The Good Son

Movie review by Barbara Shulgasser-Parker, Common Sense Media
The Good Son Poster Image

Common Sense says

age 15+

Creepy '90s thriller about murderous kid has violence.

R 1993 87 minutes
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Parents say

age 17+

Based on 2 reviews

Kids say

age 13+

Based on 10 reviews

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A Lot or a Little?

The parents' guide to what's in this movie.

What Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that the ironically titled The Good Son is an extremely tense and scary 1993 thriller that borders on the verge of horror. The twist here is the notion that a child can embody murderous evil. Despite the youth of the cast, younger viewers may find the boy's actions too disturbing. A woman's death by illness and a child's death by drowning are mentioned. Someone is pushed off a cliff and a dog is shot with a homemade crossbow. The dog's death is heard but not seen. A boy holds a scissor to another boy's neck. It's implied that a boy has poisoned his family's food. Expect to hear "f--k" and "hell."

Community Reviews

Spencer H.
Spencer H. Adult
November 10, 2019
age 15+

Pretty obvious this one isn't for young kids

It's pretty obvious if anyone ever saw any ads or read about this film this is no "Home Alone". The only thing this has in common with that film is of course its star Macaulay Culkin. Although the content of this film really is more PG-13 than R this is one of the few times I agree that the MPAA made the right choice with an R rating but strictly because of the theme of Culkin being a teenaged murderer. So yes expect acts of violence throughout. Culkin kills a dog with a device he has made that shoots bolts, (you do not see the dog die on screen), he causes a huge freeway accident by dropping a dummy from an overpass, and he even attempts to drown his little sister. Additionally the other main character than Culkin, Elijah Wood's mom dies and his grieving may be upsetting to some as well as the way Culkin's family treats him when they refuse to believe that Culkin really is evil. This results in Wood being slapped in the face and even locked in a den by his uncle until he breaks out. The way the family treats Wood's character especially considering he really is "The Good Son" that the title speaks of, may be upsetting to some viewers even though his family does figure out that indeed Culkin is the bad one and Wood is the good one. Profanity is typical PG-13 level swearing. There is one "f word" and the most shocking thing is Culkin is actually the one to say it. Otherwise I counted one or two GD's and the typical hells and damns. For an R rated movie the language is pretty tame and aside from Culkin's one f word it really isn't a big issue. Still, parents looking for Macaulay Culkin fare like "Home Alone" steer clear of this from your children. This is a very upsetting, disturbing film that is for adults. The themes of a child terrorizing innocent victims will upset and bother kids. This really isn't a scary horror film, but it definitely is an intense somewhat disturbing thriller to say the least that isn't for kids.

This title has:

Too much violence
thompsonn1
thompsonn1 Adult
June 10, 2018
age 18+

This title has:

Too much swearing
See all 2 parent reviews

What's the Story?

THE GOOD SON is Henry (Macaulay Culkin), a violent child who hides his disturbing desire to kill with politeness and seemingly sensible behavior. Dramatic tension is constant as viewers contend with the threat he poses while his parents have no idea about the destruction he's already caused and his plans for more dangerous antisocial behavior. The boy puts on an act of sweetness and empathy but at his core he's cruel, unfeeling, and murderous. As he lays groundwork to blame his crimes on his visiting cousin Mark (Elijah Wood), he makes the case that no adults will believe stories of what he's done. Henry argues that instead, such claims will be treated as vindictive lies and get the tattletale in trouble. Mark sees no way out except to try to defend and rescue Henry's parents and sister from the threat Henry poses to them. Spoiler alert: After an unrelenting 87-minute's worth of tension and worry, it may be reassuring to know that, at the last minute, Henry's evil is revealed and resolved, albeit violently.

Is It Any Good?

The Good Son is a well-constructed thriller that achieves sustained tension by means of deft direction, sharp plotting, and excellent performances, especially by two child actors, Culkin and Wood. Wendy Crewson as Susan, Mark's aunt and Henry's mother, gives a persuasive performance as a grieving parent still trying to give her love and support to her remaining children. Culkin was 13 at the time the movie was released but looks far younger, and Wood was 12. Despite the draw of young performers, some teens may find this too intense.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about what to do if a family member has mental problems. What would you do if you learned that someone close to you had mental health issues that caused the person to be violent?

  • How does this movie create tension? Did you find yourself hoping that adults would learn the truth about Henry?

  • What's the appeal of scary movies?

Movie Details

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