Good Boy immediately lures you in from its very first frame. Christian (Gard Løkke) is preparing food. He lives alone. Well, there is his dog, Frank. But Frank is a different kind of canine — the human kind. The kind that wears a life-size puppy suit/pajamas and a doggy head while he walks around on all fours and behaves like a well-trained pet. What madness is this, you wonder? Some kind of perverse puppy play? Yes and no. Writer/director Viljar Bøe’s film is part thriller, part dark comedy, and part edgy dating nightmare once Christian starts seeing Sigrid (Katrine Lovise Øpstad Fredriksen).
One of the things that makes the Norwegian film so extraordinary is how well its actors remain grounded and command the screen in their performances. This is a spellbinding tale, and it dives deep into the twisted places of human psyche, prompting more questions than it can truly answer. Bøe wants the audience to come to their own conclusions here and you will. Like an anxious dog whose teeth have locked onto a precious stick, Good Boy grabs you and never let’s go.
Downward Dog
Good Boy is not the best advertisement for using dating apps like Tinder. Christian lives in an estate. He’s rich, he’s handsome, but he’s also lonely. One day, he scrolls through a dating app and swipes right on Sigrid. The two meet at a restaurant and engage in pleasant conversation. There’s a spark. Sigrid’s smile emanates pure joy. Christian is sexy. Why not head back to Christian’s house and, well, you know?
It’s all fun and pheromones until Sigrid meets Christian’s dog, Frank. Immediately, there’s cause for alarm and Sigrid wonders why there is a man dressed up as a dog living in Christian’s home. Christian smiles and shrugs. No big thing, but it’s so big. And bad, and Sigrid knows it. Christian’s nonchalant attitude about the matter is also troublesome. Pet the dog. What’s the big deal?
Related: The Best Dog Movies of All Time
The filmmaker does a fine job establishing his emotional beats. Good Boy moves steadily, purposefully, and builds with intensity. The effect is chilling. And even when Christian explains how Frank had a bad life and that he needed support when nobody was there for him, you want to believe him. Like Sigrid, you almost do, deciding to go along with it.
So, Sigrid tempers her immediate response to bolt and continues seeing Christian. She even begins playing with Frank, treating him as if he was a dog. After all, Christian is a dreamboat and, she soon discovers from a friend, extremely wealthy. Maybe the guy just has some kind of weatlhy eccentric tick. When Christian invites Sigrid to go a cabin for the weekend, she ignores her better judgment. What fun they’ll have — just she, Christian, and… Frank.
Good Dog Has Bark. And Bite.
Saban Films
There’s a startling turn at the film’s midpoint, and it’s masterfully executed, sending Good Boy into a pulse-racing final opus. Things don’t go as planned at the cabin, and suddenly all parties are subject to unrelenting terror, coming either from within themselves or an external force. Bøe handles this section of the film with an expert eye, knowing how to frame his scenes with precision, further sparking intrigue.
Related: Exclusive: Good Boy Director and Cast on their Creepy Psychological Thriller
Gard Løkke establishes himself as a viable leading man. Previously seen in Troll and A Star Is Born (the miniseries), the Norwegian actor may have a great go of it crossing over into American films. He delivers a masterful performance, giving us a character we can easily warm up to and want to stay with even when we learn more about the details of his bond with Frank.
Katrine Lovise Øpstad Fredriksen is a true find. It’s the actor’s first major starring role, but you wouldn’t know it. There’s a “there” there. As Sigrid, she turns in a powerful performance, hitting emotional highs and lows with such believability. To that end, Sigrid is the audience stand-in throughout Good Boy. How the hell this girl will get herself out of the mess she got into is a wicked joy to watch.
Saban Films
Amalie Willoch Njaastad and Nicolai Narvesen Lied costar here in smaller roles. Bøe is smart enough to toss in some bones of reason from the few outside characters he has beyond the main trio. To his credit, for a film that primarily takes place in just two main settings, it doesn’t feel claustrophobic. There’s a twisted allure to this story, inviting audiences in to explore its strange, fascinating world.
Best of all, the film’s last 15 minutes are the creepiest kind of thrill ride. And the final shot of the Good Boy will make just make your jaw drop. This film delivers the goods, and it wouldn’t be surprising if an American version were to emerge someday. But relish the offbeat verve presented here. Good Boy is an edgy, unforgettable, tail-waggingly good time.
Good Boy premieres in theaters and on demand and digital Sept. 8.
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