Pretty solid all around until we get to the ending, which sacrifices the rest of the film for some cheap shocks.

During some unexplained world wide pandemic, Stephanie (Shree Crooks) is home alone in desperate need of adult supervision. The opening kitchen scene was a parent's nightmare. We don't know what happened to her parents and her brother Paul is dead. Stephanie is haunted by a monster. We suspect what may be going on and clues start to come 30 minutes into the feature. Shree Crooks carried the film. I thought she did an excellent job in the role. Guide: No swearing or sex. Brief partial nudity (Anna Torv)

As a horror film, "Stephanie" was very slow in developing as it opened with a protracted sequence of a little girl struggling in the kitchen to make a smoothie in a blender. In appeared as though she might be a latch-key child and that this film would be recycling "Home Alone." Then, there was a plot twist that turned this bizarre drama into a most unpleasant film viewing experience.If there is a theme to the film, it might be summarized in the expression "the beast within." Apparently, a worldwide epidemic of monsters has invaded the psychés of young kids, destroying the moral and physical fabric of planet earth in the shape of what should be our future: our children. Much of the film's action is left vague with the nebulous "protocol" that is recommend for parents to deal with their unruly children. Other loose plot strands included what ever happened to Mr. Hooper? And why did little Stephanie suddenly turn on her little bro Paul?The film is worth comparing to a far superior Twilight Zone episode from 1961. The program is titled "It's a Good Life," and it includes an unforgettable performance by little Billy Mumy as a child with vast mental powers and who is not afraid to use them. This 30-minute television episode packed a greater emotional punch than the entirety of "Stephanie." The main difference was that in the creepy Billy Mumy character, we had a springboard for transforming the adults into exactly what they deserve, such as the memorable jack-in-the-box man. By contrast, the poor mother and father of "Stephanie" are victims who are more sinned against than sinning.The most interesting character in the film was the father figure, who genuinely cared about his daughter. In ancient Greek drama and mythology, there were timeless stories about parents and their children that resonated with universal psychological insights, such as the Oedipus archetype. "Stephanie" included no insights. It was pure sensationalism, superficial, and forgettable.

Being a fan of Anna Torv (Fringe) and not having seen her in anything for a while (also do enjoy a good horror type movie), I decided to give this a go. The acting is great, albeit a very minimal cast. The young girl (Stephanie) carried the film well, with most of the scenes being her on her own. This is a bit of a mix of a movie, with some horror and sci-fi elements, it did kind of remind me of a Fringe event. Not sure why there are some low ratings here, can only assume some people went into this expecting something else. This movie will keep you guessing as to what is going on and doesn't disappoint. So if you like a bit of a break from the norm, give this one a go.