Good Boy is a 2025 American supernatural horror film directed by Ben Leonberg, in his feature directorial debut, co-written by Leonberg and Alex Cannon. It follows a haunted house from the perspective of a dog. Starring Shane Jensen, Arielle Friedman, Larry Fessenden and Leonberg's real-life dog Indy in the titular role.
The film had its world premiere at the 2025 South by Southwest (SXSW) on March 10, 2025, to positive reviews.[3] It will be theatrically released in the United States on October 3 by Independent Film Company (IFC) and Shudder.[4]
Premise
Following the death of a family member, Todd (Shane Jensen) relocates with his dog Indy to an old rural farmhouse once owned by his grandfather (Larry Fessenden). Although the house is rumored to be haunted by a malevolent demon, Todd ignores the warnings. However, Indy begins to see disturbing supernatural presences throughout the home—entities invisible to humans but all too real to him.
Unable to verbally articulate his fears to Todd, Indy must confront and understand the malevolent demons threatening his owner. As the supernatural activity escalates, the dog's loyalty is put to the ultimate test in a desperate attempt to protect his human companion.
Good Boy was independently produced by Leonberg and Kari Fischer. The film features a distinct visual approach, often framing scenes from the dog's eye level to emphasize Indy's perspective. Leonberg used his own dog, Indy, for the starring role, with the animal receiving significant praise for a performance that conveyed emotion without dialogue or CGI enhancements.[5] The film runs approximately 72 minutes and was shot on location in upstate New York.[6]
On May 1, 2025, Shudder acquired the distribution rights of the film to the U.S., Canada, U.K., Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand.[10] The film is set to release in cinemas on October 3, 2025.[4] Earlier screenings in other regions, such as the Philippines started on October 1, 2025, under 888 Films International.[11]
Reception
Critical response
It received widespread critical acclaim for its originality, emotional depth, and effective horror elements.[12][13]
On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 95% of 20 critics' reviews are positive.[14] Critics praised both the concept and execution with Rafael Motamayor of IndieWire described it as "one of the best horror films so far this year."[15] Frank Scheck of The Hollywood Reporter noted that "what gives the film its emotional power is Indy's unfailing loyalty to his beloved owner".[1] Indy's performance was especially lauded, earning him the inaugural "Howl of Fame" award at SXSW.
Accolades
SXSW Film Festival 2025: Howl of Fame Award – Best Canine Performance (Indy)[16]
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