One of the toughest things to do in the horror film genre at the moment is to tell a story that captures the feeling of a great horror film while also crafting something new and intriguing. Good Boy does just that. It’s a film told from a fresh point-of-view while also giving us a few terrifying moments that make horror movies so great.
Our canine hero, Indy, finds himself on a new adventure with his human owner—and best friend—Todd, leaving city life for a long-vacant family home in the country. From the start, two things are abundantly clear: Indy is wary of the creepy old house, and his affection for Todd is unwavering. After moving in, Indy is immediately vexed by empty corners, tracks an invisible presence only he can see, perceives phantasmagoric warnings from a long-dead dog, and is haunted by visions of the previous occupant’s grim death. When Todd begins succumbing to the dark forces swirling around the house, Indy must battle a malevolence intent on dragging his beloved Todd into the afterlife.
It can be tough to watch horror films which feature a dog as it is more than likely something bad is going to happen to said dog. However, telling a horror tale from the perspective of a dog is something different all together. What director and co-writer Ben Leonberg and co-writer Alex Cannon set out to accomplish with Good Boy was to create the eerie feeling that pets might get when something creepy or unexplained happens. The dog’s POV makes Good Boy standout from the crowd, but doesn’t give the film an ultimate free pass.
Indy, as the silent but expressive protagonist, carries much of the film’s emotional weight. The bond between dog and human is believable and truly touching. However, this does not make up for the slower pacing of the film and limited scope. The movies sometimes feel a bit stretched and the tale can plateau due to the limited POV. Plus, some of the scares became predictable.
While I will say that I feared using the dog’s perspective to tell a horror story could be a gimmick, it isn’t just a stunt as most moments it works. However, there are stretches where you wish there was more plot or character development to sustain the tension needed. Good Boy is more impressive in concept and execution than as a fully satisfying horror film. It’s effective, sometimes emotionally moving, but doesn’t deliver on all fronts.
Good Boy is geared towards those pet lovers looking for their furry friends to be the star of the show. While the concept and execution works a good amount of the time, those looking for a new terrifying horror flick to scratch their spooky itch this Halloween might feel a bit let down. Overall, Good Boy is a well made film and was worth the watch!
Good Boy hit theaters on October 3, 2025.
