The Son (2022)

FULL SPOILER-FREE REVIEW @ https://www.msbreviews.com/movie-reviews/the-son-spoiler-free-review-lff-2022 "The Son is an emotionally devastating film with a shocking yet important cautionary message for all parents. A gradually sadder, depressing, frustrating story that grips the audience through its tension-filled dialogue, but the lack of something new and impactful directly about those primarily affected by mental health issues could be an uncomfortable trigger for many viewers. Hugh Jackman stands out with one of the best performances of his career in a genuinely powerful, tear-inducing display. Florian Zeller's movie will get an understandably divisive reception, but I definitely consider it a must-watch flick." Rating: B+

Despite more experienced and lauded stars, this film only really belongs to the young Australian Zen McGrath in the title role. He is "Nicholas", a young man who lives with his divorcee mother (Laura Dern) while his father (Hugh Jackman) has a new family with "Beth" (Vanessa Kirby) and baby "Theo". His mother reaches the end of her tether when it transpires that the young man has been skipping school. She feels genuinely intimidated by him and so a move to dad's is soon on the cards. Settling in ok? Going to a new school? Well that's when we begin to spot signs that this lad has problems. Signs of self harm ring alarm bells and indicate a spiralling descent for "Nicholas" that perhaps only his father can arrest? The story is interesting, but the writing is frankly terrible and the acting from both Jackman and the always limited Dern is truly wooden. For such an emotive subject there is no sense of involvement; no personal touches - he is never to referred to as "Nick" or anything that might illustrate that there any intimate love here. It's all just a bit sterile with join-the-dot scenarios that accumulate towards an ending that serves no purpose at all. That's not to say it had to be all rose covered cottages, but the last twenty minutes really defy even the most devoted of parental logic before a rather abrupt denouement. It might offer a beginners guide to warning signs for parents, but otherwise this is a weakly constructed and frankly, rather implausible, drama that really disappoints.