The IndieWire handbook praised Ben Leonberg’s Good Boy at the 2025 SXSW Festival, calling it “one of the most emotionally resonant performances of its era.” The “performer” in question isn’t a freshly‑minted Juilliard graduate or a seasoned Actors Studio alumnus—it’s a four‑legged star.
Enter Indy, a canine protagonist who carries the entire 73‑minute horror story on his shoulders (or, more accurately, his paws). Freelance critic Rafael Motomayor hailed the film as one of the best scares of the year, noting that every terrifying moment is filtered through Indy’s perspective as darkness descends upon his home.
Our hero, Indy, embarks on a fresh chapter with his human companion and best friend, Todd, when they trade the bustle of the city for a long‑abandoned country farmhouse. From the moment they step inside, two facts become crystal clear: Indy is uneasy about the sinister atmosphere of the old house, and his devotion to Todd is unshakeable. Almost immediately, Indy is perturbed by vacant corners, sniffs out an unseen presence that only he can perceive, receives cryptic warnings from a deceased dog, and is plagued by nightmarish visions of the house’s former occupant meeting a gruesome end. As Todd begins to fall under the sway of the malevolent forces lurking within the walls, Indy must confront the evil intent on dragging his beloved owner into the beyond.
Written by Alex Cannon and Ben Leonberg—who, for comedic effect, suggested the film should have featured a Leonberger—the project earned glowing reactions at SXSW. Motomayor elaborated, “We’ve all felt that spine‑tingling moment when a pet senses something beyond our perception—whether it’s a sudden bark at an empty wall, a stare into the void, or a frantic dash toward an invisible quarry. That unsettling feeling becomes downright terrifying when layered with classic horror imagery, as Good Boy does in abundance. It not only delivers shivers but also serves as a heartfelt homage to the deep bond between humans and their furry companions.”
The trailer is available below, and the movie is slated for a theatrical release on Friday, October 3, courtesy of IFC/Shudder. Mark your calendars—this dog‑led nightmare is set to howl its way into the horror canon 2025.
