Kermode & Mayo’s Take Is Stephen Graham another bad boy in THE GOOD BOY?
Mar 19, 2026
Stephen Graham, acclaimed English actor known for gritty roles in This Is England and Boardwalk Empire, discusses playing a disturbed father in The Good Boy. He talks about the film’s unsettling rehabilitation ritual and moral ambiguity. Conversation covers casting choices, family trauma, and echoes of classic reprogramming tales. Expect dark humour, tense character dynamics, and a lingering, ambiguous finish.
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How Stephen Graham Used Posture To Flip Expectations
- Stephen Graham describes physical choices to make Chris seem weak rather than violent, using posture and movement to convey insecurity.
- He says transforming his own body language was intentional to present a man 'incapable of any kind of violence' on first appearance.
Anson Boone's Contrast Between Onscreen Threat And Offscreen Kindness
- Graham praises Anson Boone, who plays Tommy, calling him unexpectedly sweet off-camera despite his dangerous on-screen persona.
- He emphasises Boone's professionalism: punctuality, preparedness, and willingness to learn during filming.
The Good Boy As A Brutal Satire On Reprogramming
- Mark Kermode frames The Good Boy as an 'impressively nasty black comedy' interrogating control, trauma, and cult-like indoctrination.
- He links its methods to Clockwork Orange and Michael Haneke, highlighting the film's satirical, nihilistic edge and ambiguous bleak ending.