Stephen Graham’s dark thriller Good Boy is unlike anything you’ve seen this year – our 5-star review

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You know how sometimes you see two movies with pretty similar ideas come out around the same time? That happens. But it’s seriously weird when two movies with *completely* different stories share the exact same title! I just heard about this – right after that fun haunted house movie *Good Boy*, a totally different thriller called *Good Boy* just premiered at the London Film Festival. It’s a bit confusing, honestly!

Even though you won’t worry about a dog’s life being in danger, *Good Boy* is still a completely captivating and unusual story. It’s a darkly moral tale, reminiscent of films like *Adolescence* and *A Clockwork Orange*, with a touch of Yorgos Lanthimos’ style, and it takes unexpected turns that will keep you hooked.

Featuring fantastic performances from acclaimed British actors Stephen Graham and Andrea Riseborough, and a standout performance from Anson Boon of *MobLand*, *Good Boy* is a truly unique thriller that stands apart from anything you’ll see this year.

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The film opens with Tommy, a nineteen-year-old who embodies many negative stereotypes about young people. We see him on a night out where he’s openly rude and reckless, fueled by heavy drinking and drugs. He shockingly cheats on his girlfriend in public and also commits a lewd act, showcasing a complete lack of respect.

After a night out, Tommy wakes up chained in the basement of a secluded house in northern England. His captor, a quiet man named Chris (played by Graham), is determined to correct Tommy’s behavior and turn him into what he considers a “good boy.”

Tommy understandably doesn’t react well to his situation, but he soon learns that Chris, despite appearing polite for a captor, is capable of violence when needed. Just when the story seems headed for a grim turn, the script, penned by Bartek Bartosik and Naqqash Khalid, takes an unexpected and more nuanced approach.

Tommy gets caught up in the complicated dynamics of Chris’s family, which includes his wife, Kathryn, their son Jonathan, and a new housekeeper named Rina. Watching them all together is captivating because it’s hard to tell what anyone is really thinking or trying to achieve.

At first, Kathryn seems like a timid, submissive wife, but she quickly proves to be just as frightening as, if not more so than, Chris – particularly in a very intense scene involving smoking. Jonathan doesn’t seem overly concerned about having someone imprisoned in his house, leaving us to wonder if he’s afraid of his parents’ reaction, or if he’s dealt with this kind of situation before.

The movie gives clues about Chris’s motives, but never explains them directly. One weakness is the character Rina; she helps us understand Chris and Kathryn’s unusual family, but her own story isn’t fully developed and ultimately feels unresolved.

The show’s depiction of Tommy facing his problematic social media posts – including instances of bullying – will likely spark conversations about the impact of social media on teenagers today. However, the story offers more than just that, providing plenty of material for deeper discussion. It raises questions about whether Tommy actually *needs* the restrictions he’s under to improve, and at times, you might even find yourself agreeing with Chris’s questionable methods, believing they’re genuinely helping Tommy.

I was completely hooked! This movie is such a wild ride – it mixes dark thrills, really strange humor, and moments that genuinely make you think. It’s the kind of film you just can’t look away from, even when it’s getting weird. And honestly, while the character Tommy might be a bit of a mess, *Good Boy* itself is a fantastic movie.

Good Boy does not yet have a UK release date, but will be released via Signature Entertainment.

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2025-10-10 14:19