The Good Son (1993)

User Rating:

5.9/10   

Director:

Joseph Ruben

Writer (WGA):

Ian McEwan (written by)

Release Date:

24 September 1993 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Horror | Thriller

Tagline:

In a quiet town...In a comfortable home...In a perfect body...Evil can be as close as someone you love.

Plot:

A young boy stays with his aunt and uncle, and befriends his cousin who's the same age. But his cousin begins showing increasing signs of psychotic behavior.

Plot Keywords:

Aunt | Jealousy | Young Boy | Crossbow | Business Trip

Awards:

1 win & 2 nominations

US TV Schedule:

Mon. July 20

10:00 AM

MAX

Cast

Macaulay Culkin	...	Henry Evans
Elijah Wood	...	Mark Evans
Wendy Crewson	...	Susan Evans
David Morse	...	Jack
Daniel Hugh Kelly	...	Wallace Evans
Jacqueline Brookes	...	Alice Davenport
Quinn Culkin	...	Connie Evans
Ashley Crow	...	Janice
Guy Strauss	...	Arizona Doctor
Keith Brava	...	Doctor in Blackport
Jerem Goodwin	...	Factory Worker
Andria Hall	...	Reporter
Bobby Huber	...	Axe Man
Mark Stefanich	...	Ice Man
Susan Hopper	...	Woman at Rescue
Rory Culkin	...	Richard in Picture
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Christopher C. Murphy	...	Young man next to swing set at park (uncredited)

Directed by
Joseph Ruben

Writing credits (WGA)
Ian McEwan		(written by)

Produced by
Mary Ann Page	....	producer
Daniel Rogosin	....	executive producer
Joseph Ruben	....	producer
Michael E. Steele	....	co-producer
Ezra Swerdlow	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Elmer Bernstein

Cinematography by
John Lindley

Film Editing by
George Bowers

Casting by
Deborah Aquila

Production Design by
Bill Groom

Art Direction by
Rusty Smith

Set Decoration by
George DeTitta Jr.

Costume Design by
Cynthia Flynt

Makeup Department
Bernadette Mazur	....	makeup artist
Francesca Paris	....	key hair stylist
Anthony Veader	....	key hairstylist

Production Management
Thomas John Kane	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Stephen Lee Davis	....	assistant director (as Steve Davis)
Jack Gill	....	second unit director
Barbara M. Ravis	....	assistant director
Michael E. Steele	....	first assistant director

Art Department
Lance Cheatham	....	set dresser
Peter C. Clarke	....	assistant property master
Gerald DeTitta	....	leadman
Tempest S. Farley	....	set dresser
Ray Fisher	....	set dresser
Marc Fisichella	....	set designer
Paul W. Gorfine	....	scenic artist
David Gulick	....	property master
John 'Butch' McCarthy	....	second greensman
Eugene Pope	....	carpenter
Paul Richards	....	set dresser
Robert Schleinig	....	set dresser
Lisa Shaftel	....	art special effects
Kurt Smith	....	gangboss
Theodore Suchecki	....	propmaker
Sylvia Trapanese	....	scenic artist
Joe Wood	....	construction coordinator

Sound Department
Elisha Birnbaum	....	foley supervisor
Stan Bochner	....	supervising sound editor
Louis Cerborino	....	sound editor
Richard P. Cirincione	....	sound editor
Stuart Emanuel	....	sound editor
Tom Fleischman	....	sound re-recording mixer
Tony Grocki	....	assistant sound editor
Alan Jacques	....	cable person
Richard King	....	sound effects editor
Jeff Kliment	....	dialogue editor
Harry Peck Bolles	....	assistant sound editor
Ira Spiegel	....	sound editor

Special Effects by
Terry Sonderhoff	....	special effects technician
Neil Trifunovich	....	special effects supervisor

Visual Effects by
Elizabeth Maxwell Keith	....	digital compositor
Paul Taglianetti	....	visual effects coordinator: Video Image (uncredited)

Stunts
Joni Avery	....	stunts
Rick Avery	....	stunts
Gregory J. Barnett	....	stunts
Kenny Bates	....	stunts
Nick Brett	....	stunts
Debbie Lee Carrington	....	swimming stunts
Michael Cassidy	....	aerial stunts
Mickey Cassidy	....	stunt double
Edward Conna	....	stunts
Christopher Epper	....	stunts
Glory Fioramonti	....	stunts
Andy Gill	....	assistant stunt coordinator
Jack Gill	....	stunt coordinator
Debbie Greg	....	stunts
Gene Harrison	....	stunt driver
Gene Harrison	....	stunts
Colette Irving	....	ice skating stunts
Eli Irving	....	ice skating stunts
Henry Kingi	....	stunts
Kristy McGill	....	aerial stunts
Larry Nicholas	....	aerial stunts
Noon Orsatti	....	stunts
Ashleigh Powell	....	swimming stunts
Spiro Razatos	....	stunts

