nightmare on Elm Street 5: The Dream Child

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

View more photos

Synopsis

After cheating death by surviving being both stabbed and shot, psychotic killer Jerry (Terry O'Quinn) is placed in a mental institution, but he soon murders his doctor and escapes. Taking on a dead man's identity, he moves to an upscale neighborhood in Los Angeles and sets his sights on local woman Carol (Meg Foster), slowly winning her heart. Carol's son, Todd (Jonathan Brandis), grows suspicious of his mom's new lover, however, and tensions reach the boiling point at the couple's wedding.

Director: Jeff Burr
Screenwriter: John Auerbach
Distributor: Millimeter Films
Production Co: Incorporated Television Company, Millimeter Films, Part II Productions
Rating: R
Genre: Horror
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Nov 3, 1989, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 26, 2018
Box Office (Gross USA): $255.3K
Runtime: 1h 26m

Most Popular at Home Now