Most undeservingly overhyped movie of all time??

Bad Acting and worse Bad Screenplay

Absolutely Fantastic

Instead, you get a movie that's enjoyable enough, but leaves you feeling like it could have been much, much more.

A while ago, I remember seeing this movie on an episode of one of my favorite web series, The Nostalgia Critic. To sum up the video in one sentence: he hated it. Even after watching the review and listening to some of his criticisms, I didn't think the movie looked that bad. So eventually, the movie came on Netflix and I decided to watch it for myself. And I feel proud in saying....I'm with the NC on this one. This movie kinda sucks.In all fairness, the idea of delving into the psychopathic mind of a child is pretty interesting, but this movie's biggest flaw is how detached from reality it is. Macalay Culkin's character was totally unrealistic. He talks less like a 10 year old kid and more like a Machiavellian schemer. I understand that psychopathic children tend to be more isolated, emotionless, and have no sympathy for others, but when the kid starts talking like a miniature James Bond villain, I think it's fair to assume the idea of mentally ill children isn't very well represented. Every time Culkin gave one of his hammy little speeches that sounds like it would fit better in an old Marvel comic book, I found it harder and harder to take him seriously. I've heard some people talk about how "deep" and "psychologically intriguing" this film is. And I honestly don't really know whether we watched the same movie or not. There's almost nothing to Culkin's character. We know he's manipulative and he's been able to cover his tracks for lord knows how long without his stupidly naive mother noticing, but that's about it. There's no attempt to understand his character or have the audience get invested in anything he does. The film just basically throws up its arms and says, "He's just evil." It's that simple. Pretty insultingly simple if you ask me. Culkin could've been a really complex and interesting character that could've made this movie ten times better. Perhaps he felt some sort of sick demented reason why he does all the horrible things he does. Maybe something in his past sparked his need to kill? Maybe Elijah Woods's appearance sparked his need to kill given how his relationship with his sister was fine prior to his arrival, but then suddenly after he arrives, he wants her dead. I dunno, his character is so poorly developed, we don't know what the case is other than just being an evil little devil child. If you really wanna do a psychological thriller, making one of your characters a generic villain probably isn't the best route to go. It hurts the film a lot.This film could've been great if it was given to a more competent director like maybe, Brian De Palma or someone. I do believe that there's a good movie buried underneath, it's just blocked out by its fundamentally flawed execution. If you want a good evil child movie, Richard Donner's The Omen is your best bet. It has a much stronger and coherent story, more realistic characters, and the kid actually acts like a kid and not like the little boy version of Lady MacBeth. I guess if you wanna make fun of how laughably hammy Culkin is in this, then I guess you'll find some enjoyment out of The Good Son. If not, then stay away. There's not much for you here. 4/10

I honestly don't know why this film actually sucked but, i think this wasn't the best movie that Macaulay Culkin and Elijah Wood have ever done in their beginning careers. They looked really cute but really, they really shouldn't have been in a movie that isn't boring and messing up your head. It might be better if a lot older kids were playing this, at the time, i think Culkin and Wood were not that mature doing the film. The best mature ages would be probably 10 - 13 years to be involved with this kind of film. I was actually shocked that Culkin actually lit a cigarette, even at his age! I hope that no kids were shown this during the time it was out in cinemas! Actually i hope that todays generation wont look at it!Not really good film to enjoy or be interested in..........

The Good son (1993)This not really horror movie, more of a very dark Thriller.The movie start off 12 year old boy Mark, who mother passes away and then in upcoming days his father as to take business.Then Mark had to live with aunt and uncle for bit, at first he seem to get along fine with his cousin Henry. As they do seem have a lot fun at first but then he when he see that Mark start to do some really bad and stuff, started to wonder , if is cousin is Evil as movie goes on it's dose more evil things.I found some scene really good in this movie, the pile up scene was really good a bit out dated a little, Ice skating scenes (I felt like I see that scene some were else before) I really liked the whole movie, I was not fan of the ending, I didn't not like how it ending at all and I hoping more for the aftermath.The acting was great from the youngsters8 out of 10

One of the best things about being a Horror freak is discovering these little Easter egg surprises in "old" films. This time, I had the pleasure of finding Macaulay Culkin and Elijah Wood as little kids, playing in one of the most disturbing, unnerving and well made Thrillers I've ever seen.Not using any cheats at all (I mean none - no sudden loud music that would force the audience to jump, no nude shots, no cellphone without a battery or signal and no cars that won't start), The Good Son derived its Horror aspect from pure reality. There's nothing supernatural or involving esoteric theories. Just a blunt and slightly exaggerated case of Psychopathy in children. Good ol' fashion uneasy horror!The acting is wonderful and almost flawless! David Morse (Mark's father Jack) and Daniel Hugh Kelly's characters weren't given enough screen time to really have depth, and I found Morse's acting to be slightly unconvincing (he didn't really make me feel like he was a recently widowed father). Besides that - nothing but praises. Wendy Crewson was excellent as Susan Evans, little Quinn Culkin (Macaulay's sister) was quite impressive as Connie Evans (especially the pond scene, that took some talent and probably lots of practice), and Jacqueline Brookes really managed to portray the elderly kind-hearted and empathetic psychiatrist Alice Devenport. As for the two "stars" - Elijah Wood seemed to have been made for the role of Mark, the kid who had recently lost his mother. His big round eyes, when wearing a sad expression, are a secret weapon for any director. His laughter immediately made me think of his role as Frodo Baggins, and reminded me of his great talent of depicting the full spectrum of emotions (although for that one must also bear in mind his role as the cannibal killer in Sin City). And for the grand finale - Macaulay Culkin. Dear God, I'll never be able to view Home Alone/Richi Rich/The Pagemaster the same way! Talk about a talented kid actor with many faces... Culkin's acting as "evil" Sociopath non-caring Henry Evans was creepy and disturbing to the point of being truly horrific! Try to count how many time he really smiled, and in which situations. Macaulay Culkin was the single most disturbing "evil child" I've seen so far, more that any of the Children of the Corn or The Children cast.The story was also profound, and the events that described Mark's relationship with Henry were realistic, reasonable, clear and horrifying. None of the scenes felt redundant or forced in any way, and some of them were as sad and touching as the others were creepy and bone chilling. My only slight small problem was the with the final scene. Without giving any spoilers, it simply felt unrealistic and I didn't think it could happen that way in real life. Though you might disagree.All in all - I don't think I have anything bad to say about this film. I'd have given it a 10 had I not felt biased due to Culkin and Wood's other roles which I've seen prior to this film. However, even if you haven't seen any of them in action before - if you're a Children Horror/Thriller fan you simply cannot let yourself pass on this one. Extremely highly recommended!