A haunted house movie told from the perspective of a dog? It’s a bold and creative idea from director and co-writer Ben Leonberg, and while “Good Boy” doesn’t fully deliver on its potential, it still manages to be a whole lot more than just another low-budget curiosity. While the gimmick is the most fun thing about the film, there’s a lot to enjoy, and Leonberg’s ability to tell his story so well without a massive budget or big-name stars is just really, really cool.
The film follows Indy, a lovable and loyal Golden Retriever who moves with his terminally ill owner Todd (Shane Jensen) into an abandoned country home. While Todd remains blissfully unaware, Indy quickly senses something sinister. The pup beings to see shadowy figures lurking in the darkness, received ghostly warnings from a long-dead canine, and sense a growing presence that threatens to consume his best friend.
Much of the film’s appeal rests on the charm of its amateur canine star, who happens to be the director’s own pet. Unlike trained animal actors, Indy’s natural, unpolished reactions add an endearing quality that somehow makes the film work even when it probably shouldn’t. The cinematography leans heavily on dim lighting and vague silhouettes to build tension. These tricks of the horror trade are undeniably effective, but they’re also overused and make the scares feel repetitive.
At just 70 minutes, the film still feels too long, mostly due to its sparse storytelling. The plot is muddled in a way that makes trying to explain what’s happening at any given moment a challenge. The human actors are rarely seen as the film keeps the focus on Indy’s perspective, which is a clever but ultimately limiting choice. While this unique approach creates an unsettling atmosphere, it also wears thin over time.
That said, “Good Boy” deserves credit for doing a lot with very little. It’s not a great haunted house movie, but it’s a solid one for what it is: an indie horror experiment that manages to be spooky, strange, and surprisingly heartfelt. If nothing else, it’s proof that sometimes a cute dog and a few well-placed shadows are all you need to make a horror movie.
By: Louisa Moore
Screen Zealots 