The film Good Boy introduces a captivating premise: a haunted house narrative seen entirely from a dog’s point of view. Director and co-writer Ben Leonberg deserves praise for successfully bringing this unique concept to life, largely thanks to his canine star, Indy – Leonberg’s own dog – who delivers an exceptionally emotive performance, regardless of species.
The plot, crafted by Leonberg and Alex Cannon, is intentionally minimalistic. It follows Todd (Shane Jensen), recently discharged from the hospital, as he moves into his late grandfather’s secluded cabin with his beloved dog, Indy. Soon, unsettling and spooky events begin to unfold. Crucially, while Todd experiences his own version of these horrors, we, the audience, witness everything solely through Indy’s reactions, whether Todd is present or not.
But it’s not literally through Indy’s eyes. Leonberg cleverly avoids a first-person perspective, instead keeping the camera focused on Indy, often at his height, establishing him as the true protagonist. Indy doesn’t speak, nor do we hear his thoughts like in a children’s movie. We simply observe him as he perceives and reacts to the increasingly creepy happenings around him.
There’s no complex backstory or grand explanation for the haunting that Todd might be receiving in his version of the story. Neither we nor Indy are privy to such details, with the only clues coming from old home movies of Todd’s grandfather (horror veteran Larry Fessenden) discussing his own past struggles. This approach works well, proving that a horror film can be effective without elaborate lore, especially when a dog is at the center of the mystery.
Indy gives one hell of a performance regardless of species.
The film masterfully employs classic haunted house tropes – inexplicable sounds, strange smells emanating from the basement, eerie movements in the shadows, and things emerging from the darkness – all filtered through Indy’s reactions rather than Todd’s. It’s incredibly effective because Indy is such a lovable character, fully immersed in the situation and clearly doing his best to survive. Unless you’re a confirmed dog hater (and if so, we’re judging you!), you’ll find yourself deeply invested in this dog’s fate. He’s not just adorable; he’s remarkably expressive on screen, making it easy to believe he’s genuinely reacting to the supernatural threats instead of, say, the promise of an off-camera treat.
While it’s hard to completely ignore the technical skill involved in getting Indy to react or Leonberg’s clever editing choices, the emotional investment in Indy quickly takes over. When a cute, sweet dog faces danger, even if it’s fictional, it’s natural to hope he escapes the supernatural peril.
The human characters generally remain in the background, a deliberate artistic choice by Leonberg. Todd and other individuals appear slightly out of focus or with their heads out of frame, a constant reminder that this is Indy’s narrative. Larry Fessenden’s character in the creepy home videos is the only clear exception, and this deviation serves an effective purpose.
Although Shane Jensen provides Todd’s voice throughout, Leonberg himself often physically played Todd on set in scenes requiring direct interaction with Indy. This deepens the authentic bond between Indy and Todd, highlighting how much Indy adores his human. Anyone who has experienced a similar loving bond with a pet will relate, and might even wonder if their own furry friends would show the same courage or simply bail out!
Initially, Good Boy felt more ominous than truly scary, but it significantly ramps up the scares in its latter half. The final act delivers several genuinely frightening moments, including well-placed jump scares, all amplified by the inherent sympathy one feels for a vulnerable, cute dog.
The film’s core concept, while brilliant, does have inherent limitations in its extensibility. It begins to feel slightly repetitive after about an hour, which makes Leonberg’s decision to keep the runtime short (a mere 73 minutes) a smart one. While the ending might not be incredibly impactful, feeling more like a natural conclusion than a shocking twist, the poignant themes surrounding the special human-pet bond are certainly appreciated. And if Leonberg chooses to feature Indy in future projects or if other directors discover this remarkable talent, it would be a welcome sight—after all, this dog is a star, proving that nepotism can sometimes yield truly great results!
Verdict
Good Boy manages to maximize its high-concept premise by showing a haunted house from a dog’s unique perspective. Unlike his human companion, Todd, Indy the dog has no choice but to endure the eerie encounters in this creepy house. You can’t help but root for this good boy to survive these terrifying nights. Clocking in at a concise 73 minutes, the film never overstays its welcome, concluding just as its central idea reaches its full potential. More importantly, it provides an unforgettable spotlight for its incredibly charismatic canine lead.