Good Boy (2023) has Some Good Ideas
Title: Good Boy
First Non-Festival Release: September 8, 2023 (Digital/Streaming Platforms)
Director: Viljar Bøe
Writer: Viljar Bøe
Runtime: 76 Minutes
Starring: Gard Løkke, Katrine Lovise Øpstad Fredriksen, Nicolai Narvesen Lied
Where to Watch: Check out where to find it here
Swiping through dating apps, Sigrid (Katrine Lovise Øpstad Fredriksen) matches with the handsome but otherwise unassuming Christian (Gard Løkke). Their initial first date goes well enough until Sigrid wakes up the next morning and discovers Frank (Nicolai Narvesen Lied), a man dressed up in a dog suit living with Christian.
Offbeat premise aside, Good Boy is a solid Norwegian romp into unique relationship dynamics.
From the beginning, Good Boy lets its audience know that it isn’t playing any games by showing the dynamic between Christian and Frank before Sigrid even makes an appearance. The established dynamic is presented without any initially suspicious angle. It seems to the audience that both Frank and Christian are on good terms with each other. Without understanding either of their psychology, Good Boy sets up its mystery for audiences to deconstruct. Then Christian meets Sigrid, and Good Boy begins showing more of its cards.
Unaware of Christian’s proclivities, Sigrid is understandably taken aback by Frank. Her irritation and fury melts away when her roommate explains Christian’s financial status to her. Sigrid’s desire for wealth and an easy life makes her speed past all of Christian’s red flags without giving a second thought to potential consequences. Sure, he is a secret millionaire, but to justify his current dynamic with Frank requires plenty of logical leaps for most rational people. Pushing past her own boundaries and desires, Sigrid decides to make it work, if only to get out of her aimless life. Disregarding Sigrid’s own red flags for Christian: being late to their first date, sharing off-color remarks, and exhibiting explosive behavior upon meeting Frank, this clues the audience in early that either Christian is the biggest pushover ever or there is something else afoot. The character work done for Sigrid, Christian, and Frank allows the mystery to bubble over into a satisfying guessing game of what exactly is happening.
It doesn’t quite stick the landing for such an intriguing premise, but the creeping journey amounts to enough dread to make it worthwhile. The absurdity of the premise does most of the heavy lifting, making the audience question what the biggest threat to Sigrid is: Frank or Christian. By the time the third act rolls around, the mystery is over and Good Boy relies on thrills that are overshadowed by some egregious character choices. Sure, the victims make a few stunning mistakes while trying to get away, but that shouldn’t detract from the energy that radiates from Good Boy. The horrifying stinger at the end is equal parts ridiculous and inspired; no one can say they could see that amalgamation of loose ends being tied up like that.
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The cast as a whole give solid performances but Gard Løkke steals the show as the eccentric millionaire, Christian. Løkke’s affable approach to Christian allows him to fool both Sigrid and the audience to his façade of a life. Questioning whether he is truly eccentric or something far more sinister, Løkke imbues a sense of realism through his performance. Unforced shyness, softness when talking about his traumas, and a charming way of responding to the weird elements make for a less obvious psychopath. Løkke toys with the audience by making all of Christian’s actions seem genuine and good-natured, blurring the lines between what is intentionally put on as an act and what isn’t. His performance elevates Christian’s character and the film by never letting the audience guess what he will do next. Be it explosive bouts of anger or wallowing over betrayal, Løkke stays true to Christian without winking at the audience.
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Though its shocking premise does more work than the actual story, Good Boy remains a solid horror mystery that is sure to shock and delight audiences. A strong performance by Løkke keeps the film from veering too far off course while the solid character work keeps the guessing game going. Fans of more visceral horror will find themselves disappointed, but for those looking a more grounded mystery, they’d be barking up the right tree with Good Boy.
Overall Score? 6/10
