Good Boy is one of those horror films that feels both familiar and completely new. Like The Entity, it experiments with perspective—but instead of trapping us in the eyes of a victimised woman, it plants us firmly in the viewpoint of a dog. The comparison highlights just how much fresher Good Boy feels. Where The Entity often dragged and left me cold, this film—though slow in its opening quarter—quickly builds momentum with some well-timed jump scares and a surprisingly emotional edge.
The real star is Indy, the Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever, whose presence alone makes the story work. By blurring or obscuring the faces of humans, the filmmakers cleverly force us to treat the dog as the central character. It’s a bold choice that creates a natural hierarchy: Indy isn’t just a witness, he is the story. At 72 minutes, the runtime is spot on—enough to develop atmosphere without padding things out.
That said, the camera work is a bit of a mixed bag. The decision to shoot so much from a low, dog-level angle is creative and unsettling at first, but it sometimes becomes gimmicky, especially when combined with intentionally muffled dialogue. A few scenes risk feeling disorienting rather than immersive, and the visual repetition makes you long for more variation in shot composition. Still, when it works, it really works—those moments where the camera lingers on empty space or tracks a noise in the distance are some of the film’s best scares.
Good Boy isn’t flawless—the story is thin, and the perspective trick occasionally wears out its welcome—but it’s an inventive, heartfelt horror that manages to be both eerie and tender. Thanks to its unusual focus and perfectly lean runtime, it’s a film that lingers, not least because of its four-legged lead.
Good Boy releases in cinema on 10th October 2025.
What's Your Reaction?
