Stephen Graham’s new psychological British thriller Heel works excellently to blend the bizarre with comedy in this thematically rich and nail-biting tale.
Otherwise marketed under the title Good Boy, the film directed by Jan Komasa (Corpus Christi) originally premiered September 5th, 2025 at the 50th annual Toronto International Film Festival. It follows a youthful and hedonistic Tommy (Anson Boon) as he is taken against his will by a strange family who attempt to reform the teen from his antisocial behaviour.
Off the back of his award-winning performance in Netflix’s tv drama: Adolescence, Stephen Graham returns to the big screen providing yet another glimpse into his elite range as he tackles the much more psychologically challenging and complex character of Chris. Andrea Riseborough partners the Liverpudlian as his equally twisted wife Kathryn, both actors are distinctive to the films high-stakes narrative yet it was Boom’s performance that defined the film. The 26-year-old has landed previous roles in 1917 (2017) and Mobland (2025-) but his character has never been more central to a narrative than it is in ‘Heel’ and he takes it with such grace showcasing his so far unrecognised talent as one of the most promising British prodigies.
From a production standpoint the film is masterfully executed, with sound in particular standing out. Komasa opted to record foley sound for the movie opposed to relying solely on audio captured during filming and this is massively felt, from the outstanding elements of set design to the much more intricate details everything is provided with its own prominent and unique sound which ultimately work to shape each scene.
It’s a film that is likely to go under the radar this year, however make sure to keep your eye out for a showtime in a cinema near you as it is most definitely worth your time and a true showcase of filmmaking merit.
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