Horror gets down on four legs with the new release GOOD BOY – written and directed by Ben Leonberg, marking his first feature film effort. This cold and isolating story follows a man accompanied by his loyal Nova Scotia Retriever, Indy (Leonberg’s actual pet), to a previously abandoned family home up in the sticks. It’s in this secluded environment where a dark spectre lurks among the shadows, stalking man and man’s best friend.
I’m not really a pet person, mostly due to allergies, but I’ll own any dog that watches Carnival of Souls, snippets of which are seen playing throughout as our human protagonist tries to set up house, where the “vibes are clearly off”. While the film’s setting and set-up are traditional, right down to an adjacent cemetery, the unconventional approach of Indy’s perspective makes Good Boy worth the 73-minute runtime. It’s a welcome departure from having to contend with common horror shortcomings like bad dialogue and underdeveloped characters.
We’re all familiar with that common horror trope of the household pets being alerted by something unseen. How many dogs have we seen bark at seemingly nothing on screen and off? Indy, through his good nature, is a means of exploring the idea that animals possess a sixth sense. Furthermore, despite the sinister element, Good Boy reaffirms the companionship and comforting qualities that come from a beloved animal. About the overall premise, or goings on, I feel Leonberg tries to make the film a bit too sophisticated at times, whereas it would have worked better if it were your more stock-standard ghost story.
Good Boy is currently in theatres across Australia through Monster Fest in partnership with Independent Film Company and Shudder.
GOOD BOY
(2025, director: Ben Leonberg)
★★★½
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