Rating: 
Summary: GREAT EARLY ELIJAH PERFORMANCE
Review: I saw this movie in the theater when it came out, and never thought it got the recognition it really deserved. The story has admittedly been done several times before, but the thing that stands out about this version is the performance of a very young Elijah Wood. Of course at the time, Culkin was the "star" of this film due to the popularity of the "Home Alone" films. I have never thought that Culkin was that great of an actor, although he does come across as a very convincing troubled kid in this role. The standout, though, in this movie is Elijah Wood. This kid was a winner early on in his career and the proof is in this role. His eyes convey such fear and concern that you really feel his performance is for real. The atmosphere that the director created was also a big plus for this movie. The lighting and sound is excellent on the DVD transfer, and the widescreen presentation is very welcome. Also included are the trailer and a behind the scenes look at the making of the movie, which aren't even listed on the box! Surprise!
Catch this one if you can!
Rating: 
Summary: Yawn!
Review: The deal was Macaulay Culkin would return for another "Home Alone" if he was allowed to be in a movie that would be very un-Kevin (the name of his character from the John Hughes film). That's how "The Good Son", the remake of a much better film, "The Bad Seed" was born.The premise of the story is that Culkin is a menace (more in the sense of Anakin Skywalker, not Dennis) and terrorizes Mark (the Elijah Wood character) who comes to stay with Macaulay's family after his mother dies. Rather than give us settle clues and build suspense, the film simply shows us one terrible act committed by Culkin's character after the other. Elijah Wood--who is a fine actor, even as a child--is reduced to a cartoonish situation of witnessing these crimes but not being in a position to stop him (after all, Culkin's character threatens, he's the one that's "messed up" since his mother died). This motion picture may be thrilling to good, well-behaved 12-year-old boys who want to get a taste of the wild side (of course, they're too young to see it), but for everyone else it is either going to be a grim reminder of the evening news, or a boring motion picture that fails to live up to the talents of those acting in it. To really see these stars shine as child actors I recommend "My Girl" for McCulkin fans (which is by far his best picture) and "Radio Flyer" for Elijah Wood fanatics.
Rating: 
Summary: A 12 Year Old Sociopath!
Review: This is a great movie about a young boy, Mark, (Wood) who is struggling after the untimely death of his mother. He temperarily moves in with his Aunt and Uncle for a few weeks while his father is away on a business trip. He meets Henry, (Culkin) his 12 year old cousin who becomes a new best friend for him. Together they explore the beautiful landscape and Henry shows him his secret hideout. Things seem to be going well until Mark begins to notice a darker side of Henry. A side nobody else has ever seen. Before long Henry's outdoor games are becoming more violent and evil towards people and animals. And when Mark tries to warn his Aunt and Uncle about Henry's dangerous behavior, they don't believe him or Henry denys it. Mark begins to panic when Henry threatens to kill members of his own family and terrorizes him. He tells him that his baby brother drowned in the bathtub and it was not an accident like his parents believe. Soon, Henry turns into a true psychopath and the only one who knows it is Mark. He begins doing everything in his power to protect the family from Henry's destructive plans and maniacal rampage of terror.
Rating:
Summary: Haunting and truly chilling!
Review: Wow! This movie was really chilling. It did an excellent job of a portrayal of a real psychopath as well as the beautiful wintery scenery in a setting of a New England coastal town. Macaulay does an effective job of playing the superficially charming, but cold-hearted, conscienceless Henry. This is also one of Elijah Wood's better movies also; he does a much better job here than he did in LOTR; here he portrays Henry's fearful, sweet cousin, Mark, who recently lost his beloved mom and becomes one of evil, scheming Henry's victims. I really felt for poor Mark; he goes thru so much and I liked that he bonds with his aunt Susan and weeps in her arms one night over the loss of his mother. It was such a touching scene and I could tell Susan really loved Mark and felt protective of him. It's that bond that Henry cruelly exploits, since Henry cannot love or be loved. Henry's cold actions get worse and frightens Mark as the movie progresses until the climax at the end. I think Mark will continue to be affected by Henry's terrorizing for a very long time even though Henry is gone; I think Mark suffered from post-traumatic stress syndrome after his ordeal with Henry in addition to losing his mom; it'd be nice to maybe see a sequel movie where Mark is struggling to overcome that trauma, maybe with Susan's help. Mark is a lovely, caring boy; I really liked him.
Rating:
Summary: Elijah Wood, Macaulay Culkin THE GOOD SON is Superb!
