Stepfather III
Encyclopedia
Stepfather III is a 1992 slasher film
directed and written by Guy Magar and starring Robert Wightman
("The Waltons") and Priscilla Barnes ("Three's Company"). Stepfather III is the second sequel to 1987's The Stepfather
and concerns the titular serial killer seeking out yet another all-American family to become a part of, using plastic surgery
to disguise himself from the authorities.
), escapes from the institution in Puget Sound, Washington he was placed in four years ago, seeking a reclusive back alley plastic surgeon (Mario Roccuzzo) to perform extensive plastic surgery on him to alter his appearance, using no anesthesia. After taking several days to recover from the operation the stepfather kills the doctor by slitting his throat with a bone saw and makes his way to Deer View, California where has now acquired a new pseudonym, "Keith Grant", as well as a small cottage and a job at a plant nursery. Nine months after crafting his new life, Keith, during an Easter dance held by the church, meets and grows attracted to divorced school principal Christine Davis (Priscilla Barnes) who has a computer-savvy son named Andy (David Tom), who is a full-time wheelchair user due to psychosomatic ailments. Keith and Christine begin dating when Christine's possessive ex-boyfriend Mark Wraynal (Stephen Mendel) follows Keith home and claims he is going to marry Christine and that Keith should leave her alone. Feigning compliance at first, Keith murders Mark with a shovel and buries the body in his garden.
Despite Andy having some misgivings about Keith his mother marries the man, with Keith moving in with the two. Attempting to befriend Andy, who he believes he can help walk, Keith grows increasingly frustrated by the boy's introverted tendencies. When Andy's biological father Steve (Jay Acovone) offers Andy the chance to spend the summer with his family and attend a school for the gifted Andy decides to take his father up on the offer, despite Keith's protests. With Andy gone and Christine revealed to be infertile Keith begins courting Jennifer Ashley (Season Hubley
), a widow who has moved into Keith's old cottage with her son Nicholas (Adam Ryen). Keith's plan to murder Christine and marry Jennifer grows complicated when Andy, suspicious that Keith is the escaped Family Serial Killer continually mentioned on the news, moves back to Deer View. Growing increasingly unstable after Christine and Jennifer meet and become friends, Keith murders his boss Mr. Thompson (Dennis Paladino) with a rake when he mentions that he spotted Keith cheating on Christine with Jennifer.
Convincing family friend Father Ernest Brennan (John Ingle) to help him uncover Keith's identity Andy invites the father over for dinner and the two sneak Keith's fork off the table, to have the fingerprints on it compared to the Family Serial Killer's. Realizing Father Brennan is up to something Keith excuses himself after dinner and follows the priest, running him off the road and killing him by beating his face against the steering wheel of his car. Making Father Brennan's death look like an accident by blowing up his car Keith attends his funeral (set on Father's Day
) and afterward, when Christine mentions visiting Jennifer, rushes to the plant nursery and calls Jennifer, telling her to meet him. Before going to the nursery Jennifer calls Christine to cancel their meeting, claiming her new boyfriend called with an emergency. When Jennifer arrives Keith reveals he is married before claiming he needs her out of the way. Knocking Jennifer out Keith prepares to dump her in a wood chipper.
Arriving at the nursery with Andy in tow Christine, having pieced together that Keith is Jennifer's new boyfriend, confronts Keith about his affair and is beaten unconscious when she discovers Jennifer weakly writhing on the ground. As Keith prepares to murder his two lovers Andy, finding the fork he gave Father Brennan in the back of the car, finally realizes the truth about Keith and, overcoming his disorder, is chased through the nursery by his stepfather. When Keith climbs a ladder to look for him Andy knocks him off it and into the wood chipper and is almost dragged into it himself, only to be saved by Christine, who pulls him out of Keith's grasp. Despite Jennifer severing the power cable of the wood chipper Keith is still killed, being hacked to bits, finally ending him and his killing spree.
, where Marketing Films released it as a part of a limited edition box set containing the other two installments of the series in 2003. Elsewhere the only home video release of the film is on VHS
. Lions Gate Home Entertainment has yet to announce any plans to release it on DVD.
Tony Scott stating "[The] film lurches on without much credibility" before going on to say "blood spurts, but director (and co-writer with Marc B. Ray) Guy Magar doesn't make the horror convincing. The simplistic story line and the unconvincing portrayal by Wightman haven't been enhanced by indifferent production values." Entertainment Weekly's
Doug Brod gave the film a D+, referring to it as "a poorly scripted, all-too-familiar chiller", also calling Robert Wightman "robotic" and "a weak substitute for previous death-dealing dad Terry O'Quinn
".
Time Out Film Guide stated that the film "is far better than one might expect" and called Wightman's performance "more barmy than ever" and "with that prissy, scary, whiny voice makes a good fist of it".
