By Angelo Treadwell 

For as long as I can remember, I have loved horror. With parents who were unremarkably laid back about the content I consumed in my youth, I spent my time trying to consume whatever horror media I could find. As I watched more and more, I grew tired of the formulaic standards that movies followed. I was desperate for something interesting. 

This year has been an amazing year for horror with films such as “Sinners”, “28 Years Later”, and “Bring Her Back” being major box office successes and well received critically. 

Among the horror movies released this year, there was a standout. “Good Boy”, an independent film directed by Ben Leonberg. A supernatural horror story through the eyes of a dog. I was immediately intrigued. Finally, something new, something fun. As more information surrounding the movie was released, I marked my calendar for October 3rd to purchase my ticket. 

Before seeing Good Boy, I already went in with appreciation for the movie. Leonberg assured audiences of his furry actor’s safety throughout filming, and within the narrative itself. When I walked into the theater, I expected a tear or two, purely on the basis of there being a pet within the film. When I left, I was choking back sobs as I drove home. 

Outside of the narrative content, Good Boy’s craftsmanship is excellent. Leonberg really made sure to keep us in our pet protagonist’s point of view through its camera work and immersive sound design. This movie doesn’t rely on “in your face” jump scares, which was refreshing. Dialogue is reserved for conversations our main character, Indy, overhears, putting us further into his shoes (or lack thereof) as a bystander. The cinematography enhances this feeling, not showing us a clear face of any of our living human characters until the very end of the movie. 

 Indy’s status as a dog, a pet, is reinforced through these elements, which serves the movie well. Indy’s “acting” throughout is also something to be noted. Leonberg has said in interviews that Indy’s performance was achieved through classic dog tricks: sit, stay, fetch, etc. Indy has no formal training. For him, a day of filming was no different than a day off. Despite this, Indy gives an incredibly emotional performance. Through sound editing, and Indy’s naturally melancholic expression, it really makes you feel what he’s feeling in the movie.  

SPOILERS AHEAD!! 

Good Boy presents itself as a ghost story. Our protagonist is haunted by a supernatural entity. A classic plotline through the eyes of something unfamiliar. But Good Boy is far more than just a ghost story. Good Boy tells an emotional tale of loyalty, companionship, and loss. Throughout the movie, we follow not only Indy, but his owner, Todd. Good Boy emphasizes to us that Todd is as much Indy’s best friend as Indy is Todd’s. Immediately, we are shown that Todd is afflicted with some sort of illness, one that greatly affects his day-to-day life. As Todd’s health deteriorates, the haunting gets worse. It’s clear what’s haunting Indy is not some malevolent ghost, but Todd’s increasingly worse health.  

This movie subverts to the norm for pets in horror movies. You aren’t sitting there wondering if Indy will survive but rather wondering if Todd will. You watch Indy persevere, determined to save Todd from whatever this entity is. As the movie draws to a close, you are reminded that even though he is a good boy, Indy is still just a dog. Though Indy survives, our ending is not a happy one, but that does not make it a bad ending. 

This movie is guaranteed to tug at the heartstrings of anybody who has owned a pet before. I also think if you are somebody with even a remote interest in film, you’ll leave with appreciation for the risks this movie takes. So far, Good Boy has been very successful in its debut, earning approximately 1.36 million in its second weekend, a huge success for an independent film. Overall, Good Boy is an emotional, enthralling, and refreshing addition to the horror genre, and Indy has earned a “good boy.”