Overview

• IFC Films and Shudder released Good Boy in U.S. theaters on Oct. 3, with a U.K. rollout set for Oct. 10.
• Critics praise the originality of its dog’s‑eye perspective and Indy’s naturalistic screen presence, while noting a brief 72–73 minute runtime and a sagging middle act.
• Writer‑director Ben Leonberg cast his own Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever, Indy, and built the story almost entirely from the dog’s point of view with low‑angle cinematography and minimal human faces.
• Production drew on personal home videos and an extended, animal‑friendly shoot reported at roughly 400 days, with filmmakers emphasizing that no animals were harmed.
• After a buzzy SXSW premiere where Indy received a special recognition, reviewers highlight themes of illness, grief, and generational trauma alongside traditional haunted‑house scares.