Slasher film
A slasher film is a type of horror film typically involving a psychopathic killer stalking and killing a sequence of victims in a graphically violent manner, often with a cutting tool such as a knife or axe...
directed and written by Guy Magar and starring Robert Wightman
Robert Wightman
Robert Wightman is an American actor, who took over the role of "John-Boy Walton," in the 8th season of The Waltons. He played this role from 1979-1982...
("The Waltons") and Priscilla Barnes ("Three's Company"). Stepfather III is the second sequel to 1987's The Stepfather
The Stepfather (1987 film)
The Stepfather is a 1987 American thriller film starring Terry O'Quinn in the title role. It is loosely based on the life of mass murderer John List, although the plot is more commonly associated with slasher films of the era than a true story. It was directed by Joseph Ruben and written by Donald E...
and concerns the titular serial killer seeking out yet another all-American family to become a part of, using plastic surgery
Plastic surgery
Plastic surgery is a medical specialty concerned with the correction or restoration of form and function. Though cosmetic or aesthetic surgery is the best-known kind of plastic surgery, most plastic surgery is not cosmetic: plastic surgery includes many types of reconstructive surgery, hand...
to disguise himself from the authorities.
Plot
Having survived the stab wounds he sustained at the end of the previous film, the stepfather (Robert WightmanRobert Wightman
Robert Wightman is an American actor, who took over the role of "John-Boy Walton," in the 8th season of The Waltons. He played this role from 1979-1982...
), escapes from the institution in Puget Sound, Washington he was placed in four years ago, seeking a reclusive back alley plastic surgeon (Mario Roccuzzo) to perform extensive plastic surgery on him to alter his appearance, using no anesthesia. After taking several days to recover from the operation the stepfather kills the doctor by slitting his throat with a bone saw and makes his way to Deer View, California where has now acquired a new pseudonym, "Keith Grant", as well as a small cottage and a job at a plant nursery. Nine months after crafting his new life, Keith, during an Easter dance held by the church, meets and grows attracted to divorced school principal Christine Davis (Priscilla Barnes) who has a computer-savvy son named Andy (David Tom), who is a full-time wheelchair user due to psychosomatic ailments. Keith and Christine begin dating when Christine's possessive ex-boyfriend Mark Wraynal (Stephen Mendel) follows Keith home and claims he is going to marry Christine and that Keith should leave her alone. Feigning compliance at first, Keith murders Mark with a shovel and buries the body in his garden.
Despite Andy having some misgivings about Keith his mother marries the man, with Keith moving in with the two. Attempting to befriend Andy, who he believes he can help walk, Keith grows increasingly frustrated by the boy's introverted tendencies. When Andy's biological father Steve (Jay Acovone) offers Andy the chance to spend the summer with his family and attend a school for the gifted Andy decides to take his father up on the offer, despite Keith's protests. With Andy gone and Christine revealed to be infertile Keith begins courting Jennifer Ashley (Season Hubley
Season Hubley
-Biography:Hubley was born Susan Hubley in New York City, the daughter of Julia Kaul and Grant Shelby Hubley, a writer and entrepreneur. Her brother is actor Whip Hubley....
), a widow who has moved into Keith's old cottage with her son Nicholas (Adam Ryen). Keith's plan to murder Christine and marry Jennifer grows complicated when Andy, suspicious that Keith is the escaped Family Serial Killer continually mentioned on the news, moves back to Deer View. Growing increasingly unstable after Christine and Jennifer meet and become friends, Keith murders his boss Mr. Thompson (Dennis Paladino) with a rake when he mentions that he spotted Keith cheating on Christine with Jennifer.
Convincing family friend Father Ernest Brennan (John Ingle) to help him uncover Keith's identity Andy invites the father over for dinner and the two sneak Keith's fork off the table, to have the fingerprints on it compared to the Family Serial Killer's. Realizing Father Brennan is up to something Keith excuses himself after dinner and follows the priest, running him off the road and killing him by beating his face against the steering wheel of his car. Making Father Brennan's death look like an accident by blowing up his car Keith attends his funeral (set on Father's Day
Father's Day
Father's Day is a celebration honoring fathers and celebrating fatherhood, paternal bonds, and the influence of fathers in society. Many countries celebrate it on the third Sunday of June but it is also celebrated widely on other days...
) and afterward, when Christine mentions visiting Jennifer, rushes to the plant nursery and calls Jennifer, telling her to meet him. Before going to the nursery Jennifer calls Christine to cancel their meeting, claiming her new boyfriend called with an emergency. When Jennifer arrives Keith reveals he is married before claiming he needs her out of the way. Knocking Jennifer out Keith prepares to dump her in a wood chipper.
Arriving at the nursery with Andy in tow Christine, having pieced together that Keith is Jennifer's new boyfriend, confronts Keith about his affair and is beaten unconscious when she discovers Jennifer weakly writhing on the ground. As Keith prepares to murder his two lovers Andy, finding the fork he gave Father Brennan in the back of the car, finally realizes the truth about Keith and, overcoming his disorder, is chased through the nursery by his stepfather. When Keith climbs a ladder to look for him Andy knocks him off it and into the wood chipper and is almost dragged into it himself, only to be saved by Christine, who pulls him out of Keith's grasp. Despite Jennifer severing the power cable of the wood chipper Keith is still killed, being hacked to bits, finally ending him and his killing spree.
