Grays Almanac

Home/Episodes/The Good Son

‘The Good Son’ With Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, and Sean Fennessey

June 26, 2026 · The Good Son (1993) · Drama · Thriller · 1:57:40

IMDb ↗Letterboxd ↗

Categories

Picking Nits

Bill Simmons▶ 10:52Wishes Henry hadn't died so they could've done sequels showing his escalating schemes (e.g., running a gambling ring in seventh grade); also nitpicks that the mom is the only 'not From Hell' character overlooking obvious warning signs, and jokes about the absurd cliffside ending as one of the great random endings.
Chris Ryan▶ 9:50Nitpick: we only see Uncle Wallace through Mark/Henry's perspective, so his portrayal is unreliable; also jokes Henry was 'the Tiger Woods of gaslighting' whose promising career ended too soon, and notes the kids' latchkey freedom (playing on cliffs, highways, train tracks) is unrealistic/dangerous parenting the movie glosses over.
Sean Fennessey▶ 11:21Points out the movie taps into unrealistic 90s-era unsupervised parenting, and nitpicks that every location the kids hang out in (cliffs, highway overpasses, train tracks) is absurdly dangerous, like a 'Final Destination' movie.

Most Rewatchable Scene

Bill Simmons▶ 45:54The 10-car pileup/highway accident scene caused by Henry ('Once you realize you can do anything, you're free') - he calls it 'probably my most rewatchable' - though he also walks through a chain of scenes including the treehouse, rock-throwing, Rottweiler standoff, killing the dog and dumping it in the well, and the ice skating scene.
Chris Ryan▶ 42:28Engages with the treehouse scene (relates it to childhood unsupervised play) and the highway pileup aftermath, but doesn't state one definitive standalone pick, mostly reacting to Bill's choices.
Sean Fennessey▶ 43:39Highlights the treehouse/well scene ('slow walks you... but by the time they're smoking a cigarette and firing the arrow') and the skating scene with Connie underwater, but doesn't commit to one definitive single pick, discussing multiple scenes alongside Bill.

Den of Thieves Benihana Award

Bill Simmons▶ 55:01The house in Rock Harbor (with Sleeping with the Enemy's shorefront house as a close second)
Chris Ryan▶ 55:03David Morse's desert house near where U2 played the Red Rocks-style concert

Stephen A. Smith Hottest Take Award

Bill Simmons▶ 56:49Questions why Kieran Culkin's character (Kit Culkin) got to run Pixar/Disney, implying it's an odd/dubious plot point, but doesn't fully commit to a hot take here

Big Kahuna Burger Award

Bill Simmons▶ 59:05The scene where the fridge full of food freaks out (possibly poisoned food) at the Big Kahuna Burger/fridge scene

Butch's Girlfriend Award

Bill Simmons▶ 1:00:57The absurd number of unsafe/dangerous elements in the neighborhood (treehouse with no ladder, uncovered deep well, cliff's edge, railroad tracks, highway bridge, loose killer pit bull, and kids lying near a 100-foot cliff drop) - basically the entire unsafe environment as the weak/questionable element of the film
Chris Ryan▶ 1:02:58The adults - both their behavior and the casting, feeling like they were 'one really cool actor short,' suggesting the original actor considered for the dad role would have been better than what they got
Sean Fennessey▶ 1:03:29The dad, played by Dennis Hasgi/Daniel H. Kelly - argues the movie would be better if James Remar had played the role instead

Is There a Better Title?

Bill Simmons▶ 1:04:33"Bad Brother" - argues it works better since the movie's ambiguity is about who is the good/bad son
Sean Fennessey▶ 1:04:15Cites Roger Ebert's suggestion "Henry: Portrait of a Future Serial Killer," and offers his own alternate "Every Mother's Son" (about who is the true mother to Mark vs. Henry)

Hall of Fame Plaque

Bill Simmons▶ 1:09:27Would add one more scene: another soccer goal for Mark, cutting to Wendy Crewson celebrating with Mr. Highway, who says 'Goal' as she throws him and the game ends
Chris Ryan▶ 1:09:29The scene where Henry tells Mark that his mom is 'maggot food,' leading Mark to kick Henry out of the treehouse
Sean Fennessey▶ 1:10:11The ending, wishing there was an extra minute showing Wendy Crewson's character (the mom) reacting/being held accountable after it's revealed her surviving son was behind a crime wave

Apex Mountain

Bill Simmons▶ 1:12:19Toni Collette's overacting in Hereditary for 'Ruffalo Hannah Rubinic Partridge overacting' word; goes to Kieran Culkin for underacting
Sean Fennessey▶ 1:12:26Elijah Wood (referring to his character) dials up acting a couple times, e.g. throwing food down the disposal

Casting What-Ifs

Bill Simmons▶ 1:20:29Notes that in 1988 the movie was almost made with Michael Klesick as Henry, Jesse Bradford also considered, Mary Steenburgen as the mom, and Michael Lehman (Heathers director) as director; also debates whether Wendy Crewson counts as a 'that guy' due to roles in The Good Son and The Santa Clause
Chris Ryan▶ 1:20:45Speculates that a Michael Lehman-directed version would have had more tongue-in-cheek black comedy
Sean Fennessey▶ 1:20:50Agrees Lehman's other films suggest a darker comedic tone, but questions whether that tone would have worked for this movie

Joey Pants Award

Chris Ryan▶ 1:21:58Wendy Crewson (from The Good Son) / Daniel Hugh Kelly (from Hardcastle and McCormick)
Sean Fennessey▶ 1:23:57Cinematographer John Lindley

Hanks or Cruise

Bill Simmons▶ 1:34:44Tom Cruise — Suggests this is a Hanks movie (as the dad), but jokes that Cruise could play young Henry, Taps-era/circa Outsiders-age Cruise

Just One Oscar

Bill Simmons▶ 1:48:13Macaulay Culkin

Probably Unanswerable Questions

Chris Ryan▶ 1:51:39Did Mark's deal in Tokyo go through, and what's the relationship like between Mark's dad and his brother?

