The Son Synopsis & Review: Plot Summary

🎯 Quick Overview

😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained

A super-successful lawyer juggles a new family and a political career while his moody teenage son from a previous marriage throws a wrench in everything, mostly because feelings are hard.

🍿 The Son: Detailed Plot Synopsis

The Initial Setup: A Family in Transition

Peter, a successful and busy lawyer in New York City, is juggling a demanding career and a new family with his partner Beth and their infant son. His seemingly idyllic life is disrupted when his ex-wife, Kate, arrives with concerning news about their teenage son, Nicholas. Nicholas has been struggling with depression and has been skipping school, creating a significant strain on Kate’s ability to cope.

Nicholas Moves In: Hopes and Challenges

Driven by guilt and a desire to be a better father than his own was, Peter decides to have Nicholas move in with him and Beth. This decision introduces new tensions into Peter’s already complex life. While Peter hopes to provide Nicholas with a stable and supportive environment, Beth struggles with the sudden intrusion and the emotional challenges it brings, especially with a newborn to care for. Nicholas’s behavior remains erratic, swinging between moments of seeming improvement and concerning relapses.

Escalating Crisis: A Descent into Darkness

Despite Peter’s efforts and attempts at therapy, Nicholas’s condition worsens. He continues to struggle with his mental health, expressing feelings of profound pain and hopelessness. The film explores the growing desperation of the parents as they try to understand and help their son, often feeling helpless in the face of his suffering. A suicide attempt leads to hospitalization.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained

🎬 Cast & Characters

• Peter (Hugh Jackman): A busy lawyer and father struggling to balance his new family with the responsibilities of his troubled teenage son from a previous marriage.
• Nicholas (Zen McGrath): A depressed 17-year-old grappling with his parents’ divorce and severe mental health issues.
• Kate (Laura Dern): Peter’s ex-wife and Nicholas’ mother, struggling to cope with her son’s deteriorating mental state.
• Beth (Vanessa Kirby): Peter’s new partner and mother of his infant son, caught in the middle of Peter’s family drama and struggling to adjust.
• Anthony (Anthony Hopkins): Peter’s estranged father who offers a harsh perspective on Peter’s parenting choices.

💬 Memorable Quotes

• Peter: “When you hurt yourself, it’s as if you’re doing it to me.” – Peter expresses his deep connection and concern for his son’s well-being.
• Nicholas: “And when you hurt Mom, you were doing it to me.” – Nicholas reveals the lasting impact of his parents’ divorce on him.
• Nicholas: “I’m in pain” – Nicholas is consistently repeating these words to describe his depression

💰Box Office

• Budget: $6,000,000
• Domestic Gross: $449,650
• Worldwide Gross: $3,617,681

💥 The Son Reviews

Personal Review

Okay, so ‘The Son’ hit me hard. As a parent, seeing Peter struggle to connect with Nicholas and understand his pain was heartbreaking. The scene where Nicholas breaks down in the hospital, begging to come home, felt so real and raw. I left the theater feeling a mix of sadness, frustration, and a deep sense of helplessness, which I guess means the movie did its job, even if it was a tough watch. I appreciated the movie touched on a lot of real-life things, especially about the lack of help from other people.

• Who would enjoy:
  • “Fans of intense family dramas”
  • “Those interested in films exploring mental health issues”
  • “Viewers who appreciate strong performances from actors like Hugh Jackman and Laura Dern”
  • “Audiences who enjoy thought-provoking, character-driven stories”
• Content warnings ⚠:
  • “Suicide”
  • “Depression”
  • “Mental illness”
  • “Discussions of self-harm”
  • “Emotional distress”

Professional Reviews

• Variety: “While Hugh Jackman delivers a compelling performance as the conflicted father, the film struggles with its depiction of teenage depression, often feeling heavy-handed and lacking nuance. The script has unnatural dialogue. Writers who didn’t understand their subject and apparently did not do any kind of research.
• The Hollywood Reporter: “The Son attempts to explore complex family dynamics and mental health, but ultimately falls short due to its melodramatic tone and a script that often resorts to clichés. Its message it sends about mental illness might be too simplistic.
• RogerEbert.com: “Florian Zeller fails to capture the raw emotional honesty of his previous work, ‘The Father.’ Despite strong performances from Jackman and Dern, the film feels contrived and misses the mark in its portrayal of teenage depression.

Audience Reactions

Hugh Jackman’s performance as a father struggling with his son’s mental health was praised by many.: Viewers appreciated the movie’s attempt to address the sensitive topic of teenage depression.

Many viewers found the movie emotionally challenging, making it difficult to watch.: Some felt the movie’s ending was too predictable and depressing.

Overall Consensus: While ‘The Son’ features strong performances, particularly from Hugh Jackman, it’s ultimately a flawed exploration of mental health that struggles to connect emotionally with audiences.

Awards

1. National Board of Review (Top Ten Independent Films)- 2022

🛠️ Behind the Scenes

• “Hugh Jackman’s father passed away during the filming of ‘The Son’.”
• “This film is a thematic sequel to Florian Zeller’s ‘The Father’ (2020), exploring family dynamics and mental health.”

🖥️ How to Watch The Son?

As of October 2024, ‘The Son’ is available for rent or purchase on various platforms including Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, and Vudu. Check local listings for cable and satellite availability. The film is also available on DVD and Blu-ray.

🎥 Similar Movies

If you enjoyed The Son, you might like these similar films:

• Manchester by the Sea (2016): Deals with grief, depression, and family trauma in a realistic and emotionally impactful way.
• Ordinary People (1980): Explores the complexities of family relationships after a tragedy, focusing on a son’s struggle with guilt and depression.
• The Father (2020): Another film by Florian Zeller that deals with family dynamics and mental health issues, in this case, dementia. Provides a similar emotionally intense and character-driven experience.
• Rabbit Hole (2010): It portrays the aftermath of a family tragedy and the different ways family members cope with grief and loss.

🛒 The Son Related Products

• The Father (2020) [Blu-ray]: Experience Florian Zeller’s critically acclaimed film that preceded ‘The Son,’ starring Anthony Hopkins and Olivia Colman, in stunning high-definition. Understand the director’s vision that paved the way for ‘The Son’.
• Mental Health Awareness T-Shirt: Support mental health awareness with this comfortable and stylish t-shirt. This product helps promote the discussion and understanding of mental health issues.
• Parenting Books – ‘How to Talk So Kids Will Listen & Listen So Kids Will Talk’: Gain valuable insights into effective communication and building strong relationships with your children through this highly regarded parenting guide. Learn skills to prevent the struggles shown in ‘The Son’.
• Hugh Jackman Movie Collection [DVD]: This collection features Hugh Jackman’s most memorable roles, showcasing his talent and versatility. This highlights Jackman’s talents as one of the best actors in Hollywood.

🎧 Soundtrack

The Son features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:

• “It’s Not Unusual” – performed by Tom Jones
• “The Son – Original Motion Picture Soundtrack” – performed by Hans Zimmer

You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.

🤨 FAQ

🔥 Bonus Content

Son Of Saul reviewed by Mark Kermode

Want a deeper understanding of ‘Son of Saul’? Check out Mark Kermode’s review – he really breaks down the film’s powerful themes and historical context, giving you a new appreciation for its impact. I was especially impressed with his take on the director’s choices.

✨ Rate