Good Boy is set to arrive in theaters on October 3, released by Independent Film Company and Shudder. The film takes a familiar haunted house premise and shifts the perspective to a dog named Indy, who alone seems to recognize the dark forces hidden within. Indy and his owner Todd, played by Shane Jensen, leave city life behind to settle in a long-vacant family home. From the beginning, Indy is wary of the place.
He’s watching corners no one else notices, reacting to things unseen, and sensing echoes of the house’s violent past. As Todd begins to unravel under the weight of these unseen forces, Indy becomes the unlikely defender against a presence intent on pulling his human into the afterlife.
Directed by Ben Leonberg, who co-wrote the script with Alex Cannon, Good Boy has been described as a grounded paranormal thriller. Rather than a supernatural tale told through heightened spectacle, the film focuses on natural performances, lived-in spaces, and the instincts of a dog thrust into extraordinary circumstances.
Alongside Jensen, the cast includes Arielle Friedman as Vera, Larry Fessenden as Grandpa, and Stuart Rudin as Richard, with Leonberg himself appearing due to his close bond with Indy. The result is a story where horror blends with loyalty, offering a fresh take on the genre by asking what happens when the only one who sees the truth is the family pet.
