Good Boy (2025) Review!!

Synopsis – A loyal dog moves to a rural family home with his owner Todd, only to discover supernatural forces lurking in the shadows. As dark entities threaten his human companion, the brave pup must fight to protect the one he loves most.

My Take – Indeed, we are seeing quite the uprising of experimental horror films.

While last year saw a gruesome slasher unveil before us in the form of In a Violent Nature (2024) that was told entirety from the perspective of the killer, and a disorienting slow-burn ghost story in the form of Presence (2024) that saw an unseen entity be the POV inside a suburban house, this year’s newest scary outing, co-written and directed by Ben Leonberg, takes a bold departure from the traditional horror fare we are accustomed to by exploring terror from the perspective of a dog.

And as dark entities threaten his human companion, the brave pup is forcefully put in a position to protect the one he loves most. Succinct with its run-time and solid with its scares, the innovative and experimental approach not only provides a unique idea, but also manages to be a damn good horror feature in the process.

Sure, this might sound like a gimmick that would quickly overstay its welcome, but thanks to both an incredibly emotive dog and a skilled director who knows how to work with his canine companion, the film proves to be a surprisingly poignant ghost story told through the eyes of man’s best friend.

Mainly as the screenplay, written by Ben Leonberg and Alex Cannon, makes you truly terrified about the dog’s fate as he’s yanked under beds, plagued by nightmares, and harassed by otherworldly forces. Leaving us with an experience that is primed to be remembered as one of the most chilling horror flicks of 2025.

The story follows Indy (director Leonberg’s own dog), a Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever who since he was a little puppy has been living with loving human companion Todd (Shane Jensen). But for some time now he has been suffering from a chronic lung disease.

So in an attempt at a change of pace, Todd moves with Indy into a rural, uninhabited home in the woods previously resided by his late grandfather (Larry Fessenden). Despite Todd’s sister, Vera (Arielle Friedman), worrying about Todd’s isolation at the home, believing the house is haunted and contributing to their grandfather’s death there.

Soon enough, Indy immediately senses a presence in the home, often manifesting in shadows and sometimes appearing as a dark, skeletal figure drenched in mud.

What follows is a visually stunning, intense, often unsettling yet absolutely tragic tale that will keep viewers on the edge of seat for 73 minutes straight as they witness the poor dog watching his owner descend into something almost unrecognizable and having no idea why.

The approach is unique, taking the bones and beats of the typical haunted house film but telling it solely through the eyes of an animal. Though, the story feels familiar, it’s rendered scarier because only Indy can see the entity and he can’t speak or share his experience. He becomes an extreme version of the stereotype horror character who isn’t believed and is left alone in their fear. All he can do is watch as something stalks him and consumes Todd’s body and soul with each passing night, making the film all the scarier as it seems like nothing can be done.

Here, director Leonberg even obscures human faces so there’s no temptation to view the story from a human perspective. This is purely Indy’s story and how director Leonberg imagines he would experience such terrifying circumstances. He even constructs canine dream sequences where Indy sees what happens to Todd’s deceased grandfather through the eyes of the grandfather’s loyal golden retriever.

Thankfully, while this is a ghost story, Indy isn’t granted special abilities regarding speech or human communication. Most of the dialogue that appears in the film is through Todd’s phone conversations with his sister, which gives us tidbits of his condition, and the story generally. But it’s really about discovering things alongside Indy. The dog’s lack of understanding compared to a human adds a unique sense of mystery to the narrative that keeps you guessing, with our desire for Indy to survive only growing with each minute.

But what makes the film truly shine are the technical choices that fully commit to this project. Through camera techniques the perspective is kept low to the ground, shifting between Indy’s point of view and measured third-person that summon the classic feeling of being watched. The jump scares are effective and used sparingly, but they are not there just for the shock, but rather as a part of the story.

And of course, it is impossible not to fall in love with Indy, even if you are not a dog person. Indy, who is both director Leonberg and producer Kari Fischer‘s real-life pet, delivers one of the best animal performances I’ve seen ever. In most moments, I nearly forgot I was watching a trained canine.

From sidelong glances of terror to concerned stares, in there’s no trace of CGI or technological cheats in his performance; it’s pure canine behavior and expression, which lend the supernatural elements even more credibility. On the whole, ‘Good Boy‘ is an ambitious chilling supernatural horror elevated by a remarkable animal performance and sharp technical choices.