Stephen Graham's latest thriller, The Good Boy, has entered Amazon Prime Video's top 10, driven by an 87% critics' score on Rotten Tomatoes from 71 reviews. The film, directed by Jan Komasa and written by Bartek Bartosik and Naqqash Khalid, premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival and the London Film Festival in October 2025 before a theatrical release in the UK and Ireland on March 20, 2026, via Signature Entertainment. In the US, it was released under the title Heel.
Plot and Cast
The story centers on a seemingly respectable married couple, Chris (Graham) and Kathryn (Andrea Riseborough), who kidnap and chain an obnoxious youth, Tommy (Anson Boon), in their basement to teach him family values. As Tommy undergoes training to become a 'good boy,' the film explores whether he is learning lessons or manipulating his captors. The cast also includes Kit Rakusen as the couple's son Jonathan and Monika Frajczyk as housekeeper Rina.
Critical Reception
The film has been praised for its unique tone. The Standard called it 'a sick premise that only gets sicker, but sometimes sickness is the cure. Good Boy is tonally unique.' Flickering Myth described it as 'relentlessly bleak fun and twisty-turny throughout.' Peter Bradshaw of The Guardian awarded four stars, calling it a 'Kubrickian absurdist nightmare,' while Digital Spy gave five stars, praising a 'compelling genre blend of dark thriller, absurdist comedy and thought-provoking drama that you won't be able to look away from.' The audience score on Rotten Tomatoes stands at 78%.
Themes and Style
Comparisons have been drawn to early Yorgos Lanthimos films, known for their unusual and weird storytelling. The film's pitch-dark humour balances its deeply uncomfortable premise, with Boon's swagger as Tommy and Graham's quiet menace as Chris providing comedic and chilling moments. The ending deviates from expectations, offering a thrill ride with an unexpected conclusion.
Availability
The Good Boy is now streaming on Amazon Prime Video for subscribers. The runtime is 1 hour and 50 minutes, and it carries a 15 age rating.
