Good Boy Movie Review (Spoiler Free)

An unusual take from a man's best friend's point of view. Containing heart-breaking segments & truly terrifying visuals, this is a horror flick unlike any other!

Genre: Horror / Thriller 

Director: Ben Leonberg

Cast: Indy, Shane Jensen, Ariella Friedman, Stuart Rudin, Max  & Larry Fessenden.

Run Time: 73 min.

US Release: 03 October 2025

UK Release: 10 October 2025

German Release: 30 October 2025

Ben Leonberg’s directorial debut is a classic haunted house flick with a twist: because this time, instead of humans, audiences experience everything from the point of view of a pooch. I am a big dog lover myself, having grown up with several canine companions, so I was immediately drawn to this unusual premise. Watching it in theatres on its release day in Germany last Thursday, I was impressed by Leonberg’s creative take, as well as his dog’s undeniable star power. It feels familiar, yet surprisingly original at the same time. So follow me, and sniff through my review for Good Boy.

Indy, a loyal Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever, moves into the family-owned rural home with his owner, Todd, only to discover supernatural forces lurking in the shadows. As darkness engulfes his owner, the brave pup attempts to rescue him from a malevolent entity.

The first-time director conceived the idea while rewatching 1982’s Poltergeist, realising that in haunted house flicks, it is always the animals who sense the paranormal first. In 2017, he began writing the script together with Alex Cannon, emphasising visuals over dialogue to mimic a canine’s viewpoint. Principal photography took place over three years, on a modest budget of $750,00.

The screenplay is highly innovative, using a dog's perspective in a setup revolving around a haunted house. This allows the movie to explore fear plus suspense in a unique way, grounding the narrative in animalistic instinct rather than human intellect. The emotional bond between Indy and his owner, Todd, serves as a powerful emotional core, anchoring the horror feature while creating genuine, heartbreaking moments.The choice to focus more on perception than conversation is well executed, helping to build atmosphere, as well as tension. Unfortunately, it also limits the story’s complexity severely, struggling without relying on exposition - that is its biggest weakness!

Further flaws include the lack of connection with the human characters, especially Todd, who, as the protagonist’s owner, doesn’t radiate much warmth. In fact, there are occasional moments where he reacts mean, even aggressively, towards Indy, creating a cold distance between him and the audience. The pacing also drags at times, lingering unnecessarily on certain shots that could have been trimmed for better flow.

Dialogue is limited due to the unique perspective. When human conversations take place, they usually serve as exposition to explain certain parts of the plot.

The lead performer, Indy, played by himself and the director’s own dog, completely steals the show. He impresses with his emotional range, his ability to follow complicated directions, plus his natural charisma. This is even more astonishing when knowing that it is his first time acting. I, personally, was instantly smitten with him!

The human counterparts deliver solid renditions but fade into the background in comparison to the remarkable canine performance. 

The movie relies heavily on visual cues, with the camera staying mostly at a low angle, to convey the narrative through a dog’s-eye view. To reinforce the pup’s POV, human faces are often obscured, blurred or partially hidden, creating a grounded, realistic world view from his perspective. Light plus shadow is utilised to create an intimidating environment. Equally, the careful framing creates an uneasy sensation, turning simple shots into something dangerous. The film’s grainy texture helps to set the mood.

The few digital effects look unfinished, reflecting the limited budget. Though not terrible, as these scenes are mainly masked by distortion, it can at times still pull one out of the immersion. The set design, however, is impressive; the remote house, with its narrow hallway, as well as dark corners, elicits feelings of creeping dread.

The sound design is beautiful. It builds suspense through subtle, natural sounds like the creaking of the woods or the rustling of leaves, instead of relying on cheap jump scares.

Verdict: This dog-led film is a refreshing spin on the haunted house subgenre, relying on visual storytelling more than dialogue. This is reflected in the masterful camera work, with its low-angle shots, that aim to capture the view of the four-legged actor. Light and shadow interplay impressively in combination with the creepy set to amplify the fear. The sound work is another great addition, perfectly immersing viewers in what the pooch senses. However, it contains some flaws, such as the unattainable, distant human personas, who can come off as cruel. The pacing can drag a little during specific instances, while the special effects look a little rough. That said, none of that does really affect this experience negatively - or maybe it’s the fact that I instantly connected with Indy on an emotional level. I really enjoyed this type of feature and would like to see more of it in the genre. I give Good Boy a 7.5  out of 10.

Have you seen Goody Boy yet? If you enjoy animal performances & horror, go check it out. It is worth it & you will have a good time at the cinema. Leave a comment below to let me know what you thought. Thank you for reading & if you like what you read, please consider subscribing.