‘Heel’ Review: Stephen Graham’s Twisted Thriller Loses Its Nerve

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Jan Komasa’s thriller, Heel, offers a fascinating but flawed look at the rehabilitation of a British soccer hooligan. Starting as a strange kidnapping story, the film quickly becomes more about its complex characters, giving the talented cast plenty of opportunity to impress. Despite some unbelievable moments, Heel maintains a strong sense of suspense. Unfortunately, the movie loses some of its momentum in a final act that feels underwhelming and deliberately avoids providing clear answers. While you’ll appreciate the film’s strong points, you might wish for a more satisfying conclusion after such a promising start.

The film Heel starts with a wild and energetic introduction to Tommy (Anson Boon). We immediately see him indulging in a night of heavy drinking, drugs, and reckless behavior as he parties through the streets of Yorkshire with his girlfriend, Gabby (Savannah Steyn). While Gabby gets angry with his actions, she’s unable to control his self-destructive path, which includes flirting with other women and getting into fights. He abruptly leaves Gabby and continues his night alone, unaware that he’s being followed by a car.

Rina, a recent immigrant needing work, met with Chris for a job interview at a café. He had strange requests that made her uneasy. If she took the job as a housekeeper, she’d have to sign a non-disclosure agreement and follow strict rules – she couldn’t talk about anything she did or saw at the house. Hesitantly, Rina accepted and arrived early at a large, isolated country estate, far from any neighbors.


Magnolia Pictures

Okay, so things immediately felt off when Chris took Rina’s phone away and then ‘introduced’ us to his wife, Kathryn – Andrea Riseborough is fantastic, but she plays this incredibly unsettling character. She barely speaks, and Chris refers to her as his ‘princess,’ saying she’ll ring a bell if she needs anything – it’s creepy! Then there’s their son, Jonathan, who Chris calls ‘sunshine,’ which just adds to the weirdness. But the real shock came when Chris led me – I mean, Rina – down to the cellar. There, chained to the wall, was Tommy, bruised and clearly suffering. And then Chris… handed me pepper spray and a taser to keep in my apron! Seriously, the whole situation was terrifying.

I keep wondering why Rina doesn’t just get away and call for help, but Komasa quickly explains it. Chris specifically chose Rina because he knows she’ll stay silent and do what he tells her. That’s my first clue that Chris is truly dangerous, but it also feels like a distraction, like he’s hiding something even bigger. It makes me question everything – why is Tommy being held captive? Are Chris’s family involved willingly, or are they being forced to participate too? At first, I felt like Rina was seeing things the way I was – confused and disturbed, trying to make sense of it all.


Magnolia Pictures

Honestly, Tommy isn’t someone you can root for – he’s just a really unpleasant character, and part of me thinks he should get what’s coming to him, even though it’s not entirely clear why he’s being held. But the way the story unfolds in the second half really changes how I see Chris and his family. It’s unsettling, definitely, but also really captivating. It turns out they’re not just trying to punish Tommy for being awful; they’re aiming for something more. Trying to make him understand what he’s done actually forces me to think about things in a whole new way, and it’s been surprisingly thought-provoking.

I’m completely captivated by how Komasa shows us the dynamic between Chris and Kathryn. At first, Kathryn seems almost completely shut down, and you just assume she’s been through something awful and needs constant care – like she’s totally dependent on Chris. But then it flips! We realize Chris is actually the one doing everything Kathryn wants. Riseborough is incredible – she slowly reveals Kathryn as this powerful, even scary woman, but you also see she’s really fragile and just trying to cope with a lot. And Graham? He’s just amazing at playing complex characters. He makes Chris so believable as someone desperate to please Kathryn, someone who would literally do anything to make her happy. It’s a really fascinating relationship to watch unfold.


Mangolia Pictures

The story unfolds within a family known for its manipulative behavior, leaving us questioning whether Tommy is genuinely improving or simply plotting a getaway. While he seems to be growing as a person, it’s hard to believe he’s truly changed. The plot becomes increasingly complex, and the dark visuals create a sense of foreboding, as the director explores various possibilities. Unfortunately, the ending of Heel feels forced and doesn’t quite deliver on the build-up, leaving several storylines unfinished.

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While “Heel” has some noticeable flaws in its reasoning, it’s still worth watching thanks to strong acting and a building sense of suspense. Chris is skilled at physically restraining Tommy, but the lack of any electronic monitoring makes the story’s climax feel a bit unbelievable. However, the performances by Riseborough and Graham are excellent and make the film enjoyable.

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2026-03-06 23:48