Based on the novel by Ira Levin (who also wrote “Rosemary’s Baby”), this eerie horror/science-fiction hybrid has made quite an impression on pop culture while remaining rather unseen by most. That’s a shame, because although it’s a bit overlong, this is a solidly crafted thriller that gradually gets under your skin. Lead Katharine Ross is entirely believable in her role as a bright housewife recently relocated to Stepford, a community where the women all seem subservient and rather vacant. There are a number of downright creepy moments and, while its secrets were revealed long ago through pop culture discussions, there’s an palpable sense of mounting doom that permeates each new revelation on the way to its twisty climax.
Rating: ★★★ (out of 5)
