Every town has that bitter secret lurking in their past that the community so desperately tries to put behind them. For the sleepy town Greyson Reynolds calls home, that fact is no different. Ten years ago, a masked figure terrorized the town, abducting and abusing young boys until they ultimately met their horrific end. The town faced this terror for weeks, until the eve of October 31st, 1984, when Grayson and two other boys managed to escape their evil captor. With the three boys now safe, the masked killer disappeared into thin air as quickly as they came, never to be caught.
Flash forward to today, October 30th, 1994 - the town attempts to ‘remember’ the lost children through self-motivated means, though the survivors don’t wish to revisit those dark memories.
Greyson attempts to live his life as a normal teenage boy, but the trauma of his past still haunts him. He uses exercise and a quiet demeanor in an attempt to push away the sinister ghosts that terrorize him. His closest friends try all that they can to help him live a normal life, but the wounds of the past run deep. Charlie, the second survivor, has had an even harder time adjusting. Years of forced therapy have led to rifts between Charlie and his abusive father; whose campaign to become town mayor only adds to the separation. It’s up to Charlie to stop the abusive cycle of generational trauma.
The wounds of the past are reawoken just days before the ten year anniversary when the masked killer returns. Yet, this time, the killer’s M.O. has changed – the 18 year old survivors are the new target. In the end, Grayson and Charlie must work together to see that they survive. But, with differing perspectives and butting heads, can they manage to unmask the killer?
Though the town leaves the boys feeling isolated, Grayson manages to find support in his battle through close friendships. Childhood friends, Brandon and Peyton, always offer their comedic charm to diffuse coming anxiety attacks. Meanwhile, Rose and Marissa are on the hunt to discover the killer’s identity through wit and persistence. Red webs will be spun, but only time will tell if Charlie can find similar support in Grayson’s friends.
"Good Boy" is an indie slasher film that aims to spread awareness and provoke conversation surrounding the stigmatization of male sexual assault and the silence this topic receives through the lens of the 90's slasher genre. Gender stereotypes and genre tropes are flipped upside down, bringing a refreshing take to the well-loved world of horror flicks. Through themes like betrayal and justice, man versus society, and vulnerability, Greyson, Charlie, and friends will be faced with their most inner demons, posing the looming question: what does it mean to “be a man”?
