There’s been a fair amount of buzz surrounding Good Boy, the indie horror darling making the rounds thanks to its unique premise: a paranormal thriller told entirely from the perspective of an adorable dog. Yes, you read that right. A haunted house story, but it’s the dog who’s our eyes and ears. It’s the kind of concept that immediately begs the question: does this make Good Boy a good dog, a bad dog… or just a dog?
Thankfully, the answer leans more toward the “good” end of the spectrum.
Director Ben Leonberg’s take on the haunted house subgenre is surprisingly effective, even if it doesn’t exactly reinvent the ghost wheel in terms of scares or underlying themes. It’s clear fairly early on what’s haunting our loyal four-legged narrator, Indy (played with unnerving charm by the director’s own dog, also named Indy), and his ailing owner, Todd (Shane Jensen). Todd, undergoing cancer treatment, moves into his late grandfather’s creaky old house, where both man and beast encounter something… off. The kind of off that creeps in shadows.
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With regular check-ins from his concerned sister, Vera (Arielle Friedman), Todd struggles to balance self-care with house upkeep, thankfully with his trusty Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever (read: cutest possible dog breed) by his side. It’s through Indy’s soulful brown eyes that we begin to see what Todd can’t. And while Todd doesn’t ignore Indy, he also doesn’t quite clock the escalating weirdness in his dog’s behavior. A lot of horror stems from disbelief—and in this case, it’s not that Indy’s being dismissed, it’s that his very real doggy instincts just can’t be fully understood. It’s a subtle but effective twist on the classic “no one believes me” trope.
At just over an hour and twelve minutes, Good Boy doesn’t outstay its welcome, which is a credit to Leonberg and co-writer Alex Cannon. They know they’re working with a bold concept and wisely keep the storytelling lean and mostly wordless. That constraint turns out to be one of the film’s strengths: it forces you to tune into the visual language of Indy’s world, his cues, his movements, his unease.
There are a few genuinely eerie moments and a couple of solid jump scares, though horror veterans might find the overall scare factor a bit mild (it’s PG-13, after all). What really stands out, though, is the film’s quiet, creeping atmosphere and its visual elegance. Wade Grebnoel’s cinematography is stunning—surprisingly polished for a low-budget indie, but not so glossy that it disrupts the grounded, almost documentary-like vibe of following a dog through a supernatural spiral.
And speaking of the dog, Indy is nothing short of incredible. Leonberg coaxes a performance out of his canine lead that feels rich with emotion and purpose. You feel what Indy feels. Every moment of fear, confusion, protectiveness, or sheer curiosity is written across his expressive face. It’s a remarkable achievement in direction and animal performance, and it’s the emotional core that keeps the movie from becoming a gimmick.
That’s not to say Good Boy is without its flaws. Some of the ADR and voice-over work veers into arch and unnatural territory, which can momentarily pull you out of the film’s otherwise organic rhythm. And while the narrative is clear and emotionally resonant, it’s also a little too clear. There aren’t many surprises when it comes to what’s haunting the duo, which dulls the potential impact.
Still, there’s something admirable about what this film sets out to do, and even more so, what it manages to accomplish. Beneath the spooky exterior lies a meditation on grief, illness, and the quiet heroism of unconditional companionship. And yes, for those worried about the fate of the dog: Indy doesn’t die. That’s not a spoiler, it’s a comfort. However, don’t let your guard down. Just because he survives doesn’t mean he doesn’t suffer a few right proper scares. Ghosts don’t care if you’re on two legs or four.
In the end, Good Boy may not be a genre game-changer, but it’s a lovingly made, clever little film that brings a fresh perspective (literally) to a familiar setup. For dog lovers and horror fans alike, it’s a journey worth taking, because when the monsters come out, sometimes it’s the smallest among us who fight the hardest to keep the dark at bay.
Good boy, indeed.
Good Boy opens in theaters on October 3, 2025.
