KeyZOid

23rd Sep 2021

The Book of Henry (2017)

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?

KeyZOid

23rd Sep 2021

The Book of Henry (2017)

Trivia: Was it absurd for Gregg Hurwitz to write that 11-year-old Henry bought his mother a new car? Believe it or not... NO! New York does not have a statute specifying a minimum age. Presuming Henry used cash (from his investments) to pay for the car, it was legitimate. Being able to buy a car regardless of one's age does not mean everything needed to USE the car will be doable. According to NY Vehicle Code, "You must be at least 16 to register a vehicle. You can title a vehicle at any age." (01:15:35)

KeyZOid

22nd Sep 2021

The Book of Henry (2017)

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)

KeyZOid

22nd Sep 2021

The Book of Henry (2017)

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)

KeyZOid

21st Sep 2021

The Book of Henry (2017)

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)

KeyZOid

Upvote valid corrections to help move entries into the corrections section.

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.

KeyZOid

21st Sep 2021

The Book of Henry (2017)

Stupidity: While "sneaking" away from the school during the talent show, Susan squealed her tires pulling out of the parking spot (which wasn't in the best place for sneaking out). She speeds out of the lot and down the road, squealing her tires again making a sharp turn and cutting off a driver. These are ways of drawing attention to oneself and increasing the chances of being detected. (01:22:32)

KeyZOid

21st Sep 2021

The Book of Henry (2017)

Stupidity: Henry's plan was supposed to be perfectly timed, allowing his mother 45 minutes. It doesn't make sense to waste time - and increase the chances of being spotted - by having her go home to pick up the rifle when she could have simply kept it in her vehicle's trunk.

KeyZOid

20th Sep 2021

Abduction (2011)

Deliberate mistake: Before Nathan and Karen jump out of Dr. Bennett's car, Dr. Bennett's car is shown taking a sharp turn (close to 90°) and then speeding down the short but steep road. At a high speed, the car should have reached the level road within a second or two. However, Dr. Bennett talked to Nathan and Karen for a longer period of time. When the next exterior view of the car was shown, it was just reaching the intersection and straightaway. The car should have traveled a much greater distance than shown. (00:44:50 - 00:45:59)

KeyZOid

20th Sep 2021

The Book of Henry (2017)

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)

KeyZOid

20th Sep 2021

The Book of Henry (2017)

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)

KeyZOid

20th Sep 2021

The Book of Henry (2017)

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)

KeyZOid

20th Sep 2021

The Book of Henry (2017)

Trivia: During the opening credits, there are excerpts from Henry's red notebook outlining his plan. (00:01:20)

KeyZOid

17th Sep 2021

The Book of Henry (2017)

Trivia: Although relatively rare and quickly dwindling, there are still some (100,000?) functional payphones (coin-operated or credit card) in the US, including in New York. It is doubtful there would be one outside of Henry's elementary school, but pay phones are typically near public buildings.

KeyZOid

17th Sep 2021

The Book of Henry (2017)

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)

KeyZOid

17th Sep 2021

The Book of Henry (2017)

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)

KeyZOid

Other mistake: At the school, a police officer told Owen, "Let's go" (move his vehicle). Owen tells Connor "We're playing hooky", makes a sharp turn, speeds past three school buses parked along the road, and passes a police office and school crossing guard (who didn't seem to notice). School zones have 15 MPH limits and police take speeding in these areas very seriously. A motorists violating in a school zone like Owen did would be pursued and cited with multiple offenses. (00:05:40)

KeyZOid

Stupidity: During the lightning storm, Hannah and Connor did not stop running through the open field when they reached the low point (dip). Hannah kept telling Connor to run, stop, and crouch even when they were headed uphill. It would have been safer to crouch at the lowest point in the field. Connor fell a couple times and Hannah also fell (or got struck) - both ending up doing one of the worst things - lying down on the ground instead of minimizing contact. (00:53:39)

KeyZOid

Stupidity: When the thunder/lightning starts, Hannah correctly tells Connor "We gotta get downhill." Then she tells him to run and stop, plus shows him to crouch down. Granted, they needed to act fast, but her instructions were poor for someone supposed to be trained in safety. Crouching should not entail placing one leg from the knee down onto the ground - only the balls of the feet should touch the ground and the heels should be together. She didn't tell him NOT to lie down, but he was when he fell. (00:53:14)

KeyZOid

Continuity mistake: Hannah is wearing a blue jersey when she is outside the tower and when she goes inside to answer the phone. She tells Ryan she will call back on the SAT phone (for personal calls). Hannah is next seen sitting on the edge of a Boulder overlooking the mountains, talking to Ryan. She is now wearing a brown top and tan pants. The same conversation is occurring, but when there is a side view of Hannah, she is suddenly wearing a brown jacket with fur trim and light blue jeans. (00:26:00 - 00:26:53)

KeyZOid

Continuity mistake: While Hannah is outside sitting on a boulder and talking on the phone to Ryan, a side view shows her wearing a brown jacket and blue jeans but a back view shows her wearing a brown top and tan pants. The remaining front, back, and side views are consistent (brown jacket and blue jeans). (00:26:53 - 00:27:16)

KeyZOid

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