Upcoming horror film Good Boy takes the unusual step of telling its story from the perspective of a dog. Directed by Ben Leonberg, the film follows Indy, a canine who must protect his owner from a supernatural threat that only he can sense.
The film has already been shown at festivals, where it has received positive reactions and currently holds a 95% score on Rotten Tomatoes. Leonberg has spoken about the inspiration behind the idea, explaining that it came while rewatching Poltergeist.
“I was watching Poltergeist probably for the 100th time,” Leonberg told Filmmaker. “The opening follows the family’s golden retriever who we learn can clearly perceive the ghosts before anyone else. This same trope – the dog who ‘knows better’ – appears in tons of horror movies, and I thought that someone should make a movie from that dog’s perspective.”
Indy, Leonberg’s own pet, became central to realising the concept. Speaking about his dog’s performance, he explained: “He naturally has this really intense, unblinking stare. On the occasions when he’s just staring at ‘empty’ corners, or tracking smells only he can perceive… it’s really spooky. I think every dog owner has wondered, or worried, why their dog suddenly barks for no reason, or stares at ‘nothing.’”
Leonberg also revealed that Indy was not initially intended for the role. In a discussion with Variety, he said the character’s casting emerged after the dog gained attention in a short film contest called The Rode Reel. “People were reacting to him so strongly and so positively… it kind of forced our hand. He became my leading man.”
Good Boy releases in US cinemas on October 3 2025 and in UK cinemas on October 10 2025, with a streaming launch to follow.
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