Despite seeming to be quite dead after being stabbed in the chest and taking a tumble down some stairs at the end of the first film, the titular stepfather, still using his most recent name "Jerry Blake," is incarcerated in an insane asylum. Needless to say, it isn't long before he escapes, murdering his psychiatrist in the process.
The stepfather soon moves to California where he starts a new life for himself, and begins searching anew for his perfect family. Posing as a psychiatrist named Gene Clifford, the stepfather begins a romance with Carol Grayland, the real estate agent who sole him his new house. Carol is a recent divorcée with one son, Todd. Ideal for "Gene" to begin setting himself up as husband to Carol and stepfather to Todd.
Everything is going swimmingly for Gene until Carol's ex-husband Phil returns and starts trying to get back with her, threatening to edge Gene out. In the meantime, Carol's friend Maddy is suspicious of Gene. She doesn't believe he's actually a psychiatrist, and begins trying to dig up his past. Things being unraveling quickly for him, all headed towards the inevitable disastrous, blood-drenched climax.
This was a completely unnecessary (and theoretically impossible!) sequel. Fortunately, it's also quite good, thanks to a fairly good story and of course the acting. Terry O'Quinn returns as Jerry/Gene and delivers the same strong, terrifying-yet-sympathetic performance he did before, and Meg Foster and her gorgeous eyes as Carol is the other half of this doomed romance.
The stepfather soon moves to California where he starts a new life for himself, and begins searching anew for his perfect family. Posing as a psychiatrist named Gene Clifford, the stepfather begins a romance with Carol Grayland, the real estate agent who sole him his new house. Carol is a recent divorcée with one son, Todd. Ideal for "Gene" to begin setting himself up as husband to Carol and stepfather to Todd.
Everything is going swimmingly for Gene until Carol's ex-husband Phil returns and starts trying to get back with her, threatening to edge Gene out. In the meantime, Carol's friend Maddy is suspicious of Gene. She doesn't believe he's actually a psychiatrist, and begins trying to dig up his past. Things being unraveling quickly for him, all headed towards the inevitable disastrous, blood-drenched climax.
This was a completely unnecessary (and theoretically impossible!) sequel. Fortunately, it's also quite good, thanks to a fairly good story and of course the acting. Terry O'Quinn returns as Jerry/Gene and delivers the same strong, terrifying-yet-sympathetic performance he did before, and Meg Foster and her gorgeous eyes as Carol is the other half of this doomed romance.