Curator Watchlist
A clever, high-concept haunted-house horror built around an unusually strong emotional hook: a dog trying to protect his person. The premise is instantly appealing and the atmosphere seems to do a lot of the heavy lifting, but the film’s appeal is likely to depend on whether you’re charmed by the gimmick as much as… Read more
Where to watch: Buy
Wed · 1h 13m
Director: Ben Leonberg
Starring: Shane Jensen, Arielle Friedman, Larry Fessenden
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.
Ben Leonberg
Shane Jensen, Arielle Friedman, Larry Fessenden
A clever, high-concept haunted-house horror built around an unusually strong emotional hook: a dog trying to protect his person. The premise is instantly appealing and the atmosphere seems to do a lot of the heavy lifting, but the film’s appeal is likely to depend on whether you’re charmed by the gimmick as much as the scares.
Good Boy has the kind of pitch that sells itself in one sentence, and the movie largely lives up to that promise by committing hard to the dog’s perspective. That choice gives the haunted-house setup a fresh emotional angle, turning ordinary supernatural beats into something more anxious and protective. It sounds like a film that understands exactly why people will show up: to root for the dog, and to feel every threat more acutely because of that bond.
The tradeoff is that the story is still built on familiar horror architecture. The atmosphere, pacing, and patience matter more than surprise, so the film’s success depends on whether the execution can sustain the novelty of the premise. For many viewers, that will be enough; for others, the concept may outshine the actual scares.
As a piece of indie horror, it seems strongest when it leans into mood, tenderness, and dread rather than spectacle. If you like your genre films to be a little weird, a little emotional, and very committed to one memorable idea, this is an easy curiosity. If you need horror to feel especially original beyond the hook, it may land more as a pleasant one-time watch than a must-see.
carly (4.5★) · 8284 likes
I don’t give two flying fucks if he was possessed if that mf talks to Indy like that one more time I’ll show him a fucking demon
noen (2.5★) · 8032 likes
I can’t wait to show this to my unemployed, greedy dog
AdrianMoviez (3★) · 7280 likes
saying “good boy” to a cinema worker tonight while buying my ticket was the most awkward interaction of my life.
-ˏˋ mak ˊˎ- (2.5★) · 5713 likes
this happened to my buddy courage the cowardly dog
jonathan fujii (2.5★) · 4487 likes
The Daniel Day-Lewis of dog actors right here
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haunted house, supernatural horror, animal perspective, human-animal bond, protective loyalty, grief and fear, indie horror, atmospheric dread
horror, supernatural, haunted house, indie, atmospheric, emotional, dog movie, psychological dread, rural setting, ghost story