Revenge of the Stepford Wives

Revenge of the Stepford Wives

Year: 1980

Runtime: 96 mins

Language: English

Director: Robert Fuest

HorrorThriller

A television reporter travels to the placid community of Stepford to investigate why it boasts the nation’s lowest divorce and crime rates. As she digs deeper, she observes increasingly odd behavior among the town’s women, realizing that the idyllic façade hides a disturbing secret.

Warning: spoilers below!

Haven’t seen Revenge of the Stepford Wives yet? This summary contains major spoilers. Bookmark the page, watch the movie, and come back for the full breakdown. If you're ready, scroll on and relive the story!

Timeline – Revenge of the Stepford Wives (1980)

Trace every key event in Revenge of the Stepford Wives (1980) with our detailed, chronological timeline. Perfect for unpacking nonlinear stories, spotting hidden connections, and understanding how each scene builds toward the film’s climax. Whether you're revisiting or decoding for the first time, this timeline gives you the full picture.

1

Prologue: Escape Attempt Ends in Tragedy

Ten years after the original film, a couple unhappy with Stepford's perfection tries to flee the town. Their plan is abruptly halted when the police chief murders them, revealing the dark power that holds Stepford together. The scene establishes the town's menace beneath its idyll.

Prologue Stepford, Connecticut
2

Kaye Foster Arrives in Stepford

Spirited investigative reporter Kaye Foster arrives to cover why Stepford boasts the lowest crime and divorce rates. She immediately notices the women appear beautiful yet eerily compliant, and the town's pristine image hides something unsettling. She senses a story that challenges the town's perfect veneer.

Soon after prologue Stepford
3

Meeting the Leitmotif: Megan and Andy

Kaye meets Megan Brady, a down-to-earth newcomer, and Andy Brady, who is interviewing to join the police and the town's all-male Stepford Police. Megan becomes Kaye's would-be research assistant, drawn by her skepticism of Stepford's conformity. The trio becomes central to the investigation as tension mounts.

Early in investigation Stepford
4

Megan Joins the Project

Kaye chooses Megan to work with her, believing she can provide practical insight. Megan's grounded perspective contrasts with the town's glossy facade. The arrangement deepens Kaye's reliance on her new assistant as odd occurrences begin to stack up.

Shortly after hiring Stepford
5

Barbara Parkinson's Accident and Memory Gap

Barbara Parkinson nearly runs Kaye down, then displays strange, repetitive behavior at the site but cannot recall the incident the next day. The incident hints at a manipulation of the townspeople and foreshadows a larger conspiracy. Tension rises as more anomalies surface.

Soon after arrival Accident site, Stepford
6

Wally Speaks in Secrets

Hotel manager Wally seems guilty about his wife’s relentless routine and hints at a larger truth he cannot fully reveal. Another attempt is made on Kaye's life, underscoring the danger she faces. The town's veneer begins to crack as the threat closes in.

Around the same period Stepford Hotel
7

Megan Disappears After The Job

Andy secures a place on the Stepford Police while Megan chooses a house of her own; soon after, Megan disappears for several days. The disappearance deepens the mystery of what the town is hiding, and Kaye grows more determined to uncover the truth. Suspicion cascades as the pattern of control becomes clearer.

After Andy joins police Stepford
8

Garden Party Revelation

Kaye infiltrates a garden party at the Stepford Men's Association and witnesses the arrival of three new 'sisters,' including Megan. The women wear outdated fashions and perform subservient behaviors, confirming Kaye's suspicion of brainwashing. Diz Coba explains to the husbands that the women are kept in line with thyroid pills.

Garden party scene Gardens, Stepford Men's Association
9

Escape Plan Foiled

Kaye is spotted and narrowly escapes as the men close in. The investigation escalates into a pursuit, and the town makes clear it will defend its secret at all costs. The sense of danger heightens as Kaye realizes how deep the manipulation runs.

Post-garden party Stepford
10

Kaye and Megan Fight Back

Kaye confronts Megan at her home, dumps the pills, and coerces her to drink vodka. Megan initially lashes out, even trying to stab Kaye, but she recovers and the two women manage to knock out Andy. The plan to resist the brainwashing tightens into an escape attempt.

Following confrontation Megan's house
11

Disguise and Betrayal

To survive, Kaye disguises herself as a Stepford wife and enlists Wally to help them escape. Wally betrays the plan, but Kaye anticipated this and manages to outmaneuver him. The escape attempt continues despite the betrayal.

During escape attempt Stepford, around the Men's Association
12

Confrontation at the Association

The train escape fails as Megan is taken to the Men's Association for reconditioning. Kaye arrives and confronts Diz with a gun as Megan sounds the pill siren. The other women overdose on their pills, becoming disoriented and violent in unison.

Climax Stepford Men's Association
13

Diz Is Overpowered and Kaye Escapes

Andy arrives to reconcile and escape with Megan, but Kaye is captured by Diz. The vengeful women rush Diz, push him over a balcony, and tear him apart. The chaos ends with Kaye managing a narrow escape amid the riot.

Final confrontation Stepford Men's Association

Last Updated: October 09, 2025 at 14:58

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Sinister Suburbia Stories like Revenge of the Stepford Wives

Beneath the perfect facade of a quiet town, a horrifying secret festers.If you liked the creeping dread and hidden conspiracy of Revenge of the Stepford Wives, explore more movies where the idyllic small town or suburban setting masks a terrifying secret. These films share a theme of unsettling discoveries and a tense, paranoid atmosphere.

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Narrative Summary

These narratives typically follow an outsider or a skeptical resident who grows suspicious of their seemingly perfect community. Their investigation reveals a systemic conspiracy—often involving mind control, conformity, or a cult-like hierarchy—that transforms the safe haven into a gilded cage, leading to a tense confrontation with the powers that be.

Why These Movies?

These films are grouped by their shared setting of a deceptively tranquil community, a core mystery that unravels methodically, and a consistent tone of paranoia and psychological threat. They explore similar themes of systemic oppression and the loss of individuality.

Paranoid Investigator Thrillers like Revenge of the Stepford Wives

A lone truth-seeker descends into a web of deception where no one can be trusted.Fans of the investigative drive and escalating tension in Revenge of the Stepford Wives will enjoy these movies. They feature protagonists who uncover dark secrets, leading to a tense, high-stakes journey where trust is a liability and the threat feels omnipresent.

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Narrative Summary

The narrative arc follows a protagonist whose initial curiosity or professional duty leads them to uncover a truth much larger and more dangerous than anticipated. They face gaslighting, obstruction, and direct threats, forcing them to rely on their wits as they piece together clues in an environment where the normal rules no longer apply.

Why These Movies?

These movies are united by a specific protagonist archetype—the investigator—and a shared emotional journey of escalating paranoia and dread. The pacing is typically steady, building suspense through methodical discovery, and the tone remains consistently tense and anxious.

Unlock the Full Story of Revenge of the Stepford Wives

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Revenge of the Stepford Wives Summary

Read a complete plot summary of Revenge of the Stepford Wives, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

Revenge of the Stepford Wives Summary

Characters, Settings & Themes in Revenge of the Stepford Wives

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Characters, Settings & Themes in Revenge of the Stepford Wives

Revenge of the Stepford Wives Spoiler-Free Summary

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More About Revenge of the Stepford Wives

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