Elijah Wood, known widely for his role in The Lord of the Rings, has a lesser-known film gaining renewed attention as the 1993 psychological thriller The Good Son becomes available for streaming on Tubi starting in October. This move comes as fans prepare for Wood’s upcoming project, the horror sequel Ready or Not: Here I Come, alongside notable co-stars like Samara Weaving, Sarah Michelle Gellar, and Kathryn Newton.
The Good Son, directed by Joseph Ruben, stars Macaulay Culkin in a chilling performance that contrasts sharply with his earlier roles. The film’s arrival on a free streaming platform provides a chance for audiences to revisit or discover this intense psychological drama, which has steadily earned a more favorable retrospective reputation despite its initial critical reception.
Plot and Characters in The Good Son
Mark, portrayed by Elijah Wood, is a young boy who must stay with extended family after the death of his mother while his father is away on business. During his stay, he meets his cousin Henry, played by Macaulay Culkin. Mark quickly realizes that Henry harbors a dark and destructive nature, as evidenced by acts such as killing a neighbor’s dog and causing a deliberate traffic accident. After a dangerous incident involving Henry’s sister Connie on an icy pond, Mark struggles to expose Henry’s sinister behavior before more harm occurs.
“Mark (Wood), a young boy who loses his mother, must stay with his extended family while his father is away on business. Mark becomes acquainted with his cousin Henry (Culkin). However, the extent of Henry’s depravity becomes clear when Mark sees him kill a neighbor’s dog and intentionally create a traffic pileup on the highway. After a supposed mishap on an icy pond with Henry’s sister Connie (Quinn Culkin), Mark tries to reveal Henry’s crimes before it’s too late.”
– Synopsis of The Good Son
Mixed Critical Reception and Audience Reappraisal
Upon its initial release, The Good Son faced heavy criticism and received a low score of 25% from review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes. At the time, critics challenged the film’s ability to build suspense or convincingly portray a child as a psychopath. Roger Ebert, a notable film critic, delivered particularly harsh criticism, asking rhetorically,
“Who in the world would want to see this movie?”
and describing it as
“a creepy, unpleasant experience, made all the worse because it stars children too young to understand the horrible things we see them doing.”
“The Good Son is never good enough to live up to its unsettling potential, failing to drum up much suspense and unable to make Macaulay Culkin a credible psychopath,”
– Critics’ consensus on Rotten Tomatoes
“Who in the world would want to see this movie?”
– Roger Ebert, Film Critic
“The movie is a creepy, unpleasant experience, made all the worse because it stars children too young to understand the horrible things we see them doing.”
– Roger Ebert, Film Critic
Supporting Cast and Memorable Performances
Alongside Elijah Wood and Macaulay Culkin, the film features performances by Daniel Hugh Kelly, David Morse, and Quinn Culkin as Henry’s sister, Connie. Their roles enrich the tense atmosphere of the story and contribute to the film’s complex portrayal of family dynamics under distressing circumstances.
Availability and Cultural Legacy
The addition of The Good Son to Tubi’s October lineup places it among notable titles such as Clint Eastwood’s American Sniper, Jake Gyllenhaal and Dennis Quaid’s The Day After Tomorrow, and Alex Garland’s critically praised Ex Machina. This wider accessibility may prompt a reassessment of the film’s place within Elijah Wood’s diverse career and the psychological thriller genre of the early 1990s.
As viewers gain easier access to The Good Son, its exploration of dark childhood innocence and moral boundaries continues to resonate, highlighting why Elijah Wood’s work in this film remains relevant alongside his current and future projects.
