STEPFATHER 2

Despite the fact that he was shot enough times to kill an elephant in the first film (1987), the intervening years have worked miracles for “Jerry” (Terry Quinn) as he sits with his carefree shrink in an high security institution. Of course, sure as the sun comes up, it’s not that secure and after a gory exit he sets off to find a new ideal family. It doesn’t take long before he alights on single mom “Carol” (Meg Foster) and her lad “Todd” (Jonathan Brandis) and by impersonating a kindly counsellor, manages to inveigle his way into their lives. She has her fair share of suitors already, though - but, well you can see the rest of this plot from space. The actors and the writing are distinctly mediocre (if that’s not an oxymoron) and it’s about as formulaic as it’s possible to get as it yells television movie at us from start to finish. Quinn doesn’t manage to muster even the vaguest sense of menace and as the denouement looms we even manage to involve a broom cupboard, an hammer and some wedding cake! He whistles a good tune, though - but this is weak and derivative, sorry.