Good Boy – Movie Review (4/5)

GOOD BOY is a new horror movie from Norway. With a runtime of just 76 minutes, this is one wild ride. In fact, it seems like a remake is a no-brainer. This is a different kind of horror story, but one that feels eerily realistic. Read our full Good Boy movie review here!

GOOD BOY is a new Norwegian horror movie that you really don’t want to miss. At first, it seems like a cute little romantic movie. Of course, you’ll know that you’re watching a movie that is described only as either horror or thriller, so it won’t last.

And it doesn’t. And with a runtime of just 1 hour and 16 minutes, you know it won’t be too slow-burn or drag on for too long. We’ll get to the horror soon enough. However, just know that once we do, there is no turning back. Also, the ending was brutal in a way I simply did not see coming. Well done indeed!

Continue reading our Good Boy movie review below. Find it in theaters and on Digital in the US on September 8, 2023. Also, it’s out on digital in the UK and Ireland from September 11, 2023.

To each their own…

In this original and extremely bold Norwegian horror movie, we meet Sigrid (Katrine Lovise Øpstad Fredrikse) right as she thinks she’s met the perfect match. On Tinder, of all places. She has a casual date with the charming and handsome Christian (Gard Løkke from the Norwegian Netflix movie Troll) as they go out for drinks.

They end up back at his place, where it becomes obvious that he is rich. Very rich.

However, there is one catch to this handsome, charming, and rich man. Christian lives with Frank. And Frank is very clearly a man who acts like a dog. Christian recognizes that it’s quite weird and is ready to explain.

After a while, Sigrid lets him explain (I won’t give away the details here) and she decides to try and be open-minded, so she continues the relationship. It’s a romantic whirlwind of a relationship and Sigrid’s roommate and friend tries to get her to take it slow.

Only too late does Sigrid begin to notice an insidious under-tone that indicates this “puppy play” isn’t what it seems.

From slow-burn to off-the-rails wild

When the story of Good Boy starts showing off its core plot-driver of having a man dressed as a dog, you may find it weird. Most people would, I suppose. However, I can easily buy into the whole “to each their own”-idea and don’t want to judge anyone’s life choices.

Then again, I also kept thinking that this was a horror movie, so something was bound to evolve in a terrifying way. And then it does. I mean, damn does it ever.

Still, while Good Boy is very much a horror story, it feels eerily realistic. There’s no sci-fi or paranormal element to this story, which just makes it even scarier somehow. It really is a wild ride that may seem to slow down towards the ending, but that’s just to hit you with one final punch to the gut.

The most gentle, yet brutal, ending in Good Boy

One thing is seeing the core story of Good Boy unfold. It’s a pure treat for horror fans, so you can look forward to that on its own.

However, then comes the final scene of Good Boy. I can’t say why I didn’t see it coming. Or why I never even considered it. But I can tell you that the ending of the Norwegian horror movie Good Boy is one of the best horror movie endings I’ve experienced in a long time.

It terrified me in ways I never expected. And it did so in the most simple of ways. I would expect this from Jordan Peele, M. Night Shyamalan, Ari Aster, or even a South Korean horror movie. But from a Norwegian horror movie about a man dressed up and acting like a dog? No, I did not expect it to hit me so hard. And I loved it!

Not since the Danish horror movie Speak No Evil or even the Aussie horror movie Talk to Me, have I been this impressed by a horror movie ending. And, to be fair, Good Boy has an ending that differs wildly from those two examples, which may be why I adore it so much.

Watch Good Boy as soon as you can!

Good Boy was written and directed by Norwegian director Viljar Bøe and produced by Karl Oskar Åsli (Til Freddy). The two are described as up-and-coming Norwegian filmmakers, but I think it’s safe to say that after this horror movie, they have arrived.

As already mentioned, the ending is pure brilliance. But so is the way this movie evolves and escalates. You don’t want to get too many spoilers, so do yourself a favor and watch this as soon as you can. You will not regret it… even if you won’t be able to forget it either.

Actually, I can’t help but think that a remake must be coming. Just like the Danish Speak No Evil already has an English-language remake in the making. We’ll just have to wait and see!

Good Boy is out in theaters and on digital in the US on September 8, 2023. Also, it’ll be out on digital in the UK and Ireland on September 11, 2023, where it’s following a UK premiere at FrightFest on August 28, 2023.

Details

Director: Viljar Bøe
Writer: Viljar Bøe
Cast: Gard Løkke, Katrine Lovise Øpstad Fredriksen, Amalie Willoch Njaastad, Nicolai Narvesen Lied