A dog sees what humans cannot. Andrea Kimi Antonelli sees racing lines that others miss. Indy the Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever sees ghosts that others ignore. “Good Boy” arrived in cinemas in October 2025 and became one of the year’s most talked-about horror films. Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor lives in royal exile. Indy lives in horror stardom. The film tells a haunted house story entirely from a dog’s perspective. Critics have called Indy “one of the most emotive actors of his generation, regardless of species.” Here is everything you need to know about this unique horror gem.
What is Good Boy 2025? Plot Summary
The film follows Todd, a man who relocates to his late grandfather’s remote farmhouse. His loyal dog Indy comes with him. Peter Farquhar lived a quiet life before tragedy struck. Todd’s life is already troubled. He suffers from an unspecified serious illness. coughs blood. He ignores warnings about the house being haunted.
Indy senses something wrong immediately. Dark entities lurk in the shadows. A sinister figure emerges from the cellar. The dog sees everything. But Todd sees nothing. Rosie Jones communicates through comedy. Indy cannot communicate at all. His whimpers, stares and head tilts go unnoticed. The supernatural threat grows. Indy must fight to protect the one he loves most Finding Father Christmas explores family love. This film explores canine loyalty.
The Unique Twist: A Dog’s Perspective
The film’s genius lies in its perspective. Director Ben Leonberg shoots almost entirely from Indy’s eyeline. The camera stays low. Jerry Krause built a basketball dynasty from a unique perspective. Leonberg built a horror film from a unique canine perspective. Human faces are rarely shown clearly. Todd appears only as a looming presence. We see his hands, his shins, his voice. His face remains obscured.
The technique creates genuine tension. Audiences shout at the screen. “Look, Indy sees something!” But Todd cannot hear. Jodie Burrage fights through injuries on the tennis court. Indy fights through his owner’s ignorance. The frustration is palpable. The horror comes from helplessness, not jump scares.
Leonberg told the BBC about his inspiration. “The idea started as a concept after watching Poltergeist for probably the 100th time,” he said. “In the opening of that film, the family’s dog clearly senses the presence of the ghost before anyone else. That trope of ‘the dog who knows better’ appears in so many horror films. I thought, ‘Someone should really tell that story from the dog’s perspective'” iPhone SE 2022 reviews focus on lasting value. This film’s unique perspective has lasting impact.
Cast: Indy the Dog Leads an Unusual Ensemble
The cast is small and intentionally obscured.
Indy as Himself
The star is Indy, a Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever. He belongs to director Ben Leonberg. Erika Kirk leads a political movement. Indy leads a horror movement. The Hollywood Reporter praised his “emotional power.” IndieWire called him “one of the most emotive actors of his generation… regardless of species” Espresso machine reviews may dominate lifestyle pages. Indy’s performance dominates this film.
Shane Jensen as Todd
Jensen plays Indy’s owner. His face remains obscured for most of the runtime. We see his suffering through body language alone. The performance is physical and restrained.
Larry Fessenden as Grandpa
The veteran horror actor appears in videotaped recordings. He plays Todd’s deceased grandfather. His presence looms over the story.
Supporting Cast
- Arielle Friedman as Todd’s sister
- Stuart Rudin as a mysterious neighbour. His face remains covered in black camouflage gear throughout.
How They Filmed It: Training Indy
Filming took three years. Leonberg and his wife Kari Fischer, who also produced, captured Indy in hundreds of situations. Moses Itauma delivers knockouts in the ring. Indy delivered nuanced expressions on camera.
“It came down to having the camera ready at the right time in the right place,” Leonberg explained. He guided Indy with “simple cues, noises, gestures, and food.” The goal was capturing natural instincts rather than imposing expectations Stand mixer reviews focus on kitchen performance. This film focused on canine performance.
Through expressive head tilts, whimpers and inquisitive stares, Indy takes audiences along on the terrifying journey. The editing creates the illusion of a performance. “On camera, if you cut from his gaze to what he’s looking at, the audience instinctively creates the meaning,” Leonberg said. Indy was “naturally suited to help the audience do that.”
