The problem with this TV movie? It isn't trashy enough! Andrea Roth's portrayal of twisted anti-heroine Susan Heller is the saving grace of this tawdry thriller. She alternates sweetness and villainy well but there are times when she could have hammed it up more. I also found the structure of the film amateur. It starts improbably and little background information is revealed. It is not clear why Susan revisits the horse-ranch until more than half-way through. Little is revealed about Susan's mysterious upbringing, leaving her murderous deeds harder to understand. Another problem was the dour performance by the other daughter who was supposed to represent goodness in contrast to Susan's evilness. She was far from sympathetic, allowing Susan to take centre stage. Not the best of its genre.
15 Reviews
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kosmasp29 October 2022
No pun intended - with movies like this one, you may not always know what you'll be getting. In this case, you have a movie that could be called decent. Not because it will surprise you (quite the opposite, this is as predictable as you can imagine - again no pun intended) ... but because it has some nice moments in it ... although nice may not be the right word to use for it ... because she is not playing nice (yes I know another pun - I live for them, like characters in movies like this one live for revenge ... or mayhem in general).
If you are into easy thrillers (or whatever you would call this very low budget effort) and do not care that much about acting and other things (quality of sets and video and so forth) ... you could do worse I reckon .. on the other hand, there are so many movies ... maybe you should not waste your time on something like this ... as I did.
If you are into easy thrillers (or whatever you would call this very low budget effort) and do not care that much about acting and other things (quality of sets and video and so forth) ... you could do worse I reckon .. on the other hand, there are so many movies ... maybe you should not waste your time on something like this ... as I did.
decent idea, poor execution
Scott_Parton9 May 2001
The Stepdaughter? After watching this I am left wondering why it was even called that? Was there even a stepdaughter in it? Was Susan/Karen someone's stepdaughter?
But, on to the movie itself. It was interesting enough to keep you watching and wondering a little, but most of the time I spent groaning and rolling my eyes at the various plot holes and silliness. At times it is amazingly predictable, other times mildly suspenseful, but most times only slightly entertaining. My favorite cliches include the little "idiot" boy saving the day, the bumbling lawman, the good-looking big stud farm hand trying to force himself on her, and "I'm so crazy I talk to my doll". Then after all the buildup and clues start coming together... the payoff is very weak I felt.
I don't want to be all negative about any film, so I'll say that Andrea Roth does a good job as does Lisa Dean Ryan I thought. At least for what they had to work with.
4/10
But, on to the movie itself. It was interesting enough to keep you watching and wondering a little, but most of the time I spent groaning and rolling my eyes at the various plot holes and silliness. At times it is amazingly predictable, other times mildly suspenseful, but most times only slightly entertaining. My favorite cliches include the little "idiot" boy saving the day, the bumbling lawman, the good-looking big stud farm hand trying to force himself on her, and "I'm so crazy I talk to my doll". Then after all the buildup and clues start coming together... the payoff is very weak I felt.
I don't want to be all negative about any film, so I'll say that Andrea Roth does a good job as does Lisa Dean Ryan I thought. At least for what they had to work with.
4/10
Not Too Bad For A Movie That Wasn't In Theaters.
movies2u10 July 2002
A lot of these direct-to-video movies aren't always the greatest, because they obviously couldn't even make it to the theater. I have no clue why this wasn't in theaters. It wasn't all that bad. Andrea Roth and Lisa Dean Ryan were rather good, and the story was really great. I recommend this movie. I give The Stepdaughter a 7 out of 10. :)
Loads of cliches
nightroses9 September 2021
Warning: Spoilers
The title of the film doesn't make sense because there isn't a stepdaughter but a biological daughter, who went looking for her real mother who gave her up as a child. The radio on the edge of the bath is always death waiting to happen. Dumping a body in the boot of a car and pushing it into the lake is another. Wearing wigs, owning a creepy doll, and going by different names. The film dragged but soon after.an hour, after killing the mother, the rest is boring.
The Stepdaughter is is a Pretty Good SuspenseAnd Direct To Video Film.
mrs-6110221 February 2021
When a Young Beatuful Woman Named Susan Miller Who Throughout Of Her Entire Life
Been into Different Foster Homes Years Later When She Was Older She Finds One Day She's Sees a Paper Ad Of a Ranch Working Happy Family And The Wife in The Picture Ad Just Might Be Susan Miller's Birth Mother And Who Sets Out Looking For Her Real Birth Mother And To Get Revenge On Her For She Did By Leaving Her Abandoned After She Was Born. Andrea Roth Plays The Main Title Villian As Susan Miller. i Consider The Stepdaughter a Great Lost Gem Of a Movie.
The Party's Over, Mom!
wandernn1-81-68327415 October 2023
I'd never seen this before. And man was I shocked to see Tommy Gavin's wife Janet and super wow Buck Rogers is in it too!
This way over predictable schlock is really remindful of a Hallmark Channel movie. I mean it is really pretty bad.
The general gist of course is the silly stepdaughter becomes a creepy killer because of whatever background she had as if that's some sort of excuse. In the tradition of the Stepfather series of movies which were also fairly bad.
The movie is full of overused cliches and dumb characters. And the end was really bad and dumb. But at least there were closing words from Buck Rogers.
3/10.
This way over predictable schlock is really remindful of a Hallmark Channel movie. I mean it is really pretty bad.
The general gist of course is the silly stepdaughter becomes a creepy killer because of whatever background she had as if that's some sort of excuse. In the tradition of the Stepfather series of movies which were also fairly bad.
The movie is full of overused cliches and dumb characters. And the end was really bad and dumb. But at least there were closing words from Buck Rogers.
