The movie begins with a man, David Harris (played by Dylan Walsh), shaving his face and packing his belongings. He then leaves the house and is seen washing the blood off his hands. It’s revealed that he has murdered his current family.
Several months later, Susan Harding (played by Sela Ward) meets David Harris at a grocery store, and they strike up a romance. Susan’s teenage daughter, Stephanie (played by Amber Heard), returns home from a trip to Europe to find that her mother has become engaged to David after only six months of dating.
Stephanie is suspicious of David from the beginning, as he seems too good to be true. Despite her concerns, Susan is blinded by love and refuses to listen to her daughter’s warnings. Stephanie starts investigating David’s past and discovers that he has assumed multiple identities and married several women, all of whom have died under suspicious circumstances.
As Stephanie digs deeper, she uncovers evidence linking David to the murders of his previous families. She shares her findings with her boyfriend, Michael (played by Penn Badgley), who initially dismisses her claims but eventually joins her in trying to expose David’s true identity.
Meanwhile, David becomes increasingly controlling and manipulative, isolating Susan from her friends and family and trying to turn her against Stephanie. He also starts to target Stephanie directly, attempting to frame her for his crimes and eliminate her as a threat.
In the climax of the film, Stephanie confronts David and reveals that she knows the truth about his past. A violent struggle ensues, leading to a final confrontation between Stephanie, David, and Michael. In the end, David is killed, but not before causing significant harm to Stephanie and her family.
“The Stepfather” is a tense and suspenseful thriller that explores themes of deception, manipulation, and the dangers of ignoring red flags in relationships. It keeps audiences on the edge of their seats as Stephanie fights to protect herself and her loved ones from a charming but deadly predator.