From the producers of Longlegs comes another serial killer thriller: Bad Boy, starring Ke Huy Quan and told from the viewpoint of a dog.
Having enjoyed a career resurgence thanks to his acclaimed role in Everything Everywhere All At Once, former child star Ke Huy Quan is about to take on what sounds like a distinctly villainous character.
Black Bear, the production company behind Longlegs, has announced a film project called Bad Boy: a serial killer thriller told from the perspective of the serial killer’s dog. Quan will play said killer, named Cameron, while Lili Reinhart (Riverdale, Hustlers) is set to co-star as a potential victim locked up in the basement (in the original script, she’s named Kat). Her only chance of escape is Cameron’s loyal companion – a terrier named Gary.
The script was written by Travis Braun, and previously appeared on the 2023 Blacklist of best unproduced screenplays – and from what we’ve read in our quick bits of glancing around online, Bad Boy makes clever use of its novel – potentially gimmicky – concept. Here’s a synopsis:
Gary is a good boy who loves his new owner, Cameron (Ke Huy Quan). He gets treats and belly rubs and life is great. Gary isn’t allowed in the basement though. And even if he was, he can’t unlock doors. But there’s a girl (Lili Reinhart) in the basement. And she can’t come out to play. Gary doesn’t know it, but he’s her only chance.
Bad Boy’s director is Jacob Chase, who previously directed the 2020 horror Come Play and the 2021 TV series The Girl In The Woods.
“I love dogs,” Chase enthused in a statement published by Deadline. “More than people. And I’m tired of seeing horror movies where the dog is the first one to die! They’re not just pets, they’re our best friends, and I believe it’s time for a horror film where the dog is the hero. Bad Boy is about loyalty, instinct, and the incredible bond between humans and dogs. It’s going to be a highly original, grounded, deeply suspenseful fresh take on a horror thriller.”
The ‘package’ of well-received script, director and actors will be doing the rounds at Berlin’s European Film Market from the 13th February, while filming is set to begin in August. Meanwhile, the search is on for a suitable terrier who can play Gary. Let’s hope the casting process isn’t too ‘ruff’. (You’re fired – Ed.)
