I remember sitting in a dimly lit theater when the credits finally rolled on Florian Zeller’s The Son. The silence was heavy. You could practically feel the collective breath being held by the audience. Honestly, it wasn’t just because the movie is "sad"—it’s because it’s deeply, uncomfortably honest about how we fail the people we love the most. Released in 2022 as a follow-up to Zeller’s Oscar-winning The Father, this film didn't get the same universal praise. It’s polarizing. Some critics called it manipulative, while others felt it was a brutal, necessary look at adolescent depression.
If you’ve seen the film, or even if you’re just curious about the buzz, you know it centers on Peter (Hugh Jackman), a high-powered lawyer whose life is upended when his ex-wife Kate (Laura Dern) shows up. Their teenage son, Nicholas, is in trouble. He’s skipping school, he’s distant, and he’s carrying a darkness that neither parent knows how to handle. The Son 2022 movie isn't a "feel-good" cinematic experience. It’s a tragedy in the most classical sense.
The Problem With "Fixing" People
Most movies about mental health follow a predictable arc. There’s a diagnosis, a struggle, a breakthrough, and then some kind of resolution. The Son spits on that formula. Peter thinks he can "fix" Nicholas by simply providing a better environment or being a "better" father than his own cold, distant dad (played in a chilling cameo by Anthony Hopkins).
The irony is thick here.
Peter is so desperate to not be his father that he misses what’s right in front of him. He offers Nicholas a room in his new apartment with his new wife, Beth (Vanessa Kirby), and their infant child. He thinks a fresh start is the cure. But depression isn't a geographic problem. It’s an internal one.
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The Anthony Hopkins Scene You Can't Ignore
There is one scene that arguably justifies the entire existence of the film. Peter visits his father, played by Hopkins. It’s a five-minute masterclass in cruelty. Hopkins’ character basically tells Peter to "get over" his childhood trauma, calling his son’s grievances pathetic. This moment is vital because it shows us why Peter is so desperate to save Nicholas. He’s trying to heal his own inner child by proxy. But because he’s acting out of his own ego rather than actual empathy, he makes catastrophic mistakes.
Why Critics And Audiences Disagreed
When the movie hit festivals in late 2022, the reviews were... let’s say "mixed." On Rotten Tomatoes, it sits at a lukewarm score that doesn't reflect the intensity of the performances. Why the disconnect?
Well, Zeller uses a "theatrical" style. It makes sense, considering the movie is based on his own stage play. The dialogue is sometimes a bit on the nose. People don't always talk like that in real life. But in the world of the film, that heightened reality serves to highlight the characters' blindness.
Some viewers found the ending to be "trauma porn." It’s a valid criticism. The film leads you down a very dark path and doesn't offer much in the way of a silver lining. However, many families who have actually dealt with severe clinical depression in teenagers found the movie's depiction of helplessness to be incredibly accurate. Sometimes, love isn't enough. That’s a terrifying thing to put on screen.
The Acting Is Actually Incredible
Hugh Jackman gives what might be the most raw performance of his career. Forget Wolverine. This is a man crumbling under the weight of his own perceived "success."
- Hugh Jackman: He plays Peter with this frantic, high-energy denial. You see him trying to "grin and bear it" for his son.
- Zen McGrath: As Nicholas, he has the hardest job. He has to play a character who is often blank or unreachable. It’s not "Hollywood" depression; it’s the heavy, lethargic kind that makes people frustrated.
- Laura Dern: She captures the specific brand of guilt that comes with being a "left" spouse trying to co-parent a child in crisis.
What Most People Get Wrong About The Ending
Huge spoiler territory here, obviously.
The ending of The Son 2022 movie revolves around a specific choice: whether or not to keep Nicholas in a psychiatric hospital. The doctors say he should stay. Nicholas begs to go home. He weaponizes his parents' love and guilt against them. Peter, wanting to believe his son is "better," overrides the medical advice.
People often say this makes Peter a "villain." I don't think that’s right. It makes him human. It’s the "optimism bias." We want to believe the people we love are okay because the alternative is too painful to bear. The film’s final act is a cautionary tale about the dangers of prioritizing "normality" over clinical safety.
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Real Talk: The Impact Of The Son
If you're watching this movie, you need to be in the right headspace. It’s heavy. It’s about the "intergenerational ghost" of trauma. Peter’s father hurt him, so Peter tries too hard with Nicholas, and in doing so, creates a different kind of pressure that Nicholas can't handle. It’s a cycle.
The film also tackles the "new family" dynamic. Vanessa Kirby’s character, Beth, is often seen as the "outsider," but she’s the only one who sees the situation clearly. She’s the only one who points out that Nicholas’s behavior isn't just "teen angst"—it’s dangerous. Her perspective is the audience’s perspective, and the fact that Peter ignores her is what makes the movie feel like a slow-motion car crash.
Practical Takeaways For Viewers
Movies like this aren't just for entertainment. They’re meant to spark a conversation. If The Son leaves you feeling uneasy, that’s because the reality of mental health is uneasy.
- Trust the experts. The pivotal mistake in the movie is ignoring the psychiatrists. When it comes to severe mental health crises, love is a support, not a clinical cure.
- Listen to the "gut feeling." Beth had a feeling something was wrong. Kate had a feeling. Peter suppressed his feeling in favor of a "happy" outcome.
- Acknowledge the past. Peter couldn't help Nicholas because he hadn't dealt with his own father issues. You can't pour from an empty cup, and you can't lead someone out of a dark room if you’re still lost in your own.
The 2022 movie is a stark reminder that mental health isn't a linear journey. It’s messy. It’s frustrating. And sometimes, despite our best intentions, we get it wrong.
If you or someone you know is struggling, the most important thing is to move beyond the "stiff upper lip" mentality that Peter tried to maintain. Real help starts with admitting that the situation is beyond your control. Check out resources like the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) or local crisis centers. Don't try to be the "hero" parent; just be the parent who listens to the professionals.
Watch The Son for the performances and the brutal honesty, but use it as a prompt to check in on the people in your life—and to be honest about what you see, not just what you want to see.