Customer Reviews

The Good Son

5 star:		(57)
4 star:		(17)
3 star:		(17)
2 star:		(6)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

Being an actor requires that you be the possessor of a whole list of extraordinary traits such as being at least fairly talented, having an appealing personality, being just original enough to be interesting and looking halfway decent in stylish clothes, among others. Being a child actor is wholly different, mostly because the large majority of child actors defy the number one rule in that they are sadly lacking in any form of true talent.
For example, you have Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen, who were (and still are) unbearable to watch on screen. There is also every child who ever set foot on the set a Disney channel show and most of the children with small roles on adult sitcoms. These kids are cute but they just can't act.
So when an agent comes across a really good child actor, its no surprise that suddenly that poor kid is slapped with a starring role in every movie made while they're still young enough to look normal in overalls, hence, the story of McCauley Culkin and Elijah Wood's lives.
One of the most interesting things about Joseph Ruben's 1993 film `The Good Son', is that its about criminal insanity and is rated `R' yet the two main characters are barely ten years old. To Ruben the concept must have stood out as wonderfully original, but making the movie was a risky decision because finding two kids talented enough to play the apparently "evil", Henry and his earnest cousin, Mark could not have been easy.
But, miraculously, the casting agents did it and well-known child actors Culkin and Wood were respectively cast.
When Mark's mother dies a premature death, he is sent to live with his aunt, uncle and cousins for two weeks while his father closes a business deal in Tokyo. Mark and his cousin Henry are around the same age and immediately get along after being reintroduced. However, things are not as peaceful as they seem in Henry's house. Less than a year ago, the family's youngest child, Richard, drowned in the bathtub and Mark's aunt Susan is still deeply distraught over the "accident", which she considers her fault. At first Mark considers this story sad but unpreventable; however, as he gets to know his cousin better, his true personality puts the account in a whole new light.
This movie is truly child acting at its best. Culkin's performance suggests that he understands his malicious but brilliant character better than most adult actors understand far simpler roles. Wood, who has always had the ability to completely become any character he plays, is equally stunning, playing a desperate, victimized little boy with outstanding capability. It's hard to judge which young man is the better actor, or even which part was harder to play, their raw talent should make any actor go green with envy. They also have exceptional screen chemistry, which makes not only their characters, but also their characters' relationship intensely believable, the scenes that they are in together are by far the best.
David Morse, Wendy Crewson and Quinn Culkin (MaCauley's sister) are also members of the cast, which is particularly small. However, their performances look amateur next to (the older) Culkin and Wood, and in comparison to her brother's Quinn's performance outlines the difference between a good child actor and a bad one.

The first time I came across this was in a junior novelization by Todd Strasser, and I must admit its better than the movie. But the movie is a delight. Macaulay Culkin is Henry, the young child who has everyone fooled into thinking he is a great kid. But he is really a youngster who loves to watch death. Elijah Wood(the kid in this movie who knows how to act) comes off much better as Mark, Henry's cousin and the only kid who knows Henry's true personality. The music is wonderful. Elmer Bernstein is a genius. And what can I say, even my mom liked the photography! I first saw the "TELEVISED" version on TV, following the real movie. Not a thing was changed! The reason for its R rating is Theme. Period. The violence is off screen, and besides Henry's one use of the "F-word" and some other expletives, there is nothing really here. WITH A PARENT, watch this movie kids, and adults, even though it stars young children, you'll like it too!

I saw this movie in the theater when it came out, and never thought it got the recognition it really deserved. The story has admittedly been done several times before, but the thing that stands out about this version is the performance of a very young Elijah Wood. Of course at the time, Culkin was the "star" of this film due to the popularity of the "Home Alone" films. I have never thought that Culkin was that great of an actor, although he does come across as a very convincing troubled kid in this role. The standout, though, in this movie is Elijah Wood. This kid was a winner early on in his career and the proof is in this role. His eyes convey such fear and concern that you really feel his performance is for real. The atmosphere that the director created was also a big plus for this movie. The lighting and sound is excellent on the DVD transfer, and the widescreen presentation is very welcome. Also included are the trailer and a behind the scenes look at the making of the movie, which aren't even listed on the box! Surprise!
Catch this one if you can!