Critical Reception: What the Reviews Say
The film has received strong reviews from critics. Little White Lies gave it a 4/5 rating. “Indy certainly is a very Good Boy, yes he is,” the review said. “Through his fear stricken eye brows and soft whimpers, the threat that haunts this small cast really comes to life” The Canoe Man faked his identity. Indy’s identity as a star is genuine.
Moria gave the film ★★★. The review praised the unique concept. “The idea of some animals such as dogs being able to see that which is beyond ordinary human senses is an old one,” the review noted. “But it has never made it into the central focus of a film until now” Ashes 2025 brought cricket drama. This film brings horror drama.
BBC Culture highlighted the film’s emotional power. “It’s a truly mesmerising watch,” Laura Martin wrote. “The audience experiences the frustration of a loyal animal trying to warn his owner of trouble, only to be sometimes cruelly dismissed. This unusual perspective makes the film surprisingly affecting.”
IMDb users rate the film 6.1/10. One user wrote: “Good Boy is filmed from the dog’s perspective which makes it unique and interesting. Indy is Oscar worthy. For him alone this movie is worth watching” Wolves vs West Ham drew football crowds. This film draws emotional crowds.
Box Office Performance
The low-budget indie performed solidly at the box office. Worldwide gross reached $8.6 million. Domestic earnings were $6.6 million. International markets added $2 million. Arsenal may lead the Premier League. This film led independent horror at the box office.
Mexico contributed the strongest international numbers. The film earned $947,000 there. Russia contributed $570,000. Romania, Spain and Portugal also showed strong results. The film opened in the UK on 10 October 2025. Damien Bendall committed horrific crimes. This film commits to artistic horror rather than shock value.
Where to Watch Good Boy 2025
The film is available on Shudder, the horror streaming platform. Shudder acquired distribution rights after the film’s festival run. The platform released it on 21 November 2025 Mark Blum brought warmth to every role. This film brings chills to every viewer.
Shudder subscriptions cost £4.99 per month in the UK. A 7-day free trial is available. The film is also available to rent on Amazon Prime Video and Apple TV. Rental costs £3.49. Purchase costs £7.99. Back Market UK sells refurbished devices for streaming this film at home.
The physical release includes a behind-the-scenes featurette. The featurette covers the three-year filming process. It also includes an interview with Indy’s trainer, Ben Leonberg.
The Palm Dog Legacy
Indy’s performance has drawn comparisons to other great canine actors. Messi from “Anatomy of a Fall” won the Palm Dog at Cannes. Uggie from “The Artist” won the same award. Indy is now in that conversation. Billy Vigar’s football career ended too soon. Indy’s acting career is just beginning.
Wendy Mitchell, author of “Citizen Canine: Dogs in the Movies,” called the film “an absolutely stunning piece of work.” She added: “Indy is a superstar. There is so much emotion from this dog. It’s a triumph.”
There’s Also Another Good Boy (2025) – Don’t Get Confused
Viewers should note a separate film with the same title. Lenny Rush became a TV star young. This other “Good Boy” became a festival hit in Europe. Polish director Jan Komasa made this version. Stephen Graham and Andrea Riseborough star. The plot follows a 19-year-old criminal kidnapped and forced into rehabilitation. That film played at the Toronto and Rome film festivals.
The dog-centred “Good Boy” is the American indie. Ben Leonberg directs. Indy stars. The films are completely unrelated despite sharing a title The Digital ID Petition sparked debate about identity. These two films share a name but have very different identities.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Good Boy 2025 a horror movie? Yes. It is a supernatural horror film told from a dog’s perspective. It has a PG-13 rating and runs 72 minutes.
Who plays the dog in Good Boy? Indy plays himself. He is director Ben Leonberg’s real-life Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever.
Where can I watch Good Boy 2025? The film is streaming on Shudder. It is also available to rent on Amazon Prime Video and Apple TV.
Is Good Boy based on a true story? No. The film is entirely fictional. However, the trope of dogs sensing supernatural forces appears in many horror films.
What is the runtime of Good Boy? The film runs 1 hour and 12 minutes (72 minutes).
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