Good Boy is a haunted house movie quite unlike any ever made, as the slight story is told through the eyes of a dog, which makes for an unbearably tense viewing experience.
They say you shouldn’t work with children or animals on film, and while there isn’t a single kid in Good Boy, the entire movie revolves around a cute canine called Indy.
That dog belongs to co-writer (with Alex Cannon) and director Ben Leonberg, and he draws a remarkable performance out of his pet pooch – also called Indy – who appears heroic one minute, and terrified the next.
And while the story itself doesn’t quite live up to the furry star’s central turn, that clever conceit – and the brilliance with which it’s executed – makes Good Boy one of the most unique and original horror movies of the year.
What is Good Boy about?
The movie begins with Indy stressing over master Todd, who has clearly fallen ill in his apartment. Todd survives the medical emergency, but decides to move to the country for the sake of his health, so the pair of them up sticks and head to his late grandfather’s isolated house in the woods.
They arrive on a dark and rainy night, and it’s clear that Indy immediately has a problem with the place. You can’t blame him either. There’s plastic on the furniture, taxidermy on the shelves, plus creaky doors open of their own accord, to a creepy attic and even creepier basement.
“The cursed family house is a great place to relax,” jokes Todd’s sister Vera. But Todd seems blissfully unaware that something might be very wrong, even asking Indy “Am I crazy? It’s nice here, right?”
The dog doesn’t answer, for obvious reasons, but Indy starts witnessing shadows move, as well as a four-legged phantom only he can see roaming around the house.
The mystery deepens
While Indy is dealing with that paranormal threat, red flags also come Todd’s way, which he ignores, but we can use to try and piece the puzzle together.
Through old home movies – and conversations between the siblings – we learn that grandpa had a bunch of dogs, but they kept running away.
We also discover that no one ever stayed in the house for more than a few weeks aside from him, while a neighbor expresses surprise that Todd is staying there, after the way his grandpa died. Which Vera describes as “rotting from the inside out.”
The rest of the family hasn’t fared much better either, as the clan is buried in a nearby cemetery with one thing in common; they all died young. So what does it all mean?
Don’t expect every question to be answered
Unfortunately, while Good Boy poses multiple questions about the history of Todd’s relations and their cabin in the woods, the film is less interested in answering them.
There are useful details buried in throwaway lines, but just as much remains ambiguous, meaning those hoping for explanations and resolution will be frustrated by the third act.
But Good Boy is less about plot specifics, and more concerned with creating a mood. Human faces are rarely seen, being kept in the dark, or just out of frame.
Meaning it’s just us and the dog for most of the movie, a truly unique point-of-view from which to view events, and one that put me on the edge of my seat for the duration.
Is Good Boy good?
When Good Boy is a mystery movie about a house filled with secrets, it doesn’t really work, due to the scarce information on offer, and the amount that’s open to interpretation.
But when the movie focusses on Indy and that unseen force, it’s remarkable, thanks to superb framing, sound design, and shot choice, as well as that magical canine performance. I’ve never been more fearful for a character in jeopardy, and I’ve never been more proud when Indy does something selfless or brave.
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