The Good Son

In 1993, Macaulay Culkin was the most famous child actor on the planet, fresh off two Home Alone blockbusters. Director Joseph Ruben offered him a role that would deliberately shatter that wholesome image: Henry Evans, a charming 12-year-old with a sociopathic streak. The film pairs Culkin with Elijah Wood, then a rising young star, as two cousins whose holiday reunion turns into a psychological battle. Shot on a $17 million budget in Maine and Los Angeles, the film grossed over $60 million worldwide, making it a financial success despite widespread critical dismissal.

The story originated as a short story by Ian McEwan, who also wrote the screenplay. McEwan later expressed disappointment with the final film, feeling it sacrificed the psychological nuance of his original work for sensationalism. Ruben, known for thrillers like The Stepfather, focused on creating an atmosphere of creeping dread, aided by Elmer Bernstein's score, which twisted childlike melodies into dissonant themes.

The film's release was accompanied by controversy over its content, particularly a scene involving the drowning of a dog, which nearly earned the film an NC-17 rating. The MPAA ultimately gave it an R after edits. Culkin reportedly underwent therapy during filming to cope with the dark material. Over time, The Good Son has gained a modest cult following, remembered primarily for Culkin's against-type performance and its place in the evil-child subgenre.[edit]

Mark Evans is a 12-year-old boy struggling with the recent death of his mother from cancer. Consumed by guilt, he secretly wishes he had died instead of her. His father Jack, a businessman, must travel to Japan for work, so he sends Mark to stay with his aunt and uncle in rural Maine over the Christmas holidays. The Evans family seems ideal: Uncle Wallace, a successful businessman; Aunt Susan, a warm homemaker; their young daughter Connie; and their eldest son Henry, who is Mark's age.

Henry greets Mark with enthusiasm, immediately taking him on adventures around the lakeside property. He shows Mark the treehouse, teaches him to ice skate, and appears to be the perfect companion. But Mark soon notices troubling behavior. Henry suggests throwing rocks from an overpass at passing cars, dangles Connie over a bridge railing, and aims a BB gun at a man's head. When Mark objects, Henry dismisses his concerns, accusing Mark of being oversensitive due to his grief.

The tension escalates when Mark witnesses Henry drown a stray dog in the lake. Henry shows no remorse, claiming he was helping the animal. Mark tries to tell Aunt Susan, but she attributes his accusations to grief and stress. Uncle Wallace is similarly dismissive, proud of Henry's strong personality. Henry begins to manipulate the adults, framing Mark for minor offenses like breaking a window and stealing a watch, while maintaining his own perfect reputation.

Mark becomes increasingly isolated, knowing the truth but unable to convince anyone. Henry, aware that Mark knows, turns their relationship into a psychological game. The situation worsens when Connie nearly drowns in the lake under suspicious circumstances. Mark is convinced Henry tried to kill her. Susan begins to doubt Henry's innocence, but Wallace remains steadfast. Jack returns from Japan and senses something wrong, but he too is skeptical of the accusations against his nephew.

The story builds toward a confrontation at the family's home during a winter storm, where the adults must finally face the horrifying truth about Henry.[edit]