In 2025, the horror genre experienced a remarkable year, with a wide range of films that spanned from body horror to creature features and psychological thrillers. Among these, one film stood out for its unique approach and compelling storytelling: "Good Boy." This horror movie, centered around a dog witnessing supernatural events, captured the attention of both critics and audiences alike. It received an impressive 90% score on Rotten Tomatoes and even earned praise from the legendary Stephen King.
Stephen King, known for his iconic works such as "It," "The Shining," and "Carrie," took to BlueSky on January 9 to highlight the film. He described it as "Ben Leonberg’s short and rather wonderful movie, ‘GOOD BOY,’ is shot from the dog’s perspective. It works."
The story follows Todd (Shane Jensen), a man suffering from chronic lung disease who moves to a remote farm with his loyal dog, Indy (playing himself). As Todd’s health worsens, Indy begins to witness strange apparitions and occurrences around the farm. Like any good boy, he does everything he can to keep his owner safe. For those concerned about whether the dog meets a tragic end, rest assured that Indy’s fate is ultimately satisfying by the end of the film.
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"Good Boy" was met with widespread acclaim, with many viewers finding it both terrifying and emotionally moving. A significant portion of the praise was directed towards Indy, whose performance was captivating. Director and co-writer Ben Leonberg explained that filming the movie took over three years and 400 days due to the need to limit shooting time with Indy to avoid stressing the dog. The effort paid off, and Indy was rewarded with more than just treats.
Indy made history by winning the Astra Award for best performance in a horror or thriller. He beat out notable talents like Alison Brie for "Together," Sally Hawkins for "Bring Her Back," and Ethan Hawke for "Black Phone 2." This makes Indy the first animal ever to win a major acting award intended for humans. Despite this achievement, Indy remains unaware of his status as the star of one of 2025’s best horror films.
What’s next for Indy? While it’s unclear, director Ben Leonberg has expressed openness to another animal-centric project in the future. In a Reddit AMA, he mentioned, "I’m very excited for my next film to have human actors (who can read a script and won’t wander off set to chase squirrels) but I do think I’ll return to animal storytelling at some point in the future." If nothing else, it’s likely that Indy will make a cameo in his next film.
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