The Good Son [DVD]

Wow what a great film Macaulay and Elijah both great actors and on this they are great, i think this film is underated big time this is a must see it is quite shocking and brilliant

What a great film. Such a transformation for Macauley Culkin from the Home Alone movies. Amazing.

After his mother's death, Mark is sent to stay with his auntie and uncle in Maine whilst his dad is away on a business trip to Tokyo. Susan and Wallace seem happy to have Mark staying with them, and Mark's dad, Jack, feels it will be good for him to spend time with his cousin, Henry, who is of a similar age. Mark is quite happy at first and seems to be enjoying the company of Susan, Wallace, Henry and Connie, the couple's young daughter, but Henry very quickly starts acting sinister giving Mark every reason to believe he's psychotic and may even have had something to do with the death of Susan and Wallace's other son, Richard, a few years earlier.The performances of Macaulay Culkin and Elijah Wood as Henry and Mark are excellent, the support cast do what they need to do but this was definitely Culkin and Wood's film. At just thirteen years old, Culkin's career was already on the decline. Having starred in Uncle Buck, Home Alone, My Girl and Home Alone 2: Lost In New York, he then appeared in a few stinkers the following year and then quit acting for the next nine years. Elijah Wood at twelve years old had appeared in a few films but was still pretty much an unknown, unlike Culkin who faded rapidly, Wood has gone on to have a very good career so far obviously peaking when he won the role of Frodo in the Lord of the Rings trilogy. It's sad to see how differently their careers have been, as they were more than a match for each other in The Good Son and were two of the best child actors of the late '80s and early '90s.The direction by Joseph Ruben was very good, he's a very capable director but he hasn't directed anything since The Forgotten in 2004, and that was his first since 1998s Return To Paradise. The film had some major financial problems with a completely different cast and crew set to shoot in 1988, after another failed attempt the film was finally made in 1993 with a $17,000,000 budget and a new cast. The movie isn't scary at all, but then again it's not a horror like the similar films Orphan and Joshua. It's a really well acted suspense thriller. The Good Son is my favourite movie about an "evil" child, and it's an absolute must if you're a fan of Culkin, Wood or films with excellent performances from child actors.There is a scene that may slightly upset dog lovers, but it's implied more than shown. Culkin despite being thirteen uses a bit of foul language which may upset some, but it's nothing compared to Chloe Moretz using the "C" word in Kick-Ass. An excellent movie only slightly let down by a lack of extras, there's a theatrical trailer but that's it.

I watched this on netflix and bought the DVD straight after to watch again and to share it with the rest of my family. It's a great film! I really enjoyed watching it.

This is a really good film, it has a massive twist at the end and made me cry with shock. i recommend this film highly.

great movie and quality, thanks

You wouldn't believe Culkin could play a serious role...he does...and he's fantastic...he should have got an award...I wont say more, it would spoil the climactic ending. Also stars Elijah Wood in an early role.

Kids didn't complain