Andrea Riseborough and Stephen Graham Lead Disturbing Thriller ‘The Good Boy’

A troubled teenager finds himself imprisoned inside a deeply unsettling suburban home in The Good Boy, the latest thriller from Academy Award nominated director Jan Komasa.

Released digitally on 4 May ahead of its DVD and Blu-ray debut on 1 June through Signature Entertainment, the film stars Stephen Graham, Andrea Riseborough and Anson Boon in a dark psychological story that blends captivity thriller, black comedy and gothic drama.

Boon plays Tommy, a 19-year-old hooligan immersed in a cycle of drugs, violence and reckless nights out. After becoming separated from his friends during a binge-fuelled evening, Tommy is abducted by an unknown figure played by Graham. He later wakes chained inside the basement of an isolated family home occupied by Graham’s Chris, his ghostly wife Kathryn, played by Riseborough, and their young son Jonathan.

What follows is not a straightforward kidnapping story. Rather than physically torturing Tommy, the family subjects him to a series of manipulative mind games designed to “reform” his behaviour, forcing him to either submit to their increasingly disturbing domestic rules or attempt escape.

Komasa, whose previous work includes Corpus Christi and The Hater, described the project as a “dark fable” examining freedom, control and the dangers hidden within systems that claim to offer protection. The director explained that the screenplay connected with recurring themes from his earlier films surrounding family structures, isolation and authority.

The film was written by Bartek Bartosik, with additional writing from In Camera filmmaker Naqqash Khalid. Shooting took place partly in Yorkshire, with Komasa noting that the region’s bleak atmosphere became an important visual influence on the production.

Graham continues a particularly prolific period following the global success of Netflix drama Adolescence, while Riseborough arrives fresh from recent projects including The Palace, Lee and Goodbye June. Boon, meanwhile, has steadily emerged as one of Britain’s most closely watched young performers following appearances in MobLand and several high-profile television dramas.

Behind the camera, The Good Boy also reunites several acclaimed European filmmakers. Cinematographer Michal Dymek previously earned praise for his work on EO, A Real Pain and The Girl With the Needle, while editor Agnieszka Glinska has collaborated extensively with director Jerzy Skolimowski (who is a producer on this project).

The Blu-ray edition includes several bonus features, among them a 37-minute set tour with production designer Fletcher Jarvis, alongside interviews with Komasa, producer Jerzy Skolimowski and lead actor Anson Boon.

Produced by Jeremy Thomas and Jerzy Skolimowski, The Good Boy to received its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival late last year.

The Good Boy is available now on Digital HD and arrives on DVD and Blu-ray on 1 June from Signature Entertainment.

The Good Boy trailer