The concept of Good Boy, directed by Ben Leonberg, is irresistible for any dog lover or horror fan: a supernatural thriller told almost entirely from the perspective of a dog. The film follows “Indie,” a brave pup who tries to protect his owner, Todd, from a dark entity lurking in his new home.
For the first half, the movie delivers on its premise. The dog actor, Indie (the director’s real-life dog), gives an Oscar-worthy performance. The way the film captures a dog’s heightened senses—staring into corners, growling at unseen threats—creates a unique and effective tension.
“The dog is the best actor I’ve seen all year. He deserves an award. But the movie around him is a frustrating, boring mess that ultimately betrays its own premise with a depressing, unsatisfying ending.”
However, what starts as a clever creature feature slowly dissolves into a slow, repetitive, and ultimately confusing allegory for terminal illness that forgets to be a fun horror movie.
The Goodest Boy
Let’s be clear: the dog is the star. The filmmaking techniques used to capture Indie’s perspective are impressive. Low camera angles and clever editing make you feel like you are navigating the world on four legs. The tension of knowing the dog sees something the human doesn’t is palpable.
But a great dog performance can’t save a weak script. The middle act of the film is a slog of repetition: dog sees ghost, dog barks, owner ignores dog. Rinse and repeat.
A Bait-and-Switch Ending
The film’s biggest failure is its tonal shift. Audiences expecting a heroic “dog saves the day” story or a supernatural battle will be sorely disappointed. The ending twists the narrative into a bleak allegory about cancer and suicide.
Instead of fighting a demon, the dog is essentially watching his owner succumb to illness and despair. The “monster” attacking the dog is implied to be the owner himself in a fugue state, or a manifestation of his disease. While this might work as an artsy drama, it feels like a betrayal in a marketed horror film called Good Boy. We wanted Cujo meets Lassie; we got a depression PSA.
Pros & Cons
| Pros | Cons |
| Incredible Dog Actor: Indie carries the entire film with genuine emotion. | Boring Pacing: The middle act spins its wheels with repetitive scares. |
| Unique Perspective: Filming from the dog’s eye view is immersive and creative. | Depressing Ending: The allegorical twist is unsatisfying and bleak. |
| Technical Merit: Great sound design and cinematography. | Misleading Tone: Markets itself as a creature feature, delivers a sad drama. |
| Tension: Effective use of sound to create dread. | Unlikable Human: Todd (the owner) is frustratingly oblivious and mean to the dog. |
Good Boy: This film is a technical achievement for animal acting, but a narrative failure. It takes a fun, high-concept horror premise and drags it down with a slow pace and a "bummer" ending that feels unearned. If you love dogs, you'll love Indie, but you'll hate what the movie puts him through. It’s a 5/10 experience—impressive for the dog, disappointing for the audience. – Asmodeus
