A new Norwegian Film, Good Boy, was released in theaters, digitally, and on-demand on September 8, and upon watching this film, I was very skeptical. However, to my surprise, I enjoyed the film, the story, and the execution; it was something different, and I am glad I didn’t pass on it.
The film taps into the horrors of dating apps, and trust me when I say that you haven’t seen anything like Writer/Director Viljar Bøe’s Good Boy. The plot is simple: a young man, Christian, a millionaire, meets the lovely Sigrid, a young student, on a dating app. The couple hits it off quite quickly, but Sigrid finds a problem with the ever-so-perfect Christian; he has someone else in his life. Frank, a man who dresses up and constantly acts like a dog, is living with Christian. You can understand why I would pass initially, but you should never judge a movie solely on its quick synopsis.
Characters Christian and Sigrid were well written, and I was attached to both immediately; Frank felt like a natural dog at some point in the film, and I had to remind myself that this man was dressed as a dog twenty-four-seven. The dog outfit was unnerving, and I didn’t know how this story would unfold. I’m often asked if subtitles are bothersome when watching a foreign film. Sometimes, yes, in this instance, no. Foreign horror films usually draw on cultural elements unfamiliar to viewers from other countries. So, the different language created a sense of exoticism that added to the fear factor.
It does a fair job of jumping between genres and starts as a feel-good film with some romantic comedy elements. Christian fits the profile; your typical charming, sweet, well-mannered, handsome man, almost too perfect. As the story progresses, Sigrid starts to like Frank (the man dressed as the dog) even though she is initially put off and creeped out. I wanted to believe Christian’s story of helping his best friend Frank live his alternative lifestyle. I became vested in this couple’s story, which was different from what I expected.
Good Boy is highly recommended; it’s unique, creepy, fun, and something you haven’t seen before. I spoke with Director and Writer Viljar Bøe, Actor Gard Løkke (Christian), and Actress Katrine Lovise Øpstad Fredriksen (Sigrid). Check out our interview below.