Horror followers had been not too long ago handled to an exciting film trailer. The title of the movie is Good Boy, and it exhibits a household and a canine being haunted by what seems to be a supernatural entity. Directed by Ben Leonberg, Good Boy tells its story from the attitude of a canine. After premiering at SXSW months in the past to very constructive opinions, the movie secured a theatrical launch in October 2025.
However as we eagerly await the discharge of Good Boy, we discover ourselves reminiscing about one other “canine horror” movie. It is fully completely different, however its supply materials bears some resemblance to Leonberg’s film. 1983’s Cujo is predicated on the 1981 novel by Stephen King, and it tells the story of a mom and son who’re making an attempt to avoid wasting themselves from a rabid canine. That is one underrated function you would possibly wish to try earlier than Good Boy, and it’s really streaming on Shudder.
Naturally, you will be asking your self how they are often related, apart from that includes canine creatures as stars. Whereas Leonberg may not have been impressed by Lewis Teague’s adaptation of the literary traditional, King cleverly used a bit one thing in his novel to present Cujo extra of a character. Indy, the canine in Good Boy, just isn’t the one canine who has emotions. Cujo does as nicely. He is only a bit extra… expressive.
What Do ‘Good Boy’ and ‘Cujo’ Have in Widespread?
Indy and Cujo Are Canines, However One’s a Good Boy, and the Different Is Very, Very Naughty
Indy, who is definitely Leonberg’s canine in actual life, begins seeing issues at nighttime. As usually occurs with our canine companions, he additionally reacts to unusual sounds and finally will get the braveness to discover one thing that is not of this world. It stays to be seen if this premise can maintain a full-length function, however early opinions are constructive. It is also fairly apparent that the promoting level of the film stays telling the story from the canine’s perspective.
Cujo, then again, is a killing machine. After getting bitten by a bat, the unvaccinated canine contracts rabies, activates his homeowners, and viciously assaults those that dare step contained in the ranch the place he lives. Cujo is a terrifying creature function that, at first look, appears to share little in widespread with Good Boy. Nevertheless, within the guide, King offers Cujo a voice, permitting the canine to recount some occasions.
Cujo signifies or thinks, no matter you favor, that he lives with THE MAN, THE WOMAN, and THE BOY (sure, in all caps). He is a reasonably good canine, and he appears to be completely happy. He is additionally very afraid of turning into a BADDOG. His thoughts really begins getting fuzzy when the rabies signs arrive, and you may learn because the character falls into the state of insanity attributable to the illness. It’s a very attention-grabbing literary useful resource