HEEL
Starring: Stephen Graham, Anson Boon, Monika Frajczyk, Kit Rakusen, and Andrea Riseborough
Director: Jan Komasa
NICK
With a unique premise and Stephen Graham coming off of Adolescence, Heel (originally titled Good Boy) was on my radar fairly early. Although it landed in the middle of the pack for my festival run, it’s not without its positives. Graham and Anson Boone are key among them, as their abilities to give their characters aspects of both villainy and humanity kept me engaged throughout the entire film. As great as both leads are, however, the film’s pacing often betrays them and limits the potential for powerful moments in this character study about rehabilitation. Much like its original title, this one is “good” not great.
PAIGE
Heel is one of those films where you have no idea what direction it’s going to go next. The film plays out like a car crash that you can’t look away from. And while it doesn’t fully commit to its insane premise, it’s unsettling nonetheless. The whole idea of thinking that you can try to train someone to become a better person is certainly uncomfortable, and the film isn’t afraid to lean into that tension. This Yorgos Lanthimos-like film isn’t as fleshed out as I hoped, but it's still a fascinating story led by great performances from Stephen Graham, Anson Boon, and Andrea Riseborough.
This film was reviewed by Nick as part of Bitesize Breakdown's coverage of the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival.