Running Time: 72 Minutes
Certification: 15
Starring: Indy, Shane Jensen, Arielle Friedman, Larry Fessenden, Stuart Rudin, Hunter Goetz, Anya Krawcheck, Max
It is no secret that dogs often have unhappy fates in horror movies, so audiences can often feel wary knowing a canine will appear. It even led to the creation of a website for people that wish to know ahead of time whether a dog dies within a film. This popped up when the first trailer for Good Boy was released, as Google searches about the dog's fate apparently rose by 2000%. It was a clear indicator of audience investment in this horror film told from the dog's perspective, and co-writer/director Ben Leonberg thankfully backs up that premise with an effective feature.
The story unfolds as loyal dog Indy (playing himself) moves into a rural family home with his owner, Todd (Shane Jensen). While the human takes a trip down memory lane at his late grandfather's home, Indy discovers supernatural forces lurking in the shadows that threaten his human companion, leaving the pup to protect the one he loves most.
As Todd moves into what his sister calls "a cursed family house", ignoring warning signs to enjoy the isolation, family secrets are drip-fed to viewers which hints at a troubled past that led to this house being long abandoned. It can be frustrating to see him make irrational decisions while ignoring the clear danger before him, but this story is not about him. It is about his loyal four-legged friend who cannot verbalise the danger his owner is in, but is intent on saving him from the creepy occurrences.
Key to the dog perspective conceit is the lead performance, which is given free of dialogue or CGI enhancements. It all rests on Indy himself, and the pup absolutely delivers with his emotive portrayal. Such anguish is felt in his barks, while evident worry and heartbreak are touchingly visible on his face. It is an outstanding performance that is worthy of praise, capturing much more emotion with the slightest of looks than Jared Leto can deliver with a bored line reading.
When it comes to the horror elements, the focus is upon atmosphere. Something creepy is unfolding within this house, utilising darkened rooms, noises in the dark, and a worried expression to build the tension throughout. Admittedly, there are times when this can grow tiresome, especially when the premise can feel stretched thinly across the 72-minute runtime. Yet, that does not detract from the effective chills generated from seemingly simple elements, including one particular moment that will make your blood run cold. While it may not be a doggone masterpiece, Good Boy is a solid ode to man's best friend courtesy of the horror genre.
Good Boy is available in UK and Irish Cinemas from October 10th
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