The Stepfather’s Perfect Ending Was Ruined by Pointless Sequels

Underrated 1987 psychological slasher The Stepfather features the perfect ending to Jerry Blake’s story, but the sequels completely ruin it. To most people, accomplished character actor Terry O’Quinn is best known for playing the mysterious John Locke on the hit ABC drama Lost. That’s certainly the role that finally made O’Quinn a household name, at least for a time, but to horror fans, O’Quinn will always be most associated with the title role in director Joseph Ruben’s film The Stepfather.

The Stepfather was by no means a box office smash, earning only $2.4 million in theaters. While that’s $2.4 million in 1987 money, so not quite as abysmal as it sounds by today’s standards, it was still hardly a windfall. That said, reviews from critics were generally quite good, based primarily on O’Quinn’s captivating performance. The film found an audience on home video, leading to O’Quinn’s return in 1989 sequel Stepfather 2, sometimes subtitled Make Room for Daddy. A third film was also released in 1992, this time without O’Quinn.

While Stepfather 2 has its fans, critics hated it, and it did even worse at the box office. Stepfather 3, meanwhile, is just downright terrible, and most prefer to pretend it never happened. Neither sequel was really necessary, and their very existence negated the original film’s great ending.

The Stepfather’s Perfect Ending Was Ruined by Pointless Sequels

For those unfamiliar, The Stepfather stars O’Quinn as a serial killer in search of the perfect family, which he considers to be something resembling how the 1950s are portrayed in pop culture. The killer, who goes by the name Jerry Blake in the film, although that’s revealed to be one of many aliases he’s used, charms his way into the lives of a single mom. Things then go well for a while, but since people aren’t perfect, Jerry eventually grows frustrated, and takes out his anger by killing his current family, changing up his appearance, creating a new identity, and doing the whole cycle all over again. He’s already gone through multiple families by the time the film begins.

Near the end of The Stepfather, Jerry’s charade is beginning to fall apart, thanks to a rebellious and inquisitive stepdaughter named Stephanie, and Jim Ogilvie, the brother-in-law of one of his past victims. In preparation for his coming change to yet another identity, Jerry begins seeing a new single mom in a nearby area, calling himself Bill Hodgekins. At one point he forgets which identity he’s supposed to be at that moment, and attacks his current wife Susan in a fit of rage. To further complicate things, Jim shows up just long enough to be killed by Jerry, Dick Hallorann-style. Jerry then sets out to begin killing Susan and Stephanie, only for Susan to shoot Jerry with Jim’s gun, and Stephanie to stab him straight in the chest with a knife. He goes falling backwards down the stairs, and is very clearly dead.

Jerry’s death at the hands of his latest would-be victims was a great ending to The Stepfather‘s story, bringing the film full circle, as it began with Jerry leaving behind the bloody aftermath of his previous family. It’s hard to imagine a better, more definitive conclusion to The Stepfather, but unfortunately the desire for money won out, and Stepfather 2 happened. While O’Quinn is still good in it, as is a young Jonathan Brandis, the film is an almost note for note retread of the first film, this time with a son instead of a daughter. It also lazily retcons Jerry’s onscreen death, having him locked in an asylum after “somehow” surviving being stabbed and shot, despite being a non-supernatural villain. Stepfather 3 muddies things further, explaining O’Quinn’s absence with plastic surgery. Hollywood really needs to learn to leave well-enough alone.

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