3/10.
Format Psycho-Killer with a heart
petkanasw12 October 2023
This film generates a lot of hate but it's not so bad. It is teribly format and there are so many ananswered qudestions and loose ends but ... it's a made-for-tv movie that has to rein in the blood and gore and doesn't care about things making sense, For example, Susan does say something about her stepfather (not much) but because of the very limited backstory we don't really get why the film called The Stepdaughter. The way she answers questions it's as if she's trying to get caught in lies. But... Andrea Roth is extremly dishy and it's nice to see her runnning around and the ranch setting is really beautiful, so it's not too bad a ride at all.
Better than most of these type movies.
J. Dredd3 June 2001
While not a wholly original or fantastic movie, it is better than a lot of the other direct-to-video thrillers. Andrea Roth & Lisa Dean Ryan both do really well with their parts. If you can overlook the more predictable plot points, it is a descent movie to watch.
Great Direct-To-Video Flick!!!!
grampa-33 January 2001
The Stepdaughter is a great Direct-To-Video Title Starring (Andrea Roth. It Started as a homecoming but became a nightmare for one family. Susan Heller (Andrea Roth) is a person who's had years of abuse and neglect and she's out for revenge. I give the movie a 10 great Thriller.
Abused child gone sour
chruko3 November 2006
Warning: Spoilers
I rate this high on the B list genre, but otherwise it's a little campy. A woman named Susan kills a farmhand so she can get a job and get close to a family she has deep connections with. If you want a psychological thriller, this is as good as any. You can ask yourself questions like "Why is this woman so deeply connected to this doll?" I'm still trying to figure this out. My only guess is that the doll is the only one that never abused her and so now it must be her only confidant. I recommend this movie if you want to see a B movie horror but you want decent acting. The script could use some work but the two female leads do a good job with what they have and are fascinating to watch.
"You Should Never Drop In On Somebody Without Calling First!"...
azathothpwiggins21 September 2021
An unsuspecting family takes in a woman named Susan (Andrea Roth), who claims to have been in a car accident. Of course, the viewers know that Susan has just committed a coldblooded murder. The victim just happens to work on the very ranch that Susan has now "stumbled" upon.
The family has no idea that this woman knows who they are. Only the daughter seems to smell a rat. Mom and dad are oblivious, and junior even goes so far as to take Susan to a cave to show her the bottomless pit he's discovered. No one else knows about it.
This could come in very handy!
THE STEPDAUGHTER is a suspenseful movie, though it's pretty obvious what Susan's up to and why she's picked this particular family. Her state of mind is shown to be... troubled. Especially, since she has a doll that she talks to. A lot! The tension builds well, and Ms. Roth's character is sly and diabolical...
The family has no idea that this woman knows who they are. Only the daughter seems to smell a rat. Mom and dad are oblivious, and junior even goes so far as to take Susan to a cave to show her the bottomless pit he's discovered. No one else knows about it.
This could come in very handy!
THE STEPDAUGHTER is a suspenseful movie, though it's pretty obvious what Susan's up to and why she's picked this particular family. Her state of mind is shown to be... troubled. Especially, since she has a doll that she talks to. A lot! The tension builds well, and Ms. Roth's character is sly and diabolical...
Great Thriller !!!!!!!
Captain Ken8 April 2002
This is a great thriller. Your eyes can not leave the screen because the acting is so good.. What tricks will the girl do to win this family??? It will warn us to be careful when you take strangers into our family circles. Add beautiful horses and great scenery and you have a hit movie for all times,, Bravo
I definitely rooted for the Stepdaughter
Dfredsparks25 June 2004
not a great film by any stretch of imagination but also not the worse of this B movie thriller genre (what? no Billy R. Moses?).I thought the villainess was passably convincing and compelling and I absolutely rooted for her over the daughter-from-hell good daughter...I dont know if it was the acting or the role but she really really annoyed me. The actor playing the "slow" brother gave a performance that was insulting to special people everywhere (even in comparison to Cuba Gooding Jr and Sean Penn). I so wanted this to be a bad guy wins movie. The actress who played the mother wasnt bad..i know I have seen her but cant place her name right now
great movie
the_last_shadow_200015 June 2002
Warning: Spoilers
**SPOILERS** I first saw this film at the local video store simple because the front of the cover looked really creepy and cool. I watched about ten or fifteen minutes of the movie and was hooked, I couldn't take my eyes of the screen SIMPLY BECAUSE this movie is extremely suspensful.
The scenery and atmosphere of the film was really creepy, suspenful, and kept you hooked until the very end. Andrea Roth is hot also which made the atmosphere more realistic and moody.
I can still remember the whole bathroom part where (SPOILER) Susan killed her supposed mom... i never understood that part but why should I care.
The ending was one of the best endings to a movie ever but that is just what I think, there are many people who would disagree. But the overall rating that I give this movie is about a nine out of ten. Im being absolutely serious, this movie is really great and should be watched serious by yourself I think. But whatever you want. I would definetly see this movie if I were you because it is GREAT!!
The scenery and atmosphere of the film was really creepy, suspenful, and kept you hooked until the very end. Andrea Roth is hot also which made the atmosphere more realistic and moody.
I can still remember the whole bathroom part where (SPOILER) Susan killed her supposed mom... i never understood that part but why should I care.
The ending was one of the best endings to a movie ever but that is just what I think, there are many people who would disagree. But the overall rating that I give this movie is about a nine out of ten. Im being absolutely serious, this movie is really great and should be watched serious by yourself I think. But whatever you want. I would definetly see this movie if I were you because it is GREAT!!
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