Stephen Graham’s “excellent” dark thriller The Good Boy is now available to watch in the UK

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We loved The Good Boy ever since we first saw it at the BFI London Film Festival last year, and now everyone in the UK and Ireland can finally experience this gripping thriller starring Stephen Graham.

The thriller, known as Heel in the US, is directed by Jan Komasa. It follows 19-year-old Tommy (Anson Boon), a troublemaker who is kidnapped by Chris (Graham) after a night out. Tommy finds himself chained in the basement of Chris and Kathryn’s (Andrea Riseborough) house, where they are determined to change his behavior, no matter the cost.

As we highlighted in our five-star review, The Good Boy is a truly exceptional thriller – unlike anything you’ll experience this year. We noted that it’s a captivating mix of dark suspense, quirky humor, and meaningful drama, making it impossible to look away.

The movie has been well-received, earning an 88% rating on Rotten Tomatoes after its release in the US earlier this month, and many people are praising it.

Both The Times and The New York Times praised the filmmakers’ ability to portray even unsettling characters with depth and empathy. The New York Times specifically noted that The Good Boy fits perfectly within the director’s style of creating dark, thought-provoking stories with complex moral themes.

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I’ve been waiting for this! You don’t have to believe the hype – you can finally check out The Good Boy for yourself, because it’s in UK and Irish cinemas today!

Before the film hits theaters, director Jan Komasa told Digital Spy that the initial script, written by Bartek Bartosik and Naqqash Khalid, was quite different from the final version.

The story originally took place on the edges of Warsaw and was extremely violent and raw. The opening alone showed the main character involved in terrible acts – street brawls and other disturbing scenes – for a full 40 minutes, making it quite shocking, he said.

I recall receiving a review from South Korea about my film Corpus Christi. The reviewer simply said it was a good movie about post-war Poland. It’s fascinating how a film’s country of origin – whether it’s Polish, Chilean, Italian, or anything else – influences how people interpret it. They seem to view it through a national perspective.

I recall telling Jerzy Skolimowski that filming in Polish might lead some viewers to interpret the movie as a statement about Poland – perhaps even jokingly assuming it reflected real issues happening there. So, Jerzy spoke with his friend and producer, Jeremy Thomas, and we ultimately decided to shoot the film in English instead.

It’s good this change happened because it allowed us to see Stephen Graham and Andrea Riseborough showcase their incredible talent – they truly are among the best actors working today, and it ultimately benefits the film.

The Good Boy is out now in UK and Irish cinemas.

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2026-03-20 14:49