The Book of Henry (2017)

This far-fetched movie is full of plot holes and is about a half-century too late for the CPS-related encounters to be remotely believable, but the story is original and interesting. I vacillated between a "3" and "4" out of 5 rating and - being about a "3.5" - decided to give it the benefit of the doubt. The movie is not exciting, but it does maintain viewer attention by making the viewer wonder what will happen, especially regarding Henry's instructions to his mother.

Henry Carpenter is an 11-year-old genius/child prodigy. He lives with his (inept but loving?) mother Susan and 8-year-old brother Peter. Henry is the "man of the house" who handles all Susan's financial affairs and uses his intellect to make highly-profitable investments (enough that Susan need not continue working as a waitress, but she isn't aware of how much money Henry has amassed thus far).

The Carpenter family lives next-door to Police Commissioner Glenn Sickleman and his step-daughter Christina (Henry's classmate). Henry's bedroom window is opposite Christina's and Henry sees things that convinces him Christina is abused. (Bruises indicating physically but the disgust suggests sexually, or both). Henry notifies School Principal Wilder, complains more than once, and calls CPS himself, all to no avail - the County Director of Social Services is George Sickleman, Glenn's brother. Henry concludes it is up to him to do something that will protect Christina - his ingenious plan is to murder Glenn.

Henry has been suffering intermittent headaches and blurred vision for a few months, which he tells his mother is nothing and attributes his symptoms to stress. A sudden, violent seizure lands Henry in the emergency room and quickly taken to surgery for a brain tumor. The tumor is too advanced and Henry dies in the hospital several days later.

Henry has left behind his red notebook wherein he delineated Plans A, B, and C for killing Glenn and awarding permanent legal custody of Christina to his mother Susan. The remaining option, Plan C, entails his mother doing what Henry no longer can. Resources are not a problem - Henry's investments have left Susan with $680,000 in her checking account plus stocks and bonds with an unknown, but substantial, value.

Will Susan proceed to fulfill Henry's dying wish for her to do what he deemed necessary to protect Christina? Set aside all the absurdities and the movie is enjoyable to watch. It probably won't appeal to all, especially younger audiences who are not aware of past CPS problems and the general population's ignorance of child abuse.

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