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A ‘heartbreaking’ horror film that even the most hardened fans were scared to watch finally has a streaming release date.
Good Boy, directed by Ben Leonberg, created considerable buzz following its premiere at SXSW Festival for one reason – its adorable lead character.
The supernatural film is told from the perspective of Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever Indy, the real-life dog of Leonberg and his wife and producer, Kari Fischer.
Good Boy follows Indy and their owner, Todd (Shane Jensen), as they move to the remote home of Todd’s grandfather (Larry Fessenden) after he suffers an unspecified medical emergency.
Todd’s sister, Vera (Arielle Friedman), warns them that the house is haunted, and it doesn’t take long for her to be proved correct as Indy and Todd begin experiencing sinister happenings in the house.
After terrifying and inducing fans to tears in cinemas, Good Boy is finally heading to Shudder via Amazon Prime Video for you to watch from the comfort of your own home on November 21.
It received rave reviews from critics and fans alike, with Metro’s 4.5-star review labelling Good Boy ‘one of the best horror films you will see in 2025.’
Good Boy holds a certified fresh 90% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with the critics’ consensus reading: ‘Good Boy is a visually striking, emotionally devastating horror film that eschews genre conventions to deliver a uniquely haunting and conceptually ambitious experience.’
In their review, Observer wrote: ‘The story itself is relatively slim, but the picture manages to be both hair-raising and heartbreaking.’
Little White Lies said: ‘While other horror directors are busy chasing their tails trying to create genre-defining moments, Ben Leonberg has succeeded in creating a thrilling mid-budget horror that goes beyond pandering to animal lovers or tugging at our heartstrings.’
Empire gushed: ‘A highly effective indie horror that overcomes the familiarity of its scares with the brilliantly executed novelty of its canine conceit.’
Freelance film critic Rebecca Sayce shares her review of Good Boy
Using man’s best friend as Good Boy’s focus is not only an engaging twist in the horror genre, but it’s a choice that ups the stakes tenfold.
Sure, we may care about Todd’s plight as malevolent forces target the vulnerable, sick man, but even the most hard of hearts will find their bottom lip quivering when Indy whines in fear.
It has long been theorised that dogs can sense beings beyond our comprehension, and it’s that which makes Indy the perfect hero, as he senses the danger long before her beloved owner does – at which point, it’s far too late.
The trope allows tension to bubble from the moment Indy first gazes into the distance and lets out a bark, seemingly at nothing. Long before the skin-crawling spectre is seen onscreen, I found myself hiding behind my pillow and checking each inch of the screen for what Indy had discovered.
But Good Boy isn’t just terrifying; it is an emotional rollercoaster detailing the devotion Indy has for his owner, even when his debilitating health issues and creeping madness in the house lead him to become neglectful.
Meanwhile, The Guardian said: ‘The craft on display does, however, convince you that Leonberg has what so many other lazier, jumpscare-driven horror film-makers don’t currently possess, tasking himself with a pretty lofty narrative and technical feat and mostly pulling it off.’
Following the film’s release and subsequent success, Indy petitioned for the Oscars to recognise animal actors for their efforts in cinema.
IFC directed an open letter to the Academy, signed by Indy, asking for animal actors to be considered in the Best Actor category.
So far, the Academy has not responded, but plenty of fans of the film took to social media to express that Indy deserved an Oscar for his performance in the film.
Good Boy comes to Shudder via Amazon Prime Video on November 21
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