Heartfelt Spirit Elevates “Good Boy”

Good Boy (Ben Leonberg, 2025) 3 out of 5 stars 

October launches with a unique horror film centered around one of the most original and adorable lead characters of the genre: a dog! Good Boy (not to be confused with the TIFF 2025-premiering Good Boy reviewed recently by FFT Editor Chris Reed) follows Indy (playing himself), a loving pup who follows human Todd (Shane Jensen) to his grandfather’s secluded—and somewhat condemned—property. Todd is a sick man, suffering from a disease that is slowly taking his life, and Indy tries his best to provide comfort. But when a dark entity torments Todd, Indy tries to be the best dog he can be and save his owner from certain death.

The ultimate success of Good Boy is also its biggest gimmick: a horror movie told strictly from the viewpoint of a canine companion. This leads to a lot of fascinating obscured shots, as Indy struggles to be by Todd’s side through various obstacles. While I eventually grew weary of the forced perspective during shots that blatantly cover human faces at times, the other cinematography here helps bring a significant dynamic that makes Good Boy stand out, especially when mixed with some electrifying scare sequences.

Juggling scary scenes and POV cinema, Good Boy also delivers a heartfelt narrative, be it with themes we’ve seen before. Todd’s cancer tugs at our emotions, particularly when we see the pain behind Indy’s canine eyes as he looks on. This comes to a harrowing final act and message, Indy learning the hard way that there are some things we cannot save our loved ones from. My only grievance is that, at times, Leonberg struggles to maintain both a creepy horror tone and a touching storyline. Along with some pacing issues toward the film’s middle and an overall plot that feels familiar, Good Boy soars less once it’s worn out its cinematic gimmick and poignant weight.

While not the perfect narrative, Good Boy still delivers an amazingly fun addition to the horror genre, and a nice kickoff to the Halloween season this year. I was pleased by the balance of scares and lovable dog scenes, and well-satisfied by the time Good Boy wrapped things up. At the end of the day, Leonberg and crew did exactly what they set out to do, which was test the boundary of the horror genre by bringing a very well-trained Indy to the forefront.

Adam Vaughn

Adam Vaughn is a graduate of the Film & Moving Image program at Stevenson University, with a focus in Cinematography and Production. He also has a minor in Theater and Media Performance. Adam works as a freelance photographer and videographer, focusing his craft on creating compelling photographic and cinematic imagery. Adam is excited to join the Film Festival Today team and explore the world of cinema and visual arts.