Camera and Electrical Department
Bob Becchio	....	additional assistant camera
Richard L. Carden	....	dolly grip
Mark J. Casey	....	electrician
Ian Cohen	....	electrician
David Crone	....	Steadicam operator
Michael DiIeso	....	rigger
Barbara Hanania	....	additional assistant camera
Andy Harris	....	second assistant camera
Kerry Hayes	....	still photographer
David Larue	....	grip
Larry McCarron	....	best boy grip
Stan McClain	....	camera operator: Wescam camera
Larry McConkey	....	Steadicam operator
Rebekah V. Michaels	....	camera trainee
Peter Norman	....	camera operator
David Norris	....	camera technician: Wescam camera
Timothy O'Toole	....	video assist operator
Brian A. Pitts	....	rigging electrician
Van Redin	....	still photographer
Eric Swanek	....	first assistant camera
William M. Weberg	....	grip
Kenneth D. Zunder	....	director of photography: second unit (as Ken Zunder)

Casting Department
Raquel Osborne	....	extras casting
Carolyn Pickman	....	location casting

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Elizabeth Feldbauer	....	wardrobe supervisor
Debbie Holbrook	....	key costumer
Cassy McEvoy	....	costumer

Editorial Department
Anne O'Brien	....	apprentice editor
Greg Speed	....	assistant editor

Music Department
Emilie A. Bernstein	....	orchestrator
Cynthia Millar	....	musician: ondes martenot soloist
Patrick Russ	....	orchestrator
Steven L. Smith	....	music preparation
Dan Wallin	....	score mixer

Transportation Department
Steve Boyd	....	transportation coordinator
William O'Brien	....	transportation captain
Jerry Sidwell	....	driver

Other crew
Kevin Anderton	....	production assistant
Dorothy Aufiero	....	production coordinator
Gail Barringer	....	assistant accountant
Jay Cannold	....	accountant
David Collins	....	assistant location manager
Anne Gordon	....	animal wrangler
Diane Jessup	....	animal wrangler
Jason Kasperski	....	production assistant
Adrienne King	....	looping voices
James MacDonald	....	set medic
Elizabeth A. Miller	....	craft service
Frederic Perrin	....	caterer
Kim Quam	....	set medic
Ken Rance	....	production assistant
Samantha Timmerman	....	script supervisor
Michael Weis	....	aerial supervisor
Mike Weis	....	aerial supervisor
Earl Wiggins	....	aerial coordinator
Michael Williams	....	location manager
Shane Wood	....	production assistant
Shane Wood	....	stand-in
Robert 'Bobby Z' Zajonc	....	pilot
Kimberly J. Brown	....	additional voice (uncredited)
Benjamin C. Dewey	....	location scout (uncredited)
Riley Kathryn Ellis	....	studio executive (uncredited)
David H. Kramer	....	adr loop group (uncredited)
Troy Antoine LaFaye	....	production office assistant: Minnesota (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation

Distributors

• Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation (1993) (USA) (theatrical)
• Abril Vídeo (Brazil) (VHS)
• Fox Network (1996) (USA) (TV) (broadcast premiere)
• Fox Video (video)
• Gativideo (Argentina) (VHS)
• Manuel Salvador (Spain)

Other Companies

• K!SSPROOF Entertainment  cast bookings

MPAA:

Rated R for acts of violence and terror involving a disturbed child.

Runtime:

87 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Canada:A (Nova Scotia) | Canada:14A | Canada:14A (Alberta/British Columbia) | Iceland:16 | USA:R (certificate #32478) | Philippines:R-18 | Argentina:16 | Australia:M | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Canada:AA (Ontario) | Canada:PG (Manitoba) | Chile:18 | Germany:16 | Ireland:15 | Norway:15 (theater release) | Norway:18 | Peru:18 | South Korea:15 (DVD rating) | Spain:18 | Sweden:15 | UK:18 | Singapore:PG

Filming Locations:

Beverly, Massachusetts, USA

Company:

Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation

Trivia:

The sight on Henry's crossbow is a hood ornament from a Buick Riviera.

Goofs:

Continuity: Mark's grip on Henry's mother's arm at the end.

Quotes:

Susan: We'll get you help, hon.
Henry: You don't look too good, Mom. Looks like you need the help.
Susan: You're going to have to trust me, Henry.
Henry: No... no I can't... you just want to send me away, don't you?
Susan: Why no, no I don't.
Henry: You're going to put me in one of those places...
Susan: Henry...
Henry: I'd much rather die, you hear me? I'd much rather be dead!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Frasier: The Good Son (#1.1)" (1993)

Macaulay Culkin's best performance and film.

This is Macaulay Culkin's best film. He was very creepy as the young boy with a black heart. The dialogue was great. I truly admired the performance of Elijah Wood, emerging as one of the best young actors around. This film has so much suspense, by the end, I was very exhausted.