The Stepfather (1987 film)

The Stepfather is a 1987 American horror thriller film directed by Joseph Ruben, and starring Terry OQuinn, Jill Schoelen, and Shelley Hack. OQuinn stars as Henry Morrison, a identityassuming serial killer who remarries a widow with her teenage daughter. After previously killing his family and changing his identity, his killing spree continues after his daughter turns suspicious about him. 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. The film was written by Donald E. Westlake, from a story by Westlake, Carolyn Lefcourt and Brian Garfield.

The film opens with Henry Morrison washing off blood, in a bathroom, before changing his appearance and putting a few of his belongings into a suitcase. After packing his things, Henry leaves through the front door of his house, nonchalantly passing the butchered remains of his family and others. Boarding a ferry, Henry throws the suitcase containing the objects from his former life into the ocean. One year later, Henry now operating as a real estate agent named Jerry Blake has married the widow Susan Maine. Jerrys relationship with Susans 16yearold daughter, Stephanie, is strained. Her psychiatrist, Dr. Bondurant, advises her to give Jerry a chance.Meanwhile, amateur detective Jim Ogilvie, the brother of Jerrys murdered wife, runs an article about his sisters murder in the newspaper. While hosting a neighborhood barbecue, Jerry discovers the article and is disturbed by it. Jerry goes into the basement of the house and begins maniacally rambling to himself, unaware that Stephanie is also in the basement. Discovering his stepdaughter, Jerry brushes off his outbursts by saying he was simply letting off steam. Stephanie finds the newspaper mentioning Jerrys earlier killings and comes to believe her stepfather is the murderer mentioned in the article. She writes a letter to the newspaper requesting a photo of Henry Morrison, but Jerry finds the photo in the mail and replaces it with another, allaying her suspicions. ........

Source: Wikipedia