Original Title
Release Date
Runtime
Country
Language
Status
Director
Writer
Main Cast
Production Company
Distributor
Good Boy
(2025)
MysterySupernatural HorrorPsychological Horror
Every pet owner has watched their dog stare intensely into an empty, dark corner and wondered what on earth they were looking at. Director Ben Leonberg took that universal everyday chill and turned it into one of the most original horror experiments of the decade. Told entirely from the waist-down perspective of a loyal dog, Good Boy made huge waves at festival premieres before arriving on Shudder to rave reviews. Starring Leonberg's real-life Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever named Indy, the film strips away human vanity and places our empathy squarely on four paws. It is not a gimmick or a novelty. It is a genuine, edge-of-your-seat haunted house movie where the hero cannot speak English, cannot operate doorknobs, and must rely entirely on love and canine instinct to keep his sick owner alive.
QUICK HORROR SNAPSHOT
Atmosphere
9/10Ending Satisfaction
7/10Gore Level
4/10Jump Scares
7/10Psychological Impact
8/10Scare Level
8/10Tension & Suspense
9/10SHOULD YOU WATCH IT?
Worth Watching?A solid horror experience.
Yes
Watch Alone?Best experienced alone.
Yes
Watch With Parents?Not suitable for younger audiences.
Yes
Beginner Friendly?
Good Boy (2025)
MovieMysterySupernatural HorrorPsychological Horror
March 8, 2025
73 Min
PG-13
United States
English
Every pet owner has watched their dog stare intensely into an empty, dark corner and wondered what on earth they were looking at. Director Ben Leonberg took that universal everyday chill and turned it into one of the most original horror experiments of the decade. Told entirely from the waist-down perspective of a loyal dog, Good Boy made huge waves at festival premieres before arriving on Shudder to rave reviews. Starring Leonberg's real-life Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever named Indy, the film strips away human vanity and places our empathy squarely on four paws. It is not a gimmick or a novelty. It is a genuine, edge-of-your-seat haunted house movie where the hero cannot speak English, cannot operate doorknobs, and must rely entirely on love and canine instinct to keep his sick owner alive.
Watch TrailerWhere to WatchQUICK HORROR SNAPSHOT
Atmosphere
9/10Ending Satisfaction
7/10Gore Level
4/10Jump Scares
7/10Psychological Impact
8/10Scare Level
8/10Tension & Suspense
9/10SHOULD YOU WATCH IT?
Worth Watching?A solid horror experience.
Yes
Watch Alone?Best experienced alone.
Yes
Watch With Parents?Not suitable for younger audiences.
Yes
Beginner Friendly?
Where to watch
Last Updated:
October 23, 2026
Official Trailer
Spoiler Free Review
Good Boy succeeds because it takes its unique premise completely seriously. Instead of cute talking animal tricks, the camera stays glued at dog height for the entire 73-minute runtime. Shane Jensen plays Todd, a frail young man coping with a chronic respiratory condition who inherits his grandfather's remote cabin in the woods. While Todd sees a peaceful place to heal, Indy immediately senses that something evil is already living inside the walls.
The brilliance of the film lies in sensory storytelling. We experience the world through sound, smell, and sudden visual movements. When a shadow shifts down the dark basement hallway, Indy's ears perk up and his posture stiffens. You feel the heartbreaking frustration of a loyal animal barking desperately at an open doorway while his clueless owner just chuckles and tells him to go lie down.
Leonberg and co-writer Alex Cannon build incredible suspense by using Indy's natural reactions rather than heavy CGI. Every whine, head tilt, and low growl feels completely authentic. When the spectral threat turns aggressive in the second half, the tension reaches fever pitch. For horror fans who are tired of formulaic jump scare movies, Good Boy is a breath of fresh air.
What Works
Remarkable camera work and sound design that truly immerses you in a dog's sensory world.
Indy is arguably one of the most expressive, lovable, and heroic animal protagonists in horror history.
Smart, lean 73-minute pacing that never drags or wastes time on unnecessary subplots.
Deep emotional connection between Todd and Indy that makes the horror feel personal and high-stakes.
What Doesn't Work
Human dialogue occasionally feels slightly stiff because the focus is kept so heavily on the pet.
A couple of daytime scenes in the middle act rely on familiar spooky house cliches.
Viewers with severe anxiety around animal peril will find several intense sequences deeply stressful.
