Son Review: A Cult Family Story With Plenty of Gore

Release date: July 8, 2021 Running time: 99 minutes Written and Directed By: Ivan Kavanagh Starring: Andi Matichak (Halloween franchise, Assimilate), Emile Hirsch (The Autopsy of Jane Doe), and Luke David Blumm (The King of Staten Island) In Son, after a mysterious group breaks into Laura’s home and attempts to abduct her eight-year-old son, David, the two of them flee town in search of safety. But soon after the failed kidnapping, David becomes extremely ill, suffering from increasing psychosis and convulsions. Following her maternal instincts, Laura commits unspeakable acts to keep him alive, but soon she must decide how far she is willing to go to save her son.

Son has a strange start, but one that will draw you in. It is a wonderful way to get this film going, from a horror, abandoned start to an idyllic one so quickly. And the film has a small, but wonderful cast headlined by Andi Matichak as a mother who is doing everything she can to protect her son. She gets to stretch her emotional chops here and really showcase some of the horror her character is going through. And Luke David Blumm is great as David, the young kid who has more to him than initially meets the eyes. He has to carry a lot as well, selling that his character is going through some horrible changes, and he does it quite convincingly. But he also keeps the childlike innocence that makes you root for this mother and son. And the film also showcases Emile Hirsch, who it is great to see back in so many gritty roles recently.

Where Son also shines is in the effects, which add just enough blood and gore to sell the story, without trying to do too much. Especially for a movie about a satanic cult, the film could have tried to add on CG which would have completely broken the suspension of disbelief. But thankfully it went for all practical effects and make up, and the results are wonderfully gruesome to watch. And on top of this, the movie has a slow burning story that really sets the tone before anything terrible happens. I loved the idyllic section where you were just waiting for the horror to begin, and when it does, it is more of a drip feed. Then, when it does get going it starts to up the horror and the creep factor quickly as the story descends further and further. And through it all, the movie has a great use of sound. It has wonderful creaks in the house when Laura is trying to protect David in their house, and it also has great otherworldly sounds when more sinister influences are happening. It has a sort of bone breaking, insect like sound that is wonderfully unsettling.

Son's slow burning story, great cast, and wonderful practical effects tell a family-focused demon story with plenty of hearts that should become a cult classic.

Watch it.

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Son is available to stream on Shudder starting July 9, 2021.