Coach Finstock Life Lesson

Bill Simmons▶ 1:52:22The 'once you realize you can do anything, you're free' line, plus his own added lesson: don't let your possibly murderous son take your daughter ice skating (i.e., pay for the sitter)

Best Double Feature

Bill Simmons▶ 1:52:44Mikey, then Good Son (double feature of similar 'evil kid' movies)
Sean Fennessey▶ 1:52:48Home Alone paired with The Good Son, since a prevailing theory holds Kevin from Home Alone is secretly the villain/demon of that film, making it a funny thematic pairing

Movies Referenced (64)

Home Alone (1990)

17 mentions · Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, Sean Fennessey▶ 12:53IMDb ↗Lb ↗

The Ring (2002)

8 mentions · Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, Sean Fennessey▶ 43:41IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Santa Claus (1985)

7 mentions · Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan▶ 30:05IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Lake Placid (1999)

4 mentions · Chris Ryan, Sean Fennessey, Bill Simmons▶ 1:34:12IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Sleeping with the Enemy (1991)

4 mentions · Bill Simmons▶ 13:20IMDb ↗Lb ↗

The Shining (1980)

4 mentions · Sean Fennessey▶ 4:18IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Orphan (2009)

3 mentions · Sean Fennessey, Bill Simmons▶ 4:15IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Arlington Road (1999)

2 mentions · Bill Simmons▶ 14:01IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Carrie (1976)

2 mentions · Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey▶ 1:33:34IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Children of the Corn (1984)

2 mentions · Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan▶ 4:39IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Disturbia (2007)

2 mentions · Bill Simmons▶ 1:33:15IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Final Destination (2000)

2 mentions · Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan▶ 12:36IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Directors Referenced (11)

Mark Pellington

48 mentions · Chris Ryan, Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey · Known for Arlington Road, Jerry Maguire▶ 9:58IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Payman Benz

5 mentions · Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey▶ 8:31IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Curtis Hanson

2 mentions · Bill Simmons · Known for L.A. Confidential, In Her Shoes, The Hand That Rocks the Cradle▶ 18:06IMDb ↗Lb ↗

John Colorado

2 mentions · Bill Simmons · Known for Hancock▶ 55:14IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Sean Penn

2 mentions · Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan · Known for Mystic River, 21 Grams, Dead Man Walking▶ 42:52IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Ari Aster

1 mentions · Sean Fennessey · Known for Hereditary, Midsommar▶ 23:28IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Charles Nichols

1 mentions · Bill Simmons▶ 1:47:22IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Iyi Tubi

1 mentions · Bill Simmons · Known for Ex Machina, World War Z▶ 4:49IMDb ↗Lb ↗

John Ford

1 mentions · Sean Fennessey · Known for The Quiet Man▶ 1:30:56IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Richard Donner

1 mentions · Sean Fennessey · Known for Lethal Weapon▶ 1:17:02IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Todd Field

1 mentions · Sean Fennessey · Known for Tár, Little Children▶ 1:34:00IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Actors Referenced (91)

Macaulay Culkin

20 mentions · Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, Chris Ryan · Known for Home Alone, The Good Son▶ 3:24IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Elijah Wood

19 mentions · Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, Chris Ryan▶ 12:57IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Tom Cruise

18 mentions · Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, Sean Fennessey · Known for Top Gun, Minority Report▶ 1:25:21IMDb ↗Lb ↗

David Morse

11 mentions · Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, Sean Fennessey · Known for The Green Mile, The Hurt Locker, The Rock▶ 55:03IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Wendy Crewson

10 mentions · Sean Fennessey, Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan · Known for Air Force One▶ 16:40IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Paris Hilton

7 mentions · Bill Simmons▶ 0:00IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Portland Helmich

7 mentions · Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan▶ 35:31IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Gene Hackman

5 mentions · Sean Fennessey, Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan · Known for The French Connection, The Royal Tenenbaums, Unforgiven▶ 1:16:39IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Jascha Heifetz

5 mentions · Chris Ryan, Bill Simmons · Known for Casino, Schindler's List▶ 1:14:24IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Michelle Pfeiffer

5 mentions · Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan · Known for What Lies Beneath▶ 1:24:25IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Bonnie Bedelia

4 mentions · Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey · Known for Die Hard, Presumed Innocent▶ 24:31IMDb ↗Lb ↗

John Candy

3 mentions · Sean Fennessey · Known for Planes, Trains & Automobiles, Uncle Buck, Spaceballs▶ 28:33IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Writers Referenced (4)

Roger Ebert

7 mentions · Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey▶ 20:58IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Stephen King

4 mentions · Sean Fennessey, Bill Simmons · Known for Maximum Overdrive▶ 3:16IMDb ↗Lb ↗

David O. Selznick

1 mentions · Sean Fennessey · Known for Gone with the Wind▶ 1:53:38IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Nora Ephron

1 mentions · Sean Fennessey · Known for Julie & Julia, When Harry Met Sally...▶ 1:24:04IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Cinematographers Referenced (2)

John Lindley

1 mentions · Sean Fennessey · Known for Sneakers▶ 1:23:57IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Michael Grantland

1 mentions · Bill Simmons · Known for The Other Guys▶ 36:48IMDb ↗Lb ↗