All Caroline wants is to be able to settle down in one place and find a man who will treat both her and her son Toby right. She moves to Seattle and finds the seemingly respectable Dwight. However, Toby feels differently about him, as Dwight’s methods are emotionally and physically abusive.
His chipper exterior slowly peeling back to expose toxic insecurities and abusive tendencies, De Niro’s stepfather starts on the lower-key end of the spectrum of sinister figures he’s played, though is no less terrifying than Travis Bickle. As scene partner, he gets the best out of a young DiCaprio.