Good Boy Review: Immersive, Creative, and There's A Good Boy
- Chad Marriott
- 3 days ago
- 2 min read
Good Boy, starring Indy (THE DOG) and directed by Ben Leonberg, is one of the best experiences in the theatre so far this year. The story follows an owner moving into a "haunted house," where supernatural elements blur the lines of reality for the audience. The truly creative part, however, is that the story is told through the perspective of the dog. Indy can see things that humans can't see, creating an instant dramatic conflict between what's happening and what the human character (Tood, played by Shane Jensen).
Good Boy: Acting
Indy's ability to appear so expressive is largely due to two things: painstaking time, detail, and dedication from the production, and the fact that he's actually a good boy. The theatrical release rewarded viewers with a breakdown of how they made him seem so thoughtful and capable of expressing a wide range of emotions. The film deserves kudos for having such an engrossing performance from this dog.
Good Boy: Story
The story is immersive. The owner is clearly going through the process of dying, but to the dog, it appears as a supernatural descent. In terms of storytelling, it's an unbelievably effective device that makes the audience question whether death is a "natural" process or a supernatural one. And since dogs are our friends and have been prepared to protect their owners from what lurks in the darkness, the story has an instant setup that doesn't grow tired in the 73-minute runtime. More films should embrace the focus on the how and effectiveness of storytelling over the length. The nature of the perspective and the simple question of "what if your dog is actually staring at something in the corner of that dark room?" create an interesting story.
Good Boy: Review, Rating, and Ranking in Brief
Review: Good Boy was fantastic. It is rare to be completely engrossed by a story on the screen, especially for people who see so many movies. This year's best comparisons are The Presence and F1. One of those comparisons may seem odd, F1, but it's because it was so immersive. By putting the audience directly into this unique perspective, it draws them in.
The film also benefits from the interesting horror film question of what is real and what is imagined. By simply playing with lighting and small sounds (creeks and whistles), the film does more with less. It didn't rely on the social commentary of films like Sinners or Weapons (both excellent by the way), nor did it rely on the over-the-top budget of The Conjuring Last Rites. Instead, it relied on compelling storytelling.
That's why it is similar to The Presence. If you want a movie to keep you guessing without relying too much on lore or overwrought explanations, either of these films is a good option for you.
Rating: 5/5
Ranking: 7/34 (Ranking in the total number of films I've seen in the theater in 2025)
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