The Good Son (released in theaters on September 24, 1993) delivers a shocking, unsettling exploration of hidden malice beneath a sweet, innocent facade, standing as one of the most memorable psychological thrillers of the early 1990s.
Directed with steady tension by Joseph Ruben, the plot follows Mark Evans (Elijah Wood), a young boy grieving the tragic death of his mother.
Seeking to give Mark a change of scenery while he travels for business, Mark’s father Jack (David Morse) sends the boy to spend the winter with his uncle Wallace (Daniel Hugh Kelly), aunt Susan (Wendy Crewson), and his cousins in coastal Maine. Susan and Wallace are still privately mourning the mysterious drowning death of their infant son, Richard.
Upon his arrival, Mark is welcomed with open arms by his charismatic cousin, Henry (Macaulay Culkin).
To the adult world, Henry appears to be an angelic, polite, and devoted son. However, Mark quickly discovers a terrifying truth: Henry is a sociopathic, manipulative monster who secretly engages in increasingly dangerous and sadistic behavior.
Henry forces Mark to participate in cruel acts, such as firing a deadly homemade crossbow and dropping a dummy off a highway overpass to cause a massive traffic pileup.
Disturbed and terrified, Mark tries to warn Aunt Susan, Uncle Wallace, and his grief counselor (Jacqueline Brookes), but the adults dismiss his claims as projections of his own grief.
As Henry’s dark antics escalate to targeting his younger sister and plotting against his own mother, Mark realizes he must protect his family alone, leading to a harrowing, life-or-death confrontation atop a steep, seaside cliff.
Macaulay Culkin in The Good Son (Photo/20th Century Fox)
Reception for The Good Son
The Good Son grossed $12.5 million on its opening weekend, finishing No. 1 at the box office, topping The Program, which earned $6.8 million on its initial weekend.
The film would gross $60.6 million worldwide.
Roger Ebert gave The Good Son one half out of four stars in his review.
Legacy
The Good Son‘s legacy remains distinct and widely discussed, holding a unique place in 1990s pop culture for audaciously subverting Culkin’s beloved Home Alone child-hero persona.
Culkin’s chilling, cold-blooded performance shocked audiences upon release and showcased a surprisingly dark side to his acting capabilities, while Wood’s vulnerable, grounded portrayal solidified his standing as one of the finest young actors of his generation.
The Good Son is fondly remembered for its intense, suspenseful pacing and its iconic, jaw-dropping climax along the rocky Maine coastline, which generated intense debate surrounding child violence in cinema.
