My Son Ending Explained: Edmond’s Arrest and What Happened to Ethan

James McAvoy’s performance in My Son stands out because he had no script while filming, which may explain why some viewers were left confused by how things played out. Throughout the entire shoot, McAvoy didn’t receive a script, meaning he discovered each moment as it came—just like those watching the film.

This made his reactions and decisions as Edmond Murray feel unpredictable. The thriller, now available on Netflix, centers on Edmond, who starts looking for his missing son Ethan after receiving a troubling call from his ex-wife Joan, portrayed by Claire Foy. The boy had vanished from a camping trip.

Although the movie eventually discloses Ethan’s fate, it keeps certain things unclear, leaving viewers wondering about a few unanswered questions.

For those unsure about the film’s conclusion, here’s a breakdown of what happened to Ethan, the reasons behind Edmond’s arrest, and how Frank fits into the entire story.

My Son Explained: Was Frank Part of the Kidnapping Plot?

Initial suspicion may have been cast on Frank, Joan’s new partner (played by Tom Cullen), but it’s Frank who unintentionally helps Edmond figure out where Ethan is. At one point, Edmond gets hold of Frank’s phone—mistakenly handed to him after he attacks Frank—and stumbles upon a major clue.

Two different videos of Ethan show the same vehicle in the background. This detail pushes Edmond closer to the truth. With help from Joan’s brother, who works in insurance, Edmond traces the car to a man named William, living on a secluded farm.

Edmond forces a confession out of William, who admits that he works with a group involved in child abductions. His job was to send pictures of children to the group, who would then choose which one to take.

Once a child is selected, people like William go ahead with the kidnapping and drop the child off at Dunmore Lodge for pickup. Edmond heads straight to this lodge, where he finds Ethan guarded by three individuals from the group.

Before attempting a rescue, Edmond leaves Joan a message, telling her where Ethan is and urging her to get in touch with Inspector Roy, who had been supporting the investigation. Edmond fights to save his son, gets him out of the lodge just in time, and they escape with Joan—though he gets injured during the attempt.

Shortly after Edmond loses consciousness in the car, Inspector Roy locates them and manages to get help for all three, making sure Edmond survives. However, not everything ends on a cheerful note.

My Son Ending: What Led to Edmond’s Arrest?

What looks like a peaceful moment at the film’s end, where Edmond and Joan watch Ethan flying a toy drone, soon takes a turn. Inspector Roy shows up, calls Edmond aside, and quietly tells his son he’ll be away “for a wee while.”

It becomes obvious Edmond is being taken into custody, though the film does not spell out the exact charges. One possible reason is that Edmond used illegal means—like torture—to get information from those connected to the kidnapping ring.

But since those actions were directed at the actual criminals, they may not be enough to put him away for long. Another theory connects to an earlier scene in the movie where Edmond hands his phone to the authorities.

The police needed access to his contacts to determine whether someone close to him could be responsible for the kidnapping. During this process, they also uncover some irregularities related to Edmond’s professional life.

He travels for work to places such as Iraq and Libya, and all the viewer knows is that he’s involved in the oil industry. Later, during a call with Joan, she informs him that the police had raided his office. She mentions they seized computers, hard drives, and even files linked to Iraq.

This suggests Edmond may have risked exposure to legal trouble, knowing that sensitive data on his phone could be discovered—but deciding to help find Ethan regardless.

How Things Might Turn Out for Edmond

Even though Edmond is arrested, things might not end badly for him. For starters, his son is now safe. Inspector Roy also acknowledges that Edmond’s actions helped speed up the investigation and could benefit him legally.

“The investigation is picking up pace,” Roy says to Edmond. “There’ll be more arrests. The list is long. This could work in your favor… The judge might consider that.” So there’s a chance Edmond won’t spend too much time in custody and may be able to reunite with his son again soon.