Stephen Graham and Andrea Riseborough Shine in Chilling UK Thriller ‘The Good Boy’ — Now Out in Cinemas Across the UK and Ireland

Since its UK premiere at last year’s BFI London Film Festival, The Good Boy has captivated audiences and critics alike, and now cinema-goers across the UK and Ireland can finally see why. This dark, twisty thriller, directed by Jan Komasa and known as Heel in the US, blends psychological tension, moral ambiguity, and pitch-black drama into a gripping cinematic experience you won’t soon forget.

The story centers on 19-year-old hooligan Tommy (Anson Boon), whose wild night of partying takes a terrifying turn when he is abducted by Chris (Stephen Graham) and his partner Kathryn (Andrea Riseborough). What begins as a shocking act of control quickly becomes a tense psychological battle as Chris and Kathryn attempt to “reform” Tommy’s reckless behavior using methods that are as unsettling as they are unpredictable. From the moment Tommy wakes up chained in their basement, the tension escalates with every second, leaving viewers teetering on the edge of suspense and disbelief.

Our five-star review praised The Good Boy as “an excellent thriller unlike anything you’ll see this year,” highlighting its rare ability to merge dark psychological drama, absurdist comedy, and moral introspection into a story that’s impossible to look away from. It’s a film that challenges expectations while keeping audiences fully absorbed in its twisted world.

The acclaim doesn’t end with us. Following its US release earlier this month, the film currently holds a strong 88% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Critics are hailing the performances, especially Graham and Riseborough, for their ability to find depth and humanity in characters navigating morally complex and disturbing circumstances. The Times wrote that the duo “prove yet again that they can find humanity in even the most disturbing characters,” while The New York Times described the film as “[slotting] neatly into the work of a director who luxuriates in pitch-black fables with chewy moral centres.”

Before its UK release, director Jan Komasa revealed to Digital Spy that the story underwent significant changes from its original Polish conception. The initial script, set on the outskirts of Warsaw, was far more brutal and visceral, opening with 40 minutes of hooligan fights and disturbing violence. “It was pretty gruesome,” Komasa admitted. In collaboration with producer Jeremy Thomas, Komasa relocated the story to an English-speaking setting, allowing Graham and Riseborough to inhabit the characters with an unmatched depth that feels both terrifying and human.

The change proved serendipitous. Audiences now get to witness Graham’s masterful intensity and Riseborough’s chilling precision as they navigate the film’s darkest corners, making The Good Boy a standout psychological thriller of the year. From the opening scene to the film’s shocking climax, every frame pulses with suspense, every line of dialogue drips with tension, and every performance elevates the story to cinematic brilliance.

The Good Boy is not just another thriller — it’s a cinematic experience that explores the boundaries of control, morality, and human nature. It’s dark, unpredictable, and hauntingly compelling, a film that lingers long after the credits roll.

The film is now screening in cinemas across the UK and Ireland.