There are very few things that unite people more than a dislike of animals being put in peril, to the extent that there's an entire website set up to pre-warn people over the fate of dogs, cats and any other animal in movies, TV shows and more.
So it's a brave move by Ben Leonberg to make the entire concept of Good Boy about a dog – and a very adorable dog at that – in peril when his owner moves to a haunted house, where the dog can sense dark forces that his owner can't.
But it's also rare that you can genuinely say a movie is unlike any horror movie you've seen, and you can absolutely say that about Good Boy. It's a must-see for horror fans as we enter spooky season.
Good Boy opens as Todd (Shane Jensen) is recovering from an unspecified illness, choosing to move to his rural family home as he recuperates. He's not alone, as he's moved with his loyal dog Indy (played by Leonberg's actual dog Indy), but as soon as they arrive, Indy is on edge due to something he senses in the house.
As Todd's health declines, Indy starts to suspect that dark forces – which might be linked to the death of Todd's grandfather in the same house – are after his beloved owner, and Indy is the only one who can protect him.
Good Boy doesn't just put its dog in peril, it puts you right by his side as it happens. It's not a first-person view like Maniac, but just from his perspective, thanks to innovative camerawork that involved specially created rigs, transforming everyday areas – such as a staircase – into something much more daunting.
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Other aspects of the movie might be more traditional for the genre, with the classic creaking doors and weird noises you'd expect from a haunted house movie, but the perspective freshens them up. There's an innate helplessness to the fact that it's a dog we're following, somebody who can't just jump into their car and get the hell out of there.
It makes for an emotionally challenging experience for dog lovers, as Indy goes through a lot, even if Good Boy only clocks in at 73 minutes. You'll be on edge from the word go, wanting to just reach through the screen and give Indy a big hug and a treat. It's undeniably effective, but you won't necessarily thank Leonberg for it.
(Don't worry about the real Indy though, he got a treat after filming any of the scary scenes.)
What's especially impressive about Good Boy is how good an actor Indy is. You'll genuinely believe you see every emotion play across his face, and though it's achieved through clever editing and suggestion, you won't be thinking that when you see Indy stare into a darkened corner with sheer terror across his face.
It's a masterful performance from Indy (and impressive training from Leonberg) that heightens the scares, and then deepens the heartbreak of the finale. Certain people will have trauma flashbacks of a particular Futurama episode, but it doesn't make you cry for the reasons you might be expecting.
In a strong year for horror, Good Boy stakes its claim to be up there with the year's best horror movies – as long as you can handle seeing the titular good boy in some peril.
Good Boy is out now in cinemas.
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Movies Editor, Digital Spy Ian has more than 10 years of movies journalism experience as a writer and editor. Starting out as an intern at trade bible Screen International, he was promoted to report and analyse UK box-office results, as well as carving his own niche with horror movies, attending genre festivals around the world. After moving to Digital Spy, initially as a TV writer, he was nominated for New Digital Talent of the Year at the PPA Digital Awards. He became Movies Editor in 2019, in which role he has interviewed 100s of stars, including Chris Hemsworth, Florence Pugh, Keanu Reeves, Idris Elba and Olivia Colman, become a human encyclopedia for Marvel and appeared as an expert guest on BBC News and on-stage at MCM Comic-Con. Where he can, he continues to push his horror agenda – whether his editor likes it or not.
