Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Graphic
- ominous
- paranoid
- disturbing
- late night horror viewing
- halloween horror marathon
What critics said
Critics broadly found the film well-acted and atmospherically potent, though its repetitive, predictable storyline weakened its impact.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Laura repeatedly commits unspeakable acts while trying to keep David alive and protect him from the cult.
Laura's escape from a childhood cult remains central to her fears, choices, and relationship with David.
The film intertwines Laura's fear of cult pursuit, David's mysterious illness, and possible delusion without immediately clarifying reality.
Motels, hospitals, doctors, and police investigations become recurring environments of surveillance and danger.
Films like Son, and why
Rosemary's Baby
shared satanic horror, maternal terror, cult paranoia, and disturbing supernatural dread
The Exorcist
shared occult horror, demonic menace, child endangerment, and graphic supernatural violence
The Babadook
shared psychological horror, unreliable perceptions, family trauma, and ominous domestic atmosphere
The Lodge
shared cult horror, childhood trauma, motherhood, and unsettling body horror
Movie Details
- Director
- Ivan Kavanagh
- Release Date
- 2021-03-18
- Runtime
- 98 min
- Rating
- 6.0 / 10 (298)
Cast
- Andi Matichak
- Emile Hirsch
- Luke David Blumm
- Cranston Johnson
- Blaine Maye
- J. Robert Spencer
- Rocco Sisto
- Kristine Nielsen
- Erin Bradley Dangar
- Adam Stephenson
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Philo, AMC+ Amazon Channel, AMC+ Roku Premium Channel, Shudder, Shudder Amazon Channel, Shudder Apple TV channel
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Son about?
- A traumatized mother races across a hostile landscape to protect her ailing son from the cult that shaped her childhood, while reality and damnation close in.
- What is Son like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Son as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is Son violent?
- Yes. Ember rates the violence in Son as graphic.
- What did critics think of Son?
- Critics broadly found the film well-acted and atmospherically potent, though its repetitive, predictable storyline weakened its impact.
- Which films are like Son?
- Films with a similar feel include Rosemary's Baby, The Exorcist, The Babadook, and The Lodge.
- How long is Son?
- Son runs 98 minutes.
- Where can I watch Son?
- In United States, Son streams on Philo, AMC+ Amazon Channel, AMC+ Roku Premium Channel, Shudder, Shudder Amazon Channel, Shudder Apple TV channel.
