‘Good Boy’ Review: A Clever Horror Film Told Through a Dog’s Eyes

From 2022’s Skinamarink and Mad God to Chris Nash’s 2024 flick, shown from the perspective of the killer, In a Violent Nature, we are seeing quite the uprising of experimental horror films. The newest scary outing to get audiences talking with an out-there gimmick is Good Boy, written and directed by Ben Leonberg. The film follows Todd, who moves into a rural family home with his loyal pet dog Indy, only to discover supernatural forces lurking in the shadows. The catch? The ghost story is told entirely from the perspective of Indy, the good boy himself. As dark entities threaten his human companion, the brave pup must fight to protect the one he loves most. Succinct with its run-time and solid with its scares, Good Boy not only provides a unique idea, but a damn good horror movie in the process.

Whatever your fear threshold may be, most audience members agree on one thing – we want the dog to remain unharmed. Placing a dog at the centre of a horror movie not only increases the stakes and makes even the most basic of scares more frightening, but also employs some really interesting filmmaking along the way. As Indy is around half the height of owner Todd, if not shorter, most of the movie is viewed at this level, with heavy focus lower down on the floor and staring into dark corners. Though initially this may seem restrictive, it’s very clever and playful with the cinematography, and the scare frequency, alongside the simple fact of getting used to it, helps you along the way. We still get to experience dialogue through Todd’s phone conversations with his sister, Vera, which gives us tidbits of the story, but it’s really about discovering things alongside Indy. The dog’s lack of understanding compared to a human adds a unique sense of mystery to the storyline that keeps you guessing, with your desire for Indy to survive and be a hero, helping the already succinct run-time tick away nicely. It not only surpasses the gimmick with its filmmaking but proves that a feature film was the correct way to go. There’s enough substance here for a full story, and putting it simply, Indy is ridiculously adorable.

The scares aren’t necessarily the most inventive, but because they’re mostly happening to our innocent titular good boy, Indy, they automatically boast flair, and the stakes are increased tenfold. The jump scares are effective and used sparingly, the look of the evil itself is certainly eerie, and Indy’s capacity to emote despite being a pup is highly impressive, helping to immerse you into his uneasy world. Following Indy also allows for some other scary patterns that we never would have experienced before, such as being forced to sleep on the floor when you feel like something is lurking down there, or staying outside in a kennel under heavy rain alongside the uneasy feeling that something sinister is watching your human. It’s commonly said that animals can see or hear things that humans can’t, and this idea is explored particularly well – the fear of the unknown is a big driving force here. By blending familiar scares we know and love with scares that we as humans could never experience ourselves, a really unique viewing experience is created. It isn’t the scariest flick available, but horror fans should still leave satisfied with the fear factor.

The story itself is just fine. Due to a lack of screen time and development, the human characters and performances don’t give much to chew on, and the haunted house in the forest storyline doesn’t stand out. Horror favorite Larry Fessenden (MaXXXine) is on board, though fans may be disappointed to learn it is in the form of a very simple cameo. However, with ever-increasing scares, a gorgeous lead star in Indy, and the most perfect balance of horror and heart, Good Boy is a successful horror film that puts filmmaker Leonberg on the map, without question. Seeing Indy’s world crashing down around him with no sense of understanding is sad yet remarkable to watch, with Good Boy proving it’s more than just a good idea. 

Grade: B-

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