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‘Good Boy’ Review: A Canine View Makes This Horror Film Stand Out

Ben Leonberg’s Good Boy makes a dog’s limited view the engine of a haunted-house story—an atmospheric choice that may intrigue some horror fans and frustrate viewers seeking bigger scares.
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Good Boy turns a haunted-house story into a dog’s-eye-view thriller: Indy senses danger in a rural home before his owner, Todd, understands what is happening. Ben Leonberg’s 73-minute film makes that limited perspective its central source of suspense. The approach is distinctive and affecting, though viewers hoping for frequent scares or firm supernatural explanations may find its restraint too quiet.

What is Good Boy about?

Indy and his owner Todd leave city life for a long-vacant rural family home. Indy notices presences and warnings that Todd cannot perceive, and tries to protect him from a dark force affecting him. The official synopsis establishes the basic setup without spelling out every mystery, which suits a film built around what its dog protagonist can and cannot understand. The official film information gives the synopsis and release details.

Ben Leonberg directed the film and co-wrote it with Alex Cannon; Kari Fischer is a producer. The SXSW 2025 slate lists Indy, Shane Jensen, Larry Fessenden, Arielle Friedman, Stuart Rudin, Anya Krawcheck and Max in the cast. SXSW’s 2025 slate credits Leonberg and Cannon as screenwriters and Leonberg and Fischer as producers, while SAGindie’s interview identifies Leonberg as director, co-writer, producer and cinematographer.

Does the dog’s point of view make the film scary?

It gives the film a clear formal idea rather than just a novel cast member. Indy’s attention directs the viewer toward an empty corner, a sound outside the frame or a change in Todd’s behavior. Because the audience is confined to what Indy registers, ordinary spaces can feel charged with threat. The film also has less need for dialogue to explain tension: SAGindie describes the script as conceived with an action-movie quality, with dialogue not the most important element in many scenes.

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#1 Best Overall
Good Boy [Blu-Ray]
  • Good Boy [Blu-Ray]

The limitation is built into the same choice. The film is interested in unease and selective information more than in a steady run of overt shocks or a fully mapped supernatural threat. The Los Angeles Times review praises the realistic dog’s-eye view of a creepy cabin as a strong hook, while warning that viewers wanting a more satisfying conventional genre thriller may be underwhelmed by how far the film pushes its supernatural elements. That is one critic’s assessment, but it captures the choice prospective viewers should weigh: atmosphere and viewpoint over explicit scares and explanation.

Is Indy hurt or genuinely frightened in Good Boy?

Director Ben Leonberg told GamesRadar+ that “Indy’s never genuinely upset,” adding: “People are always asking, ‘How did you get Indy to look scared?’ And the truth is, Indy’s never scared. You’re scared, as an audience member.” That is Leonberg’s account of the performance and the film’s effect; it is not an independent welfare certification. Read the GamesRadar+ interview.

Rank #2
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Good Boys
  • Shrink-wrapped

PETA’s October 10, 2025 release says the filmmakers used their own dog and took steps they described as keeping him safe, comfortable and happy. It quotes Lauren Thomasson, PETA’s Director of Animals in Film and Television, praising the production as responsible. That is PETA’s assessment, not a regulatory finding or an independent on-set report. PETA’s release also reports that Indy received its “Good Boy, Great Filmmaking” award.

How long is Good Boy, and where can you watch it?

The official film page lists a 73-minute runtime, a theatrical release on October 3, 2025, and a streaming release on October 11, 2025. The BBFC record gives a more precise runtime of 73 minutes 25 seconds. These are listing figures, not evidence of different cuts. The BBFC classification record provides its runtime.

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The official page lists the streaming date; current platform availability can vary by country and change over time. A Prime Video listing surfaces the film in digital formats and on DVD and Blu-ray in a localized marketplace, so check your region, edition and seller before purchasing.

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Verdict: who should watch Good Boy?

Watch it for the unusual alignment between a dog’s attention and the viewer’s fear. Indy is not simply a mascot in a haunted-house plot; what he notices shapes the film’s suspense and its emotional stakes. The movie’s restraint is also a real trade-off: its canine-centered atmosphere may linger more than its scares, and viewers looking for clear answers or conventional thriller momentum may want more than it gives.

Quick Recap

Bestseller No. 1
Good Boy [Blu-Ray]
Good Boy [Blu-Ray]
Good Boy [Blu-Ray]
$14.99
SaleBestseller No. 2
Good Boys
Good Boys
Shrink-wrapped
$7.52
Bestseller No. 4
Good Boy [Blu-ray] (2025)
Good Boy [Blu-ray] (2025)
Entertainment
$18.21
Bestseller No. 5
Rank #4

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