A Dutiful Dog Sees Dead People In The Good Boy Trailer

A new twist on the old haunted house schtick might be the most anxiety-inducing movie of the year.

You gotta tread carefully when imperiling animals on screen. Kids are much easier – even Spielberg knew that back when he made Jaws. He was more than happy to give us a glimpse of little Alex Kintner getting torn to bloody pieces, but kept the fate of Tippett the dog, presumably eaten in the same scene, completely off screen. Which is a long way to say that festival fave Good Boy has a big job ahead of it, but early word suggests it absolutely nails the assignment.

Good Boy Trailer

What’s the plot?

After his grandfather dies, Todd moves into the old man’s house along with his faithful dog, Indy. Unfortunately, there’s some kind of horrible supernatural menace lurking in the joint. Todd seems oblivious, but Indy’s on the case…

So, yes, it’s a ghost story told from a dog’s point of view. It’s not the first film to try putting us in the… paws? …of an animal protagonist, and not even the first horror movie, depending on how stringent you want to be – a dog has a flashback in The Hills Have Eyes Part 2, for crying out loud. But the concept taps into something primal, doesn’t it? And you always wonder what your pets are looking at when they’re looking at nothing.

Who’s in it?

• Indy, co-writer and director Ben Leonberg’s own Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever. as Indy.
• Shane Jensen as Todd.
• Arielle Friedman as Todd’s sister.
• Larry Fessenden as Todd’s grandfather.

Stuart Rudin and Anya Krawcheck show up in support.

When’s it out?

Good Boy creeps into Australian cinemas like a pet wandering around your house in the dead of night for some unfathomable reason on October 9, 2025.

What’s the vibe?

This might be the most intriguing horror film of the year.