Continuity mistake: Peter is sitting on his bed when he notices Henry's red notebook (or diary) sticking almost the whole way out of a cardboard box on top of the dresser. When Peter goes to pick up the book, there is a side view of the box - the book isn't there, and he has to put his whole hand inside of the box in order to reach it. If Peter was able to see the book while sitting on his bed, the book should have been visible when he was standing next to the box, but it wasn't. (00:59:42)
Continuity mistake: In the treehouse, the contraption Henry built releases icing in a pile onto the top of the cupcake (or brownie) Peter is holding. When Peter moves the cupcake to his mouth, the icing is evenly spread in the middle. (00:07:04)
Continuity mistake: Driveways are to the right of the houses (on screen). Susan is parking on the left side of her house, apparently in her front yard (covered in leaves so the grass is not obvious). This puts her closer to Glenn's house and facilitates conversations and interactions. Unloading groceries, Susan's car suddenly becomes closer to Glenn's house when talking to Christina. Shots from Glenn's house show the car closer to Susan's house and shots from Susan's house show the car closer to Glenn's house. (00:24:55)
Other mistake: With the major exception of the check-out counter, the used book store has few discernible shelves. Books are literally stacked on top of one another (perhaps 50+ high) with no space between the piles. The books are not even aligned. It would be almost impossible to find a book or try to remove one without all the books falling. These can't be real stacks of books. (00:30:24)
Continuity mistake: In the hospital, Henry has a laptop on his lap when his mother throws his financial papers off the bed. Susan quickly picks up the papers and when she turns around and reaches across Henry's bed to put the papers on the tray, the laptop is gone. (00:47:40 - 00:48:23)
Plot hole: Henry was having headaches and blurred vision, which he attributed to stress. He told the doctor he never considered a brain tumor. Henry started planning how to protect Christina but a sudden severe seizure was an emergency that resulted in surgery and hospitalization; Henry never returned home, but was writing in his red book at the hospital. The tape recorder with step-by-step instructions for his mother was in the safe - if he didn't know he was gravely ill, he wouldn't have prepared it.
Character mistake: Although Henry borrowed two books on crime scene investigation from the used book store, he obviously did not learn enough, especially about forensic science. For example, shooting from the tree house could be determined by the location/slant of the bullet in Glenn's head/body, and cutting off tree branches that would obstruct the line of fire could be evidence of pre-meditation. Henry may have thought he planned the perfect murder, but it was far from that. (00:30:30)
Factual error: The opening shot is of a somewhat long and quite high bridge with an equally high waterfall behind it. After a couple views of the surroundings, Henry and Peter are standing in the middle (portion) of a stone barricade/wall (extension of the bridge?) with a huge lake behind it, waiting for the school bus. There's absolutely no legitimate or rational reason for such a location to be a school bus stop! School bus stops always have safety in mind, and this bus stop is anything but safe. (00:02:32)
Character mistake: Principal Wilder told Henry she would not subject Glenn to public scrutiny "without conclusive evidence." Wilder noticed Christina's hesitation and partial emotional breakdown during her ballet dance at the talent show and suddenly believed Christina might be an abused child. Much of Christina's body/skin was exposed wearing the dress, but no bruises (concrete evidence) were visible. Christina's temporary difficulty could have easily been due to stage fright, but Wilder called CPS. (00:21:23 - 01:27:00)
Continuity mistake: At the grocery store, Peter places a bunch of bananas onto the left-hand side corner of the conveyor belt. When the camera redirects shortly and returns, the bananas are on the opposite side. Similarly, the bag of lettuce Susan was about to place onto the conveyor belt is not there. (00:23:31)
Plot hole: Genius Henry amassed $680K plus "more" in stocks and bonds. The amount seems way too high for an 11-year-old, who undoubtedly didn't start investing as a toddler. Throw in the adage "you have to have money to make money" and the figure is unrealistic. Even IF Susan earned $15 per hour minimum wage (tips included) waitressing at a quaint Hildebrandt's soda shop, $31,200 annually before taxes doesn't go far for a family of three in NY. Would there be ANY discretionary income for Henry to use?
Plot hole: After making multiple complaints/pleas to Principal Wilder and calling CPS to no avail, Henry concluded he was out of resources - it was up to him to do something to protect Christina. Susan encountered the same road blocks and agreed with Peter that Henry would not have left other possibilities uncovered... but he DID. Some options would be: acquiring evidence and/or getting Christina to call CPS; turning to Dr. Daniels; informing a teacher or school nurse; calling State (not local) police. (01:01:29 - 01:02:48)
Plot hole: Neither Henry's nor his mother's (Susan) calls to the Saratoga County Help Line #1-518-555-0121 were successful in protecting Christina. The last woman Susan talked to said, "We [CPS] are required to follow standard operating procedures" and Susan could file an appeal. "The best interests of the child" is supposed to be paramount, so it is unlikely CPS would say such a thing. And not one "professional" Henry or Susan contacted mentioned the NATIONAL Child Abuse Hotline #1-800-422-4452. (01:02:38)
Character mistake: Henry believed his call to the Saratoga County Help Line #1-518-555-0121 was not effective because Glenn's brother George was the Social Services Director. The genius failed to look above the county level and discover there's a STATEWIDE CPS number that he could have turned to #1-800-342-3720. A call to the State CPS hotline probably refers calls to the relevant county, but Henry could have used what he wrote in his notebook "Why Calling Child Protective Services is not a plausible option." (00:28:56 - 01:01:11)
Suggested correction: It isn't clear what number Henry called. He had the county number underlined on the brochure, so I assumed that was the number he called. However, I replayed that part and the person who answered said "Child Protective Services." There was another number above for "National Help Line for Victim Advocacy" 1-800-555-0199, but that's not the National Child Abuse Hotline.
Other mistake: After surgery and throughout Henry's hospitalization, how much his head is wrapped (completely or partially) plus the amount and location/size of separated bangs vary numerous times. Once the head is wrapped, there shouldn't be much, if any, changes in the bangs because the tight bandage would hold them in place. The tight, completely wrapped head with no bangs showing immediately after surgery appeared intermittently, which doesn't make sense. Henry's head should have been shaved but was not. (00:37:29 - 00:44:16)
Plot hole: Henry gave Principal Wilder reasons he believed Christina was being abused: "Bruises, exhaustion, decreasing school performance." When Susan confronted Glenn near the treehouse, she said, "I know what you've done. Emergency room visits, school absences, bruises..." Neither had any concrete evidence/proof. Emergency room visits should have resulted in detection or suspicion of abuse if that's what doctors or nurses believed, and they are among the mandatory reporters. Maybe Henry was wrong. (00:20:35 - 01:30:30)
Other mistake: Henry and Peter got on the school bus in the morning and Susan picked them up after school. Parents often drive their kids to/from school, even when busses are available. Busses usually aren't available for students within short walking distances to school. The day Peter looked "lost" when school let out, Christina walked him home. This indicates the school is close - close enough that Susan wouldn't need to speed to home and back during the talent show or take 45 minutes to execute the plan. (00:02:48 - 00:51:39)
Plot hole: Glenn's brother George and/or other relatives (Grandparents?) would question the validity of the document Glenn signed for Susan to get permanent legal guardianship of Christina. Also, a Director of Social Services (George) would request an investigation into Susan's background to ascertain if she is suitable to be Christina's legal guardian. A single (inept?) mother of one (or two), with a yearly income around $31K and a history of drinking alcohol to excess would raise red flags.
