A Very Good Boy

Good Boy is a 2025 American supernatural horror film directed by Ben Leonberg, who co-wrote it with Alex Cannon. It stars Leonberg's dog, Indy, as himself, with Shane Jensen, Arielle Friedman, and Larry Fessenden in supporting roles. The film follows Indy as he attempts to rescue his owner Todd (Jensen), a young man with a chronic lung disease who is gradually engulfed by a supernatural presence after moving into his late grandfather's rural woodland home. The film marks the feature-length directorial debut of Leonberg, who conceived the idea after re-watching Poltergeist (1982) and noting the horror trope of dogs sensing the presence of ghosts before humans. He decided to write a traditional haunted house film from the perspective of a dog. Leonberg and Cannon began writing the screenplay in 2017, emphasizing action and perspective over dialogue to reflect the dog's point of view. Indy had no prior acting experience when Leonberg cast him as the lead. The film was shot over a three-year period in Harding Township, New Jersey, with Leonberg and Wade Grebnoel serving as cinematographers. For much of the shoot, only Indy, Leonberg, and producer Kari Fischer, Leonberg's wife, were present on set. Good Boy premiered at the 2025 South by Southwest Film & TV Festival on March 8, and was released theatrically in the United States by Independent Film Company and Shudder on October 3. The film was a commercial success, grossing $8.8 million on a $70,000 budget. It received generally positive reviews, with praise for its ambitious concept, technical craftsmanship, visual style, emotionally resonant themes, and Indy's performance in the lead role. However, some reviewers were critical of the storytelling, citing a convoluted narrative and pacing issues. For his performance, Indy won an Astra Award, making him the first canine to win a major film acting award that had previously recognized only human performers.