The Book of Henry

2017 • 104 minutes

About this movie

Naomi Watts stars as Susan, a single mother of two, working as a waitress in a small town. Her son, Henry (Jaeden Lieberher), is an 11-year-old genius who not only manages the family finances but acts as emotional support for his mother and younger brother (Jacob Tremblay). When Henry discovers that the girl next door has a terrible secret, he implores Susan to take matters into her own hands in this imaginative and emotional drama from director Colin Trevorrow (Jurassic World).

Ratings and reviews

Look, you’re either going to love this movie or hate it. It is not going to give you much middle ground.It is not like any other movies you have or will likely see anytime soon. That originality is not a strength or weakness of the film, but it is something you should know before you spend money on it. I loved it because with 15 minutes left in the film I was completely gripped by the story, and I had no idea how it’ was going to end. That hasn’t happened to me in a very long time. I also think it has some of the better acting I’ve seen in a long time. I also want to say that some of the negative reviews you’ve read are probably on point. The dialogue can at times be odd and there is a massive tonal shift in the middle of the movie. I strongly recommend, you watch this thing for yourself and decide what you think, at the very least you will have something interesting to talk about.

I'm glad I'm not a professional critic. That means I get to enjoy the beauty of a thing without applying all the filters and gibberish that make you sound like you know what you're talking about. This was a beautiful movie. A very unique experience for me. No CGI, no explosions, no car chases. It felt like something real you can hold in your hands and be introspective about it. Too many voices can cloud a vision. Take it for what it is. An excellent movie.

I have very mixed feelings about this movie. On one hand, the first half is touching, charming, quirky, and well-acted enough to stand on its own. I was beginning to believe that I was watching something special. But once a dark twist comes in, the movie falls apart with wild tonal inconsistencies, plot holes, disjointed scenes, and bizarre storytelling. I admire it's attempt at being original and trying to say something, but the film as a whole doesn't quite come together. Nowhere near as bad as critics say, but not as good as it could've been. 4.5/10