• LIKE on Facebook • FOLLOW on X/Twitter • FOLLOW on Instagram

• SUBSCRIBE on YouTube • BUY ME A COFFEE on Ko-Fi

Stars: Indy, Shane Jensen
Director: Ben Leonberg
Distributor: IFC

“Woof, woof.”

Closing the first day of Grimmfest 2025, Good Boy had a pre-release screening – a unique horror film presented in the dog’s perspective.

Opening with a sign of things to come, Good Boy immediately establishes the quest of: this is terrible, but let’s see how we get there. When Todd (Shane Jensen) – whose face we never really see – moves into the rural family home of his late grandfather, alongside his trusty dog, Indy. Executing its perspective from that of the dog, Indy, the loyal Retriever discovers an evil presence lurking in both the woods and the walls of his new home. Limited in communication with his human, there is only so much that Indy can do Todd gets sicker, the weather outside gets worse, and all when a supernatural danger is present…

Given the elements of the dog’s perspective, the location, and the evil present… Good Boy is incredibly atmospheric throughout. Always keeping the viewer on edge, this horror has the ability to be terrifying as well as eerie. Given the rural location, and the rundown status of Todd’s grandfather’s house, there are Evil Dead vibes present as well as The Amityville Horror. Creepy homes always bring excitement, intrigue, and terror.

Whilst Good Boy presents a unique perspective, there is also the potential issue of seeming repetitive, due to the limitations of what can be done. The lore of the horror within Good Boy is limited to what the dog can see. The rules can only be established by what we see rather than what a human character can discuss with another.

Throughout Good Boy, Indy is absolutely terrific. One of the all-time great animal performances. With director Ben Leonberg being Indy’s human, he is able to get the absolute best out of the dog. The chemistry between Shane Jensen’s Todd and Indy is a particularly dark one. There is an ambiance between the pair that something isn’t quite right, but Todd wants to protect Indy as best he can, whilst Indy can only do so much as a dog. This isn’t your usual wholesome man-dog relationship, which is unfortunate if that’s what the expectation is.

Ultimately, Good Boy is a thrillingly atmospheric horror film that just manages to overcome its challenges and limitations. The concept of the dog’s perspective is both different and frightening, though slightly repetitive. Indy is indeed a Good Boy.