In the days of Snow White and her rheumy apple, stepmothers were the most terrifying evils in a youngster's life. But in recent years, stepfathers have been promoted to the hot seat of menace - most notably Terry O'Quinn in low-budget cult shocker The Stepfather. In Sea of Love director Harold Becker's take on this horror subgenre, Vince Vaughn plays the monster, and with such finger-licking menace that even good-guy John Travolta has a job keeping up with his sinister machinations. Travolta plays the divorced father who is drawn into ex-wife Teri Polo's life with wealthy new husband Vaughn when son Matt O'Leary witnesses his stepdad's particular brand of murder and mayhem. As an "enemy within" movie, Domestic Disturbance has plenty of suspense, but it can't overcome its stereotypical treatment of characters and events, in spite of a sleazy performance from Steve Buscemi as a seedy blackmailer. However, Travolta's tough-guy hero at least has one ingredient that can be welcomed as a continuing trend: he has charm.

Frank Morrison is a divorced father with a 12-year-old son, Danny. His ex-wife Susan and son Danny now live with Rick Barnes, Susan's new husband. Danny, who has a reputation for telling lies, accuses his stepfather of committing a murder. Initially, no one believes his accusations, but then Frank becomes convinced and is the only one who believes him. Now, the father Danny trusts must protect him from the stepfather he fears.