Review: The first time I came across this was in a junior novelization by Todd Strasser, and I must admit its better than the movie. But the movie is a delight. Macaulay Culkin is Henry, the young child who has everyone fooled into thinking he is a great kid. But he is really a youngster who loves to watch death. Elijah Wood(the kid in this movie who knows how to act) comes off much better as Mark, Henry's cousin and the only kid who knows Henry's true personality. The music is wonderful. Elmer Bernstein is a genius. And what can I say, even my mom liked the photography! I first saw the "TELEVISED" version on TV, following the real movie. Not a thing was changed! The reason for its R rating is Theme. Period. The violence is off screen, and besides Henry's one use of the "F-word" and some other expletives, there is nothing really here. WITH A PARENT, watch this movie kids, and adults, even though it stars young children, you'll like it too!
Rating:
Summary: The Original Was Better But this is Good
Review: I liked this movie but when I saw the original movie The Bad Seed I realized that this movie does not even compare although it has wonderful performances by the children the adults seemed to be trying a little to hard to be a good actor and it just was not working for them. The story is that this boy Mark (Elijah Wood) his mom just died and so his father sends him from New Mexico to Maine to spend some time with his cousins and family while he is taking care of the work that needs to be done. At first it all seems like harmless fun but after a while Mark realizes that his cousin (Macaulay Culkin) will kill him soon so now he is fighting to save not only his life but his entire family's but nobody believes him. I would recommend this to people ages thirteen and up the only reason it is R rated is because of language and violence but it is not that bad. It is suspensefull however a little predictable but if you like movies like this then you will love the movie The Bad Seed starring Patty McCormick. I hope that this review has helped you in making a decision about this film.
Rating:
Summary: A 12 Year Old Sociopath!
Review: This is a great drama/thriller about a young boy, Mark, (Wood) who is struggling after the untimely death of his mother. He temperarily moves in with his Aunt and Uncle for a few weeks while his father is away on a business trip. He meets Henry, (Culkin) his 12 year old cousin who becomes a new best friend for him. Together they explore the beautiful Maine landscape and Henry shows him his secret hideout. Things seem to be going well until Mark begins to notice a darker side of Henry. A side nobody else has ever seen. Before long Henry's outdoor games are becoming more violent and evil towards people and animals. And when Mark tries to warn his Aunt and Uncle about Henry's dangerous behavior, they don't believe him or Henry denys it. Mark begins to panic when Henry threatens to kill members of his own family and almost poisons them. He tells him that his baby brother who drowned in the bathtub did not die as the result of accident like his parents believe. Soon, Henry turns into a true psychopath and the only one who knows it is Mark. He begins doing everything in his power to protect the family from Henry's destructive plans and maniacal rampage of terror.
Rating:
Summary: Child Star Bonanza.
Review: I was a pretty small kid myself when this film first came out. My parents weren't huge on letting me watch violence, but I was a big Macaulay Culkin fan - so they complied.
I remember thinking how horrible the narrative was at the time - but there lies the desired effect, and in that way, this film is a great thriller. It pushes the boundries by making us think of children in such ways, but not to a grotesque Stephen King level. I was disappointed with Culkin's performance as Henry in the way that he pushes the bad boy thing a little too far. I think his roles in the Home Alone films haven't helped him out any here. Elijah Wood, another rising child star actually takes the gold in this film as his cousin Mark, and I think it shows true now that whilst Culkin's adult career is sinking, Wood recently snagged a leading role in the biggest film trilogy to date. Who has the bigger talent, I do wonder? Like another reviewer said, it is unfuriating that Macaulay Culkin walks away as the poster child for this film. If you're a fan of Wood/Culkin, thrillers, or just intrigued to see how the child star vs child star thing plays out, definitely rent it. It's interesting to see how both boys progress.
Rating: 
Summary: really good
Review: Culkin as a evil son, performance was great. Wood as a relative who comes to live with Culkins family. Wood witnesses Culkins evil acts and tries to save the family from death. Very good and different film from Culkin.
Rating:
Summary: One Strange Movie
Review: I saw this movie one day when there was nothing else to watch. I must admit I was slightly disturbed by Macaulay Culkins character. He was bizarre and his actions appalling for a twelve year old. On the other hand, Elijahs performance was the relief of the movie. The innocence and childlike fear he conveyed exactly matched my emotions. The disgust and hatred he felt toward Macaulay's character was intense and he captured the essence of his character completely. Elijahs performance was the heart of the movie. Overall, the movie was suspenseful and interesting. Even so, it is not for the faint of heart or conservative watchers. Certain scenes are quite disturbing and I would definitely not recommend this movie for any young children. If you are looking for something out of the ordinary, then by all means, enjoy!
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