In this corner, red headed Hollywood stepchild with the apple pie smile; star of "Home Alone" and Michael Jackson house guest, and future unemployed rehab patient seen in E Entertainment's True Life story "The Rise and Fall of a Hollywood Child Star": You know him, you hate him; it's Macaulay Culkinnnnnnnnn!!!!

And in this corner, cute, precocious and very, very talented; although he has stumbled occasionally into near career fatal accidents like "North" and "Flipper," he has come out grounded and swinging, landing the biggest starring role of all time in the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy. You know him, and if you don't love him, you soon will; it's Elijah Wooddddddddddddd!!!

These two mini Hollywood tikes square off in a controversial thriller that's scarier and bloodier than you might imagine. It's good versus evil in the middle school arena! You'll cheer as the battle leads to a satisfying conclusion that's sure to please lovers and haters of precocious child actors alike. Let's get it on!!!!!!!!!

I liked this movie but when I saw the original movie The Bad Seed I realized that this movie does not even compare although it has wonderful performances by the children the adults seemed to be trying a little to hard to be a good actor and it just was not working for them. The story is that this boy Mark (Elijah Wood) his mom just died and so his father sends him from New Mexico to Maine to spend some time with his cousins and family while he is taking care of the work that needs to be done. At first it all seems like harmless fun but after a while Mark realizes that his cousin (Macaulay Culkin) will kill him soon so now he is fighting to save not only his life but his entire family's but nobody believes him. I would recommend this to people ages thirteen and up the only reason it is R rated is because of language and violence but it is not that bad. It is suspensefull however a little predictable but if you like movies like this then you will love the movie The Bad Seed starring Patty McCormick. I hope that this review has helped you in making a decision about this film.

This is a great drama/thriller about a young boy, Mark, (Wood) who is struggling after the untimely death of his mother. He temperarily moves in with his Aunt and Uncle for a few weeks while his father is away on a business trip. He meets Henry, (Culkin) his 12 year old cousin who becomes a new best friend for him. Together they explore the beautiful Maine landscape and Henry shows him his secret hideout. Things seem to be going well until Mark begins to notice a darker side of Henry. A side nobody else has ever seen. Before long Henry's outdoor games are becoming more violent and evil towards people and animals. And when Mark tries to warn his Aunt and Uncle about Henry's dangerous behavior, they don't believe him or Henry denys it. Mark begins to panic when Henry threatens to kill members of his own family and almost poisons them. He tells him that his baby brother who drowned in the bathtub did not die as the result of accident like his parents believe. Soon, Henry turns into a true psychopath and the only one who knows it is Mark. He begins doing everything in his power to protect the family from Henry's destructive plans and maniacal rampage of terror.

Mark (Elijah Wood) is a boy who's mother has just died. His dad carries him over to stay with his aunt, uncle, and cousins for a couple of weeks right after her death. At first, all seems to be going great. But soon, Mark will find out that his cousin, Henry (Macaulay Culkin), is a 12-year-old psychotic killer. Just one of the things that Henry does is make an attempt to kill his little sister. For the longest time, Mark is the only one that knows Henry's true side.

For the first and only time, Macaulay Culkin turned away from playing the mischievous, but likable kid that he portrayed in the "Home Alone" movies, to being a cynical and murderous 'bad guy' on the loose in "The Good Son." Just like Culkin did in "Home Alone," he does a GREAT job in "The Good Son." As a matter of fact, in my opinion, he does his best job of acting in this one, and Elijah Wood does equally as good of a job.

A lot of people don't like "The Good Son" because it's so controversial. A 12-year-old boy having a murderous personality like that is controversial, but this day in age, there's a good deal of 12-year-olds that are probably even worse. Also, the ending set up tons of flames from many of the critics and the viewers alike, and when you see it, you'll see why.

So why did I like "The Good Son"? Well, because it was unbelievably suspenseful and compelling after I found out what kind of person that Henry was, and the fact that he has almost everybody fooled about his 'true' side. If you can't stand the idea of a 12-year-old murderer portrayed in a movie or if you can't stand the controversy, then don't buy this film. But if you like suspenseful and compelling films, then I recommend it all the way.

It's child-star vs. child star in "The Good Son," a disturbing suspense movie about the brutality that even children can commit. Somehow it's not surprising that Ian McEwan wrote the screenplay -- it's no cheery, cutesy story, but a horror movie in every sense of the word.

As the movie opens, Mark (Elijah Wood) is brought to his mother's bedside as she dies. At the funeral, his father learns that he will have to go on a business trip, which will "set you and Mark up for life." So he drops off Mark at his uncle and aunt's in New England, hoping that the boy will buck up emotionally when he's around other kids. At first, all is well -- Mark immediately becomes pals with his cousin Henry (Macaulay Culkin), and the boys are soon inseparable.

But then Henry enlists Mark in a crazy prank: throwing a dummy onto a crowded highway, causing a massive accident. Mark realizes that his cousin cares nothing about the lives of others -- and discovers that he may have caused his baby's brother's mysterious death. But no one believes Mark -- and now Henry is planning to kill others in his family...

It's a sad fact that children can be as evil as adults, but the myth of childish purity sticks to us. That's why "Good Son" is so disturbing. Rather than treating the two kids as cardboard cutouts, they are as complex as adults -- capable of good or evil, and of terrible thoughts and actions. And, as we see in Mark, they can be heroes as well.

The storyline has a few too many cliches -- for example, the parents are utterly in the dark about Henry's true nature, although the mom does get a clue late in the movie. Ian McEwan did an excellent job with the scripting, however, slowly building up the suspense through little things like Henry pondering, "If I let you fall... do you think you could fly?" as Mark was dangling off a tree's branch. He also gives a sense of despration, as Mark tries to rescue Henry's little sister from an "accident," or destroys all the food when he thinks Henry has poisoned it all.

Wood gave a stellar performance as Mark, though he was the lesser child star at the time. He uses his expressive face and eyes to full advantage, showing all of Mark's horror, indecision, fear and sorrow without a word. Too bad Culkin wasn't nearly as good -- his portrayal of Henry is completely flat. The most emotion he ever shows is a shrug; I almost expected him to yawn.

"The Good Son" is a disturbing suspense movie, and not one that can be forgotten quickly. The main problem with it is Culkin's acting, while Wood did an outstanding job.

The Good Son is awesome. Elijah Wood and Macaulay Culkin give excellent preformances as Mark and Henry. Mark is the good son who tries to expose his cousin Henry for the murderer that he is. The suspense is incredible and the conclusion of the film is unbelievably shocking. My jaw was on the floor. Elijah Wood was nothing short of amazing. He rocked the screen. Macaulay Culkin's preformance was also note worthy, and a little scary. This movie kicks major butt and you will be missing out if you don't watch it.

I saw this movie one day when there was nothing else to watch. I must admit I was slightly disturbed by Macaulay Culkins character. He was bizarre and his actions appalling for a twelve year old. On the other hand, Elijahs performance was the relief of the movie. The innocence and childlike fear he conveyed exactly matched my emotions. The disgust and hatred he felt toward Macaulay's character was intense and he captured the essence of his character completely. Elijahs performance was the heart of the movie. Overall, the movie was suspenseful and interesting. Even so, it is not for the faint of heart or conservative watchers. Certain scenes are quite disturbing and I would definitely not recommend this movie for any young children. If you are looking for something out of the ordinary, then by all means, enjoy!