[FILM REVIEW] GOOD BOY Review (2025)

Summary: 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.

Year: 2025

Cinema Release Dates:  TBA (Australia), TBA (Thailand), TBA (UK), TBA (USA)

VOD Release Dates: TBA

Country: USA

Director: Ben Leonberg

Screenwriter: Alex Cannon, Ben Leonberg

Cast: Larry Fessenden, Ariel Friedman, Shane Jensen, Anya Krawcheck, Stuart Rudin

Running Time: 72 minutes

Classification:TBC (Australia), TBC (Thailand), TBC (UK), PG-13 (USA)

OUR GOOD BOY REVIEWS

Kyle McGrath‘s Good Boy Review

Whenever my dog, a collie, is getting his monthly beauty treatment by my regular Jim’s Dog Grooming franchisee he does something peculiar. He stares out the back of the trailer into the darkness (I work late hours) at a fixed point. I can’t see what he’s staring at, Groomerchan Sarah can’t see it either. But we’ve dubbed this invisible target my dog’s “ghost”.

Well it seems like all dogs have some sort of ghost which only they can see. For Indy (as himself), a retriever, his ghost is more literal. With Indy’s owner Todd (Shane Jensen) having a breakdown over growing health concerns he decides it best to get away from it all. Against the wishes of his sister, Vera (Arielle Friedman) Todd and Indy relocate far from the big city (and nearby hospitals) to the abandoned cabin once belonging to their late Grandpa (Larry Fessenden). Something is waiting for them there, or maybe it came with…

Grandpa died in this cabin and the family have considered it cursed ever since. Immediately on arrival Indy can sense something is wrong. He can hear things Todd doesn’t, see things he can’t and senses a malevolent force lurking in the shadows. As Todd’s health deteriorates history may be repeating itself, many of Grandpa’s dogs abandoned him and fled that unholy place over the years. Not Indy however, because he’s a good boy.

This is a horror film with a familiar style, familiar tone and familiar scares. However it’s still one of the most interesting films of 2025’s Melbourne International Film Festival as it has a major difference. Good Boy is told almost entirely from the perspective of Indy the dog. Directed by Ben Leonberg (Indy’s IRL owner) who along with his producer/wife Kari Fischer shot the film for an epic 400 days over 3 years. They say never work with children or animals in Hollywood, this is why!

The film’s leading boy, Indy is a born four legged movie star. Opening with home footage of his adoption as a puppy, growing up and showing love for his master we immediately fall in love with him in return. I don’t think I’ve ever heard so many “awwww”s from the ladies in a cinema audience before as while watching Good Boy and just a picture of this photogenic pooch is enough to tell you why.

The lengthy shooting process of Good Boy pays off well with Indy’s performance in the film being particularly believable and disturbing at times. I have no idea how Leonberg directed Indy but his emotions, his confusion, his fear, panic and his anger all feel convincing. I know that it’s possible to train a dog to “act” scared so nobody should call animal rescue quite yet. Still the commitment to Indy’s perspective and role as protagonist makes those moments much more raw and hard hitting than any traditional horror flick.

The simple idea of following a dog around trying to confront a supernatural horror is terrifying in its own right. Musical score by Sam Boase-Miller heightens the tension and eeriness of this cabin as do the increasingly unhinged home videos of Grandpa Todd is watching. But when locked up Indy can’t go anywhere, he can’t tell his owner it’s time to GTFO and his loyalty dictates that he must protect this weakened man he calls his master. It’s a different kind of helplessness we’re not used to seeing in standard cabin in the woods ghost movies.

While I paint this film as an unexceptional spooky flick that’s not entirely fair. There isn’t much of a story here and the film is only 72 minutes in length. But what it does explore is the commitment between a dog and their owner. The horror aspect itself is more interesting than most as metaphorical for the growing pain, anger and despair within Todd.

It can be hard to like Todd at times as we’re not exactly seeing him at his best. But he’s a man suffering from a serious illness and one which makes him lash out or behave inappropriately to those around him. But family stick together and that’s why dogs are called “man’s best friend”. Indy is there for Todd, even when Todd wants to be completely alone.

It’s a fascinating watch especially at such a short runtime, the gimmick doesn’t overstay its welcome. Good Boy turns the conventional haunted house blueprint on its head by entering through a doggy door. You’ll have your tail between your legs and care for Indy more than any scream queen in history. It might even make dog lovers hug their furry friends just that little bit tighter going to sleep that night!

Kyle’s rating Out Of 5

Average Subculture rating Out Of 5

Other Subculture Entertainment Good Boy Reviews

Nil

Trailer: