Good Boy (2025)

A man beset by illness heads to his grandfather’s rural home which may be plagued by mysterious spirits, as acutely observed through the eyes of the man’s loyal dog Indy in Good Boy.

Man's Best Friend

by Chris Drew

Good Boy
3.0 out of 5.0 stars

CAUTION: Here be spoilers

Dogs have been at the centre of many beloved family films over the years, but Ben Leonberg’s Good Boy may be the first horror film to have a four-legged protagonist.

The premise is simple; Todd (Shane Jensen, A Day in the Lifeless) is battling a serious sickness and, after a stay in hospital, heads, with his trusty dog Indy (Indy, feature debut), to his late grandfather’s remote home which his sister (Arielle Friedman, feature debut) fears is cursed.

Once there, it becomes apparent that dark forces may be lurking in the house which gradually start to have an effect on Todd, all seen through Indy’s eyes as he battles to save Todd from peril.

With minimal plot, little dialogue and a silent lead, Good Boy is fully reliant on audiences becoming invested through the storytelling choices and especially through the compelling central character.

In Indy, the beautiful Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever, they have a star.

He is at the centre of almost every scene and gives a genuinely terrific performance; so alert and expressive throughout, with his emotions clearly seen through every head tilt, ear twitch and gentle whimper.

As Indy explores the house, investigating suspicious noises and shadows, the camera follows at his level with the use of shot-reverse-shot effectively creating his perspective.

Indy’s point of view is further heightened as Todd is rarely shown in full – he is either in shadow, or shot from the legs down or from behind – while his sister Vera is a voice on an iPhone and a hunting neighbour ominously fully masked in camouflage.

Indy appears to be in physical peril in one of the film’s jump scares, never has the ‘no animals were harmed in the making of this film’ disclaimer carried more reassuring weight.

It is a relief knowing the real-life Indy belongs to director and co-writer Leonberg and producer Kari Fischer as it is hard not to feel genuine concern if he was scared during filming.

While Leonberg may veer close to cliche with the use of many classic tropes – the shadowy basement, a misty graveyard, dark woods and endless torrential rain – this is nonetheless highly successful independent filmmaking creating consistent fear and tension on a small scale.

The sound design is excellent from the TV crackling with white noise, creaks of the floorboards and the sound of wind and thunder and lightning to the score which works as a low ominous thrum interspersed with suspicious thuds.

Whether read as a mediation on a pet facing the loss of his owner or simply as a memorable atmospheric horror, Good Boy is a promising directorial debut for Leonberg and a must-watch for fans of the genre and brave canine enthusiasts.