The Stepford Wives (1975) (2004)

The original film starring Katherine Ross as Joanna Eberhart is a complete atmospheric creep-out. Joanna and her husband Walter (Peter Masterson) leave the hustle and bustle of NYC for the peace and quiet of Stepford, Connecticut. Soon after arriving to Stepford, Joanna notices not only a change in her husband, but odd behaviour from its residents. The tension builds as Joanna and her new friend Bobbie (Paula Prentiss) dig deeper into the lives of the neighborhood ladies who seem content with household chores. As the truth is revealed, the viewer alongside Joanna is dying to escape the horror.

In stark contrast is the 2004 remake starring Nicole Kidman and Matthew Broderick. Kidman is pitch perfect as a Stepford wife. Glen Close is equally cold and vacant. But sadly the remake misses its mark. Somewhere between cleverly campy and thrillingly creepy is this waste of time.

As I see it, the original is well-executed psychological thriller. It’s remake is mess-terpiece.