“Good Boy” is Not Your Kid’s Air Bud
“Who’s a good boy?” It’s a question that’s been uttered from owner to pet since the beginning of time. Dogs are humanity’s best friend. Dolly Parton tells a story of a low point in her life when she was searching for answers from God, but it was her little dog, Popeye, who saved her life. Most pet owners will tell you that the little creature in their life means more than they’ll ever be able to put into words. If a picture is worth a thousand words, though, how much is a movie worth? Whatever it may be, that’s how much love exists between co-writer Alex Cannon and director/co-writer Ben Leonberg and the star of their film, Good Boy.
Todd (Shane Jensen) decides to move to an old family farmhouse in order to get a break from the city life that’s grinding him down. Along for the ride is his best friend, Indy (a Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever playing himself). When the duo arrives at the house, Todd is optimistic that the crisp country air is exactly what he needs, but Indy is more cautious. He’s staring at shadows in the corners of rooms, sensing something Todd’s eyes couldn’t see. When dark forces start to take control of Todd, it’s up to Indy to help his best friend.
Shudder & IFC
Good Boy is told from Indy’s point of view. Make no mistake, this is no Air Bud. Indy’s performance, and what an act it is, was not bolstered by CGI or human-provided voiceover. It feels insane to say, but Indy gives one hell of a performance and to call it anything less would be disrespectful. Indy is likely unaware that he’s part of a film and probably isn’t making conscious acting choices, but one could argue that he’s been method acting for his entire life leading up to this movie. Indy’s one job is to protect, so that’s what he does. There’s a well of hope, love, fear, and loyalty in his eyes as he watches Todd’s wellbeing steadily decline. Good Boy opens with a montage of Indy growing up, from puppy to the middle-aged dog he is today. This immediately creates a tangible, homegrown feeling to the film. A sensation that all of our dogs would do the same for us if the situation arose.
A horror movie told from the perspective of a dog has the potential to be gimmicky above all else. That’s not the case with Good Boy. Beyond providing a platform for one of the best new dogs in show business, there’s a profound independent spirit to the film that shows off Leonberg’s deft hand. The use of off-angles and perspective shifts embeds the audience in the house with Todd and Indy. This allows Leonberg to construct some of the most unsettling scares this side of Hereditary.
Shudder & IFC
The plot of Good Boy does net out on the more sparse side, and the human viewers may feel they want something more from it in terms of Todd’s story. Especially when it comes to an unknown demonic entity, because there’s often a desire to understand the deep lore of what brought this demon to our character’s life. However, one could argue that this isn’t Todd’s movie. That Indy is our entrypoint, and it’s not like he could do what protagonists usually do when they find themselves in a similar situation. Indy’s not trotting down to the local library to comb through microfiche or dust off old books. He’s not Wishbone. He doesn’t know what’s happening to Todd any more than we do, but Indy knows he loves Todd, and that’s enough.
Good Boy is a breath of fresh air, a labor of love shot over the course of years. Leonberg’s vision is clear, thrilling, and emotional. A perfect way to start your October horror season, Good Boy will remind you that man’s best friend is the most loyal friend we have, but you didn’t need that reminder, did you?
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