The Good Son (1993)
A young boy stays with his aunt and uncle, and befriends his cousin who's the same age. But his cousin begins showing increasing signs of psychotic behavior.
Details
Budget
$17,000,000
Rating
7/10 (965 votes)
Status
Released
Production Companies
20th Century Fox, Tura-Film
About The Good Son
The 1993 thriller "The Good Son" explores themes of childhood malevolence and the difficulty adults face in recognizing it. The film focuses on a young boy who moves in with relatives after a personal tragedy, only to discover his cousin exhibits increasingly disturbing and manipulative behavior. This dynamic creates a tense atmosphere, highlighting the keywords of sadism, psychopathy, and deception present throughout the narrative.
The story builds tension through the cousin's actions, which range from seemingly harmless pranks to outright dangerous acts, often involving murder. The film delves into the psychological struggle of the protagonist as he tries to convince the adults around him of the danger, only to be met with disbelief. This central conflict, rooted in the cousin's manipulative nature and the adults' denial, is a core element of the drama and horror. The runtime is 87 minutes.
Why you might be searching for The Good Son
Many people searching for "The Good Son" are looking for the 90s thriller about a seemingly innocent child who turns out to be a psychopath. Searches often refer to specific plot points, such as the boy's manipulative behavior and the disbelief of the adults around him, or other movies with similar themes of children committing horrific acts.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about finding and identifying movies
You can watch "The Good Son" on Netflix, which requires a subscription.
The film is a psychological thriller about a child displaying psychopathic behavior, but there is no indication that it is based on a true story. It explores the idea that some children can be born without the ability to feel guilt or empathy.
The film culminates on a cliff where Susan (Henry's mother) confronts Henry after learning he killed his brother, Richard. When Henry tries to push Susan off the cliff, Mark intervenes, and both boys tumble over. Susan, faced with a choice, saves Mark over her son Henry, realizing Henry is a danger to others. The ending implies her choice prevented Henry from causing further harm, and Mark returns home, forever wondering if Susan would make the same difficult decision again.
Reviews for "The Good Son" are mixed, but many viewers find it to be a compelling psychological thriller, especially for its portrayal of a disturbed child. Macaulay Culkin's performance as the villainous Henry and Elijah Wood's as Mark are frequently highlighted as strengths.