'His Intense, Unblinking Stare is Perfect': The Dog-Centred Horror Led by a N...

A new supernatural horror film that tells its chilling story entirely from the perspective of a dog is captivating critics and audiences, offering a unique and emotionally devastating twist on the haunted house genre. The film, "Good Boy," directed by Ben Leonberg in his feature debut, was theatrically released on October 3, 2025, by IFC and Shudder following a celebrated premiere at the South by Southwest (SXSW) festival earlier in the year. The story follows Indy, a loyal Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever, as he and his owner, Todd, relocate to a remote, rural home inherited from Todd's late grandfather. While Todd, who is suffering from a mysterious and worsening illness, seeks solace in the quiet country life, Indy immediately senses a malevolent, shadowy presence lurking within the house, a force that his human companion cannot see.

The film's central conceit—framing the narrative through the eyes of its canine protagonist—has been widely praised as more than a simple gimmick. Director Ben Leonberg, who co-wrote the script with Alex Cannon, frequently places the camera at Indy's eye level, immersing the audience in the dog's sensory world. This perspective makes ordinary creaks, strange scents, and fleeting shadows feel intensely menacing, amplifying the horror through the animal's unfiltered perception of danger. The true star of the film is Indy himself, the director's real-life pet, whose performance has been lauded as a marvel of sensitivity and naturalism. Critics have noted that Indy's performance, free from CGI enhancements, conveys a powerful sense of loyalty and fear, earning him the inaugural "Howl of Fame" award at SXSW. Frank Scheck of The Hollywood Reporter noted that "what gives the film its emotional power is Indy's unfailing loyalty to his beloved owner". The result is a film that is not only a terrifying ghost story but also a poignant exploration of grief, devotion, and the heartbreaking limits of communication between a pet and its owner.

• Background and Production Context: "Good Boy" is an American independent film born from a deeply personal project by director Ben Leonberg and producer Kari Fischer. The duo, who are Indy's real-life owners, filmed the movie over three years in their own New Jersey house, which also serves as the film's setting. This intimate production approach allowed for a genuine and patient process to capture the performance of Indy, who Leonberg notes "does not know he's in a movie". The film was produced under their company banner, "What's Wrong With Your Dog?", and runs a brisk 73 minutes.
• Plot and Thematic Development: The story centers on Todd (Shane Jensen), a young man with a chronic lung disease who moves with his dog, Indy, to his late grandfather's isolated home. Indy quickly perceives a supernatural entity and visions of a previous dog, Bandit, who went missing. The film masterfully uses Indy's perspective to create ambiguity; the audience is left to question if the haunting is real or a metaphor for Todd's deteriorating health and the grief surrounding it. Ultimately, the movie is a tragic exploration of loss and devotion, focusing on a loyal dog's desperate, instinctual fight to protect his owner from a danger he can't comprehend or communicate.
• The Canine 'Superstar' Performance: The performance of Indy, a Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever, is the film's anchor. Critics have celebrated his expressive eyes and natural reactions, which create a deeply empathetic protagonist. Director Ben Leonberg explained that much of the audience's perception of Indy's fear comes from filmmaking techniques, such as shot/reverse-shot, where a neutral expression from the dog is followed by a shot of a spooky corner, leading the audience to project fear onto the animal. This technique proved highly effective, with many reviewers calling Indy's performance one of the best of the year.
• Critical and Audience Reception: The film has been met with widespread acclaim since its debut at the 2025 SXSW festival. On the review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, it holds a "Certified Fresh" 91% approval rating from over 80 critics. The consensus reads, "Good Boy is a visually striking, emotionally devastating horror film that eschews genre conventions to deliver a uniquely haunting and conceptually ambitious experience". Metacritic assigned the film a score of 72 out of 100, indicating "generally favorable" reviews. Audiences have also responded positively, with the film earning an 89% approval score on Rotten Tomatoes' Popcornmeter.
• Directorial Vision and Cinematic Style: Ben Leonberg's direction is noted for its clever use of perspective to refresh haunted house tropes. By locking the viewpoint to Indy's, familiar scares are given a new, unpredictable context. Sean P. Means of The Movie Cricket praised this approach, stating, "One of Leonberg's best tricks is that he keeps the camera at the level of Indy's face, solidifying the focus on the dog and putting the humans — and whatever else is out there — on the periphery". This stylistic choice makes the film a highly sensorial experience, relying on sounds and shadows to build dread.
• A Tale of Two "Good Boys": It is important to note this film should not be confused with the 2022 Norwegian psychological thriller also titled "Good Boy". That film, directed by Viljar Bøe, is a disturbing tale about a woman who discovers her new millionaire boyfriend lives with a man who dresses and acts like a dog. While both are unsettling films centered on a canine theme, Leonberg's 2025 release is a supernatural horror told from an actual dog's point of view, whereas Bøe's film is a psychological study of a twisted human relationship.
• Distribution and Release: After its successful festival run, "Good Boy" was acquired by IFC Films and the horror-centric streaming service Shudder for distribution. The strong buzz coming out of SXSW prompted a switch from a planned limited release to a wide theatrical release on October 3, 2025, a testament to the film's perceived commercial and critical appeal. This wider access allows a larger audience to experience this unique take on the horror genre.