The Stepford Husbands
| The Stepford Husbands | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Based on |
The Stepford Wives by Ira Levin |
| Written by |
Ken Wheat Jim Wheat |
| Directed by | Fred Walton |
| Starring |
Donna Mills Michael Ontkean Cindy Williams Sarah Douglas Louise Fletcher |
| Original language(s) | English |
| Production | |
| Executive producer(s) | Edgar J. Scherick |
| Producer(s) | Mitch Engel |
| Running time | 90 minutes |
| Distributor | Victor Television Productions Anchor Bay Entertainment (1999 Video) |
| Release | |
| Original network | CBS |
| Original release | May 14, 1996 (USA) |
| Chronology | |
| Preceded by | The Stepford Children |
| Followed by | The Stepford Wives (remake) |
The Stepford Husbands is a 1996 American made-for-television thriller-drama film inspired by the Ira Levin novel The Stepford Wives. It was directed by Fred Walton with a screenplay by brothers Ken Wheat and Jim Wheat and starring Donna Mills, Michael Ontkean, Cindy Williams, Sarah Douglas and Louise Fletcher. It is the third in a series of sequels inspired by the 1972 novel and the original 1975 film The Stepford Wives.
In a prologue, a docile man suddenly kills his wife in a violent method, and then commits suicide.
Several months later, graphic artist Jodi and struggling author Mick Davison (Mills and Ontkean) move to Stepford, Connecticut, in the same house, hoping that life in the seemingly idyllic town will help rejuvenate their troubled marriage. Jodi reunites with old college friend Caroline (Williams) and meets the brilliant Dr. Borzage (Douglas) as well as the intimidating Miriam Benton (Fletcher), who heads a powerful women's group. Mick notices the docile men in the community, including Caroline's husband (who shows surprising moments of aggression), but befriends sloppy neighbor Gordon; both agree they are unnerved by the community. However, both Jodi and Mick are concerned when Gordon undergoes a radical behavior change after a stay at the Stepford Institute for Human Behavior, afterwards thinking only of wife Lisa, but ignoring his son and other interests.
Caroline subtly manipulates the Davisons and drugs Mick at a party. When Mick reacts to the drug, Jodi is convinced her husband has serious problems and commits him to The Stepford Institute for a cure. Mick is given mind-altering behavioral therapy and psychotropic drugs, altering him to behave docily, but passionless. Jodi is concerned about the drugs Mick takes as part of the therapy; when she learns that the previous couple in her house (of the murder-suicide) was linked to heavy drugs, she replaces Mick's drugs with placebos. The serious side effects of the treatment becomes clear, the men can become violent, and Mick crashes and threatens to kill Jodi. They reconcile when he is convinced she didn't know of the Institute's motives or methods. (In essence, Caroline had made the decision for Jodi.) They plan to leave immediately.
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