A haunting indie horror told through the eyes of man’s best friend. What begins as a simple story of companionship soon becomes a chilling look at fear, loyalty, and the unknown.
Dogs notice things we don’t. In this film, that simple truth becomes terrifying. Sometimes they stop, stare into the dark, ears twitching and we tell ourselves it’s nothing. Good Boy asks: what if it isn’t?
A Quiet House, A Loyal Dog And Something In The Dark
Over the course of three years, director Ben Leonberg and his wife and producer Kari Fischer, created Good Boy as an indie horror film starring their own dog Indy in the leading role. The story follows Todd (Shane Jensen), who becomes seriously ill and decides to move with Indy to his late grandfather’s remote cabin in the woods. His sister Vera (Arielle Friedman) believes the house is haunted, but Todd moves in anyway, hoping to find some peace and recover. It does not take long before Indy senses that something is deeply wrong. He hears strange noises, sees shadows shifting through the dark halls, and grows restless, while Todd remains unaware of the unseen presence surrounding them.
Why This Movie Is So Special
Now, you might think this setup sounds like half of the horror movies you’ve already seen and you would be right. The haunted house itself isn’t what makes Good Boy stand out. The real twist lies in its protagonist, Indy. The entire story unfolds from his perspective and surprisingly, it works.
There are several reasons why. First, audiences naturally empathize with an innocent animal. Watching Indy experience strange noises, flickering shadows, and invisible forces keeps you on edge because he has no way to explain what he’s seeing. Unlike most horror films, Good Boy doesn’t rely on a human lead making questionable choices that test the audience’s patience. Indy isn’t careless or naïve; he’s caught in a silent struggle between instinct and devotion, fully aware of the danger yet compelled to stay close to the person he loves and feels bound to protect.
That tension, the helpless loyalty of a creature who understands more than he can express, is what gives Good Boy its emotional power. It turns a familiar haunted-house story into something more grounded, a study of loyalty and the quiet bond that keeps Indy by his owner’s side no matter the cost.
We Need More Of This
It is notoriously difficult to work with animals on a movie set, and even more so when the dog is the lead. Still, Ben Leonberg manages to make it work and does so brilliantly. The film industry is in desperate need of more creative ideas like this, and this movie is a prime example of how to do it right. If you are a fan of the horror genre, Good Boy is definitely worth a watch.
What do you think? Have you seen Good Boy yet, or are you planning to watch it? Let us know in the comments!
