The Book of Henry

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Water M I think I understand why some people are giving this movie negative reviews. My theory is this: some viewers may have gone into it expecting a typical feel-good kids' movie, which it sort of starts out as, but were surprised by the more serious themes it tackles, like child abuse (handled non-graphically) and the loss of a loved one. That shift in tone might be off-putting for parents expecting something lighter. Short version: I'd give the movie a solid B+. It holds your attention throughout and has a sweet, emotional core. That said, some plot developments feel a bit rushed or underdeveloped, like the film needed more time to breathe. But that’s often the challenge with fitting complex stories into a 90–100 minute runtime. Overall: it's a decent movie. But if you're sensitive to heavier topics or cautious about what your kids watch, you might want to pick something a bit lighter. Rated 4/5 Stars •  Rated 4 out of 5 stars 05/15/25 Full Review Robert T Short film with a clear tonal shift could be great but they mucked up the ending. Rated 2/5 Stars •  Rated 2 out of 5 stars 07/31/23 Full Review R C A big twist that makes you root for the mom to go through with it. Until you don't. Overall, a deliberate worthwhile escape. Rated 3.5/5 Stars •  Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 06/30/23 Full Review Thomas S Unfairly underscored in my opinion. A good film, with twists but easy to follow Rated 4/5 Stars •  Rated 4 out of 5 stars 06/13/23 Full Review isla s This was an interesting film - I liked seeing things from the childs perspective. Certainly at the start of the film there's no real clue as to the darker tone it'll take. It did feel like there were a few plots, or sub-plots, present in the one film and I did find myself a little unsure about when certain things had happened, which were clearly implied but then I admit I was a little distracted while watching it. It felt, to me, like a somewhat/relatively original watch (not entirely original but somewhat original), given the form and viewpoint that its taken from. I enjoyed watching the brothers get along together and I thought the cast did well. I suppose I'd have liked to have seen a bit more in terms of what Henry saw the apparently suspicious neighbour doing. I couldn't not feel empathy towards Henry's mother, given the circumstances and I certainly felt frustrated at how she treated her sons suspicions at first. Its an interesting, somewhat thought provoking watch, not one suitable for young children given the themes, although it does appear to be a family film at first, with the children of the family seeming relatively innocent and childlike, except for the clearly mature intelligence of the titular character Henry but the tone becomes decidedly darker after a while. I'd recommend this film on the proviso that its an emotional and potentially upsetting watch at times, as it deals with abuse. Rated 3.5/5 Stars •  Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Audience Member A nice balance between emotional/action. Although some action sequences feel overblown, the acting and the story has little flaws. Rated 3.5/5 Stars •  Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 01/29/23 Full Review Read all reviews

The Book of Henry

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