Dogs see and smell things we don’t, so it only makes sense to make a horror movie told from a dog’s perspective. Too bad Good Boy is all bark and no bite.
Director and co-writer Ben Leonberg spent a year making the movie with his dog Indy, because rumors say that Indy is a diva and does what he wants when he wants, and only settles for the best puppy chow. It sounds like Indy needs to be brought down a peg or two, but here we are.
I love the concept of a dog-driven thriller—after all, how many times has your pet suddenly stared into your dark hallway or up the stairs or out the window, making you wonder what they see that you don’t, what serial killer is watching you from the shadows or ghoul lurking in the bathroom? I could totally see it working.
Unfortunately, Leonberg chose the weakest story imaginable. Instead of leaning into the concept with a fun, thrilling thriller, we are treated to a drab, somber film about death and its manifestations. The outcome is utterly predictable and unfulfilling, the story lacking mystery, intrigue, or suspense.
It’s a shame, because concept aside you can tell Leonberg has talent. Good Boy is technically well executed, with clever camera angles, framing, lighting, and editing. Indy makes for a compelling, likeable protagonist, and Leonberg films him with the love you’d expect from a guy who loves his dog enough to make a movie about him.
That makes for a good bark, but the bite isn’t there. Good Boy is only 70 minutes long, though it feels longer. A lack of thrills, scares, or any true sense of suspense results in a boring slog that is as satisfying as eating dog food.
Review by Erik Samdahl. Erik is a marketing and technology executive by day, avid movie lover by night. He is a member of the Seattle Film Critics Society.