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Heel

Heel is a 2025 black comedy thriller film directed by Jan Komasa.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 27, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Heel is a 2025 black comedy thriller film directed by Jan Komasa. The film stars Stephen Graham, Andrea Riseborough, Anson Boon and Kit Rakusen, and follows a 19-year-old criminal named Tommy who is abducted and subjected to a violent rehabilitation attempt by a dysfunctional family. It premiered at the 50th Toronto International Film Festival on 5 September 2025.

Premise

The film follows Tommy, a young man involved in drugs and violence, who is abducted after a night out. He wakes in the basement of an isolated family home, where the residents attempt to force a rehabilitation process on him.

Production

Heel was directed by Jan Komasa and written by Bartek Bartosik and Naqqash Khalid. The cast includes Stephen Graham, Andrea Riseborough, Anson Boon and Kit Rakusen.

Release

The film premiered at the 50th Toronto International Film Festival on 5 September 2025. It was later scheduled for a 2026 theatrical release in some territories.

Title change

The film was originally titled Good Boy before being retitled Heel. Coverage indicates the change was made after another film used the same earlier title.

Key facts

  • Heel is also known as Good Boy, which was its earlier title.
  • The film is directed by Polish filmmaker Jan Komasa.
  • The story centres on Tommy, a 19-year-old criminal who is kidnapped and held by a family that tries to reform him through coercive methods.
  • The film premiered at the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival.
  • Magnolia Pictures is listed in connection with the film's release.
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Canadian context

Heel premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in Toronto, which is a major Canadian film event.

Frequently asked questions

What is Heel?
Heel is a 2025 black comedy thriller film directed by Jan Komasa.
Was Heel originally called something else?
Yes. It was originally titled Good Boy.
Who stars in Heel?
The film stars Stephen Graham, Andrea Riseborough, Anson Boon and Kit Rakusen.
What is Heel about?
It follows a 19-year-old criminal who is kidnapped and forced into a disturbing attempt at rehabilitation by a dysfunctional family.
When did Heel premiere?
It premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival on 5 September 2025.

References

  1. Wikipediahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Good_Boy_(2025_Komasa_film)
    Supports: Original title, director, cast, genre, premise, and TIFF premiere date.
  2. Magnolia Pictureshttps://www.magpictures.com/heel/
    Supports: Official synopsis, cast, director, and writers.
  3. IndieWirehttps://www.indiewire.com/criticism/shows/heel-movie-review-1235182373/
    Supports: Title change from Good Boy to Heel and TIFF debut context.
  4. Varietyhttps://variety.com/2026/film/reviews/heel-review-stephen-graham-and-andrea-riseborough-1236681329/
    Supports: Film title, premise, and release context.