Movies usually follow a predictable path. You have your rom-coms, your slasher flicks, and your tear-jerking dramas. Then there is The Book of Henry movie. Honestly, calling it a "drama" feels like an understatement, and calling it a "thriller" feels like a lie. It’s this weird, polarizing mashup that somehow made it through a major studio system despite having one of the most left-field tonal shifts in modern cinema history. If you saw it in 2017, you probably remember the whiplash. If you haven't seen it, you've likely heard the whispers about how Colin Trevorrow—the guy who did Jurassic World—went from a massive franchise to a story about a kid genius planning a sniper assassination.
It’s wild.
The film follows Henry Carpenter, played by Jaeden Martell. Henry isn't just a smart kid; he's basically a 12-year-old CFO who manages his mother Susan’s (Naomi Watts) finances while protecting his younger brother, Peter (Jacob Tremblay). They live in a picture-perfect house, but the plot takes a sharp, dark turn when Henry realizes the girl next door, Christina, is being abused by her stepfather, who also happens to be the local police commissioner.
What Actually Happens in The Book of Henry Movie?
People often get the plot confused because it evolves so rapidly. The first third is a quirky, "gifted child" indie drama. Henry is precocious. He’s kind. He’s the glue holding his messy but loving family together. Then, the movie hits you with a massive medical tragedy that changes everything.
Suddenly, the film isn't about a genius kid. It's about a grieving mother following a red notebook—the titular book—that contains a step-by-step tactical manual on how to murder the neighbor.
It sounds fake. It isn't.
Gregg Hurwitz, who wrote the screenplay, is actually a very successful thriller novelist. You can see his fingerprints in the meticulous, almost Rube Goldberg-esque planning Henry puts into the assassination plot. But critics, including most notably Rex Reed and the team at Rotten Tomatoes (where the film sits at a dismal 22%), found the jump from "sentimental family drama" to "child-planned homicide" a bit too much to swallow.
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Why the Critics Went Nuclear
The backlash wasn't just about the plot. It was about the timing. At the time of release, Trevorrow was slated to direct Star Wars: Episode IX. When the reviews for The Book of Henry movie came out, the internet went into a tailspin. People started questioning if he could handle a massive galaxy-spanning epic if he couldn't balance a small-town thriller. Shortly after, he left the Star Wars project, though both parties cited creative differences rather than "Henry" reviews.
Still, the movie has a weirdly dedicated cult following. Why? Because it’s earnest. It’s not trying to be ironic. It genuinely believes in its own logic. There is something fascinating about a film that takes such a massive risk, even if it lands flat on its face for the majority of the audience.
Analyzing the Tonal Shift and the "Henry" Logic
Most movies try to keep you in a specific headspace. If you're watching a Pixar movie, you don't expect a gritty reboot of John Wick to break out in the second act. The Book of Henry movie ignores that rule entirely.
Henry is portrayed as so hyper-intelligent that he’s essentially a god-like figure from beyond the grave. He predicts exactly how his mother will react, what the weather will be like, and how the target will move. It pushes the boundaries of suspension of disbelief.
- The movie asks you to believe a 12-year-old can outsmart the police.
- It asks you to believe a mother would buy a sniper rifle because her son's diary told her to.
- It asks you to feel inspired by this.
Honestly, it’s a lot. But Naomi Watts gives it her all. Her performance is grounded, even when the script asks her to do things that feel completely irrational. Jacob Tremblay, fresh off his success in Room, is also heartbreakingly good as the younger brother who just wants his family back.
The Problem of the "Evil Neighbor"
One of the major critiques involves the character of Glenn Sickleman. Because he’s the police commissioner, the movie argues that the legal system is useless. This sets up the "vigilante justice" theme. While this is a staple in action movies, seeing it applied in a suburban setting involving a grieving mom and a deceased child created a "moral friction" that many viewers found distasteful.
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It’s not just that the movie is sad. It’s that it’s uncomfortable.
Where Can You Watch It and What Should You Look For?
If you're going to dive into The Book of Henry movie now, you have to look at it as a time capsule of 2017's experimental blockbuster era. It’s currently available on various VOD platforms like Amazon Prime and Apple TV, and it occasionally cycles through Netflix or Max depending on licensing.
When you watch, pay attention to the cinematography. John Schwartzman, who also worked on Jurassic World and The Amazing Spider-Man, makes the film look beautiful. The lighting is warm and nostalgic, which makes the dark subject matter feel even more jarring.
- The Soundtrack: Michael Giacchino (the legend behind Up and The Batman) did the score. It’s soulful and way better than the movie probably deserves.
- The Acting: Aside from the leads, Sarah Silverman shows up in a surprisingly dramatic role as a family friend. It’s one of her better, understated performances.
Real-World Context: The Gregg Hurwitz Factor
It's worth noting that Gregg Hurwitz wrote this screenplay years before it was actually filmed. In Hollywood, scripts often sit on "The Black List" (a list of the best unproduced scripts) for a long time. By the time it was made, the cultural landscape had shifted. What might have felt like a bold "Amblin-style" throwback in 2005 felt tonally deaf to some in 2017.
Critics like Emily VanDerWerff pointed out that the movie treats abuse as a plot device for the protagonist's growth, which is a valid and heavy criticism. It’s a film that demands you turn off your critical brain, but the subject matter is too serious to allow you to do that easily.
The Legacy of a "Flop"
Is it a "bad" movie? That’s subjective. It’s certainly a memorable one. In an era of beige, predictable streaming content, The Book of Henry movie stands out because it is so uniquely, bafflingly itself.
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It’s a movie that makes you want to talk to someone immediately after it ends. You need to verify that you actually saw what you just saw. That alone gives it a level of "must-watch" status for cinephiles who love to study how movies can go off the rails.
Actionable Takeaways for Movie Lovers
If you decide to give it a spin, do it with a group. This is not a "quiet night alone" movie. It’s a "popcorn and debate" movie.
- Watch the first 30 minutes: Try to guess where it’s going. You’ll be wrong.
- Compare it to Trevorrow’s other work: Look at Safety Not Guaranteed. You can see his interest in high-concept "what if" scenarios, but The Book of Henry is where that impulse went unchecked.
- Check the reviews afterward: Read the New York Times or The Guardian reviews from 2017. They are some of the most creative and scathing pieces of film criticism ever written.
Ultimately, the film serves as a masterclass in tone. It teaches us that you can have the best actors, a world-class composer, and a massive budget, but if the "soul" of the story is confused, the audience will feel it. It remains a fascinating anomaly in Hollywood history, a reminder that sometimes the strangest ideas are the ones that actually get funded.
To get the most out of the experience, treat it as a study in script structure. Notice how the "midpoint" of the film completely kills the original premise and replaces it with a new one. Whether you love it or hate it, you won't forget it.
After watching, look up the "making of" interviews with the cast. They all speak very highly of the experience, which suggests there was a disconnect between the filming process and the final edited product. This happens more often than you'd think in the industry.
If you’re looking for a double feature, pair it with Safety Not Guaranteed. It shows the two sides of the same directorial coin—one where the quirkiness works, and one where it spirals. It’s the best way to understand how Trevorrow’s career evolved the way it did.