Cast
- Robert WightmanRobert WightmanRobert Wightman is an American actor, who took over the role of "John-Boy Walton," in the 8th season of The Waltons. He played this role from 1979-1982...
as The Stepfather/Keith Grant - Priscilla Barnes as Christine Davis
- Season HubleySeason Hubley-Biography:Hubley was born Susan Hubley in New York City, the daughter of Julia Kaul and Grant Shelby Hubley, a writer and entrepreneur. Her brother is actor Whip Hubley....
as Jennifer Ashley - David TomDavid TomDavid Tom is an American actor.-Career:In 1993, Tom was nominated for two Young Artist Awards for his roles in Stepfather III and Stay Tuned...
as Andy Davis - John IngleJohn IngleJohn Ingle is an American actor known for his role as scheming patriarch Edward Quartermaine on the ABC daytime drama, General Hospital.-Career:...
as Father Ernest Thomas Brennan - Dennis Paladino as Mr. Thompson
- Stephen MendelStephen MendelStephen Mendel is an actorUpon graduating from Bishop's University with a degree in theater he began his acting career appearing at the two English language professional theaters in Montreal, Canada. He appeared in a number of Canadian television shows and movies as well as theater in other parts...
as Mark Wraynal - Jay AcovoneJay AcovoneJay Acovone is an American actor who was born in Mahopac, New York as the son of a dry-cleaning business owners.-Career:...
as Steve Davis - Christa MillerChrista MillerChrista Miller is an American actress who has achieved success in television comedy. Her foremost roles include Kate O'Brien on The Drew Carey Show and Jordan Sullivan on Scrubs . She has also appeared on Seinfeld and CSI: Miami...
as Beth Davis - Mario Roccuzzo as Plastic Surgeon
- Joan Dareth as Bernice
- Jennifer BasseyJennifer BasseyJennifer Bassey is an American actress.-Biography:After graduating from Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London, Jennifer Bassey moved back to the United States and took roles in many Off-Broadway plays...
as Doctor Brady - Adam RyenAdam RyenAdam Sebastian Ryen is a former Norwegian child actor, perhaps best known for voicing Cody in the English and Norwegian versions of Disney's The Rescuers Down Under...
as Nicholas Ashley - Mindy Ann Martin as Tiffany Davis
- Joel Carlson as Pete Davis
- Sumer Stamper as Maggie Davis
- Brenda StrongBrenda StrongBrenda Lee Strong is an American actress and yoga instructor, known for her roles as as Capt. Deladier in the 1997 hit movie Starship Troopers and Mary Alice Young on the television show Desperate Housewives....
as Lauren Sutliffe - Mort Lewis as Funeral Priest
- Adam WylieAdam WylieAdam Augustus Wylie is an American television and motion picture actor, as well as a Broadway musical performer and a former Crayola spokesman.-Early life:...
as Easter Party Boy
Release
To date the only DVD release of the film has been in GermanyGermany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, where Marketing Films released it as a part of a limited edition box set containing the other two installments of the series in 2003. Elsewhere the only home video release of the film is on VHS
VHS
The Video Home System is a consumer-level analog recording videocassette standard developed by Victor Company of Japan ....
. Lions Gate Home Entertainment has yet to announce any plans to release it on DVD.
Critical reception
Reviews of the film were mostly negative, with Variety'sVariety (magazine)
Variety is an American weekly entertainment-trade magazine founded in New York City, New York, in 1905 by Sime Silverman. With the rise of the importance of the motion-picture industry, Daily Variety, a daily edition based in Los Angeles, California, was founded by Silverman in 1933. In 1998, the...
Tony Scott stating "[The] film lurches on without much credibility" before going on to say "blood spurts, but director (and co-writer with Marc B. Ray) Guy Magar doesn't make the horror convincing. The simplistic story line and the unconvincing portrayal by Wightman haven't been enhanced by indifferent production values." Entertainment Weekly's
Entertainment Weekly
Entertainment Weekly is an American magazine, published by the Time division of Time Warner, that covers film, television, music, broadway theatre, books and popular culture...
Doug Brod gave the film a D+, referring to it as "a poorly scripted, all-too-familiar chiller", also calling Robert Wightman "robotic" and "a weak substitute for previous death-dealing dad Terry O'Quinn
Terry O'Quinn
Terry O'Quinn is an American actor, most famous for playing John Locke on the TV series Lost. He made his debut in a 1980 television movie called F.D.R.: The Last Year. Since then, O'Quinn has had minor supporting roles in films and TV movies such as Young Guns, All the Right Moves, Silver Bullet,...
".
Time Out Film Guide stated that the film "is far better than one might expect" and called Wightman's performance "more barmy than ever" and "with that prissy, scary, whiny voice makes a good fist of it".