Good Boy

I have to admit, the premise instantly piqued my interest, but unique premises in horror aren't really that hard to come by. Even with being the most ridiculed film genre, you'll be hard pressed to find more interesting stories than those found in horror, and this one is no exception. But at one hour and 12 minutes, it's really unfortunate that the potential of the premise wasn't fully realized, although the end result was more than satisfactory.

We have a tale about a girl who meets a man on a dating app, and that man happens to have a pet dog who is a man in a suit. Everything seems pretty "normal" for most of the movie (or as normal as anyone with a pet human dog can be), until things take a turn and everything is flipped upside down. But why is it happening? Why is Frank a dog to begin with? So many unanswered questions, that an hour and some change did not give adequate time to have answered. As such, I was really going to write this movie off as wasted potential, until that ending.....

I've seen some creepy stuff in horror, but that ending sent a shiver down my spine. The films entire runtime was banking on that ending, and for that alone, it went from a forgettable film to a (dare I say) great one that people will be talking about for quite some time. There is no gore, very little violence, and no nudity, but the creepiness scale stays at a 10 throughout almost the entire film, and for that, it deserves at least a watch. True horror fans will surely appreciate it.

This movie could've been creepy, unsettling, could've been one of those that keeps you guessing with twists, turns and thrilling suspense. It was heading that way, at least.

But then, halfway through the movie, most is revealed in a short and not at all shocking scene and that's it. You're left with no questions about what's actually happening, there wasn't enough build up, there wasn't enough guessing, it went from "an unusual but OK situation" to "an unusual and BAD situation" without any real development from one to the other. There are no great discoveries, no "I didn't see this coming", there's no gradual uncovering of the truth. It feels rushed and half assed, feels like the writer had all this creepy story planned out but got lazy halfway through it.

And from then the movie starts tripping and falling over the typical thriller/horror movie unnerving cliches that just make you angry at the victims for their utter incompetence and stupidity. And that's how it ends, as a predictable lazy attempt at what could've been great.

Um... what did I just watch? No, seriously-what did I just watch? I had a feeling this was going to be a weird ride just from reading the summary-a man keeping another man as a pet dog while trying to start a relationship-but somehow, it was even more bizarre than I expected.

This is a tough one to rate because, on the one hand, the acting was great, and the film itself was really well made. But on the other hand... the story was just so unsettling. I feel genuinely uncomfortable after watching it, and that's only happened to me once before-with Tusk. And now that I think about it, aside from the body mutilation in Tusk, the core concept is kind of similar-forcing someone to become an animal to satisfy some twisted fetish.

That said, I'll give this movie a six because, despite how disturbing it was, it was definitely unique and not something I'll be forgetting anytime soon. Oh, and one last thing-Ingrid was an absolute idiot. That is all.

The film "Good Boy" is notable for its incredibly unusual and impactful premise, where a man behaves like a dog, creating a bizarre and unintentionally comical experience in certain scenes. While it may be slow for some viewers, the film's pace gradually becomes darker and more engaging. It offers an interesting critique of dating and modern relationships, delving into psychological analysis of love obsessions and power dynamics. However, it suffers from inconsistent writing, with the protagonist making implausible decisions, and it missed the opportunity to deliver a more impactful and disturbing narrative.

A fresh and unsettling take on creepiness, gradually blurring the lines between normal and unnatural. As the story unfolds, I found myself sympathizing with the protagonist's desire for love, despite the bizarre situation at her boyfriend's home. The film creates a thrilling atmosphere, keeping you on edge as the tone shifts from sweet to chilling to psychotic, with each new development heightening the tension. The unexpected twist leaves a lasting impact, leaving me still puzzled by its strange conclusion. A strong, captivating effort by the director that keeps you questioning everything until the end.