Good Boy (2025 Leonberg film)

Good Boy is a 2025 American supernatural horror film directed by Ben Leonberg. It stars Leonberg's own Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever dog, Indy, in the leading role as himself, with Shane Jensen, Arielle Friedman, and Larry Fessenden in supporting roles. Primarily set in a rural woodland house, Good Boy follows Indy and his owner, Todd (Jensen), a young man with a chronic lung disease, as they move into Todd's late grandfather's rural home, where a malevolent supernatural presence gradually engulfs Todd, while his devoted dog attempts to rescue him. Leonberg's feature directorial debut, he conceived the idea for the film after re-watching Poltergeist (1982) and noting that dogs in haunted house films often sense the presence of ghosts before humans do. Thus, he decided to write a traditional haunted house film from the perspective of a dog. He co-wrote the screenplay with Alex Cannon beginning in 2017, emphasizing action and perspective over dialogue to reflect the dog's point of view. Although Indy had no prior acting experience, Leonberg cast him as the lead. Principal photography took place in Harding Township, New Jersey, over three years, on a $70,000 budget. For much of the filming process, only Indy, Leonberg, and producer Kari Fischer, Leonberg's wife, were on set. Good Boy premiered at the 2025 South by Southwest Film & TV Festival on March 8, 2025, and was released theatrically in the United States on October 3, 2025, by Independent Film Company (IFC) and Shudder. To date, it has grossed $8.7 million worldwide. Critical reviews were generally positive, with reviewers commending the film's ambitious concept, technical craftsmanship, visual style, and emotionally resonant themes, as well as Indy's performance in the lead role. However, some were critical of the storytelling, citing a convoluted narrative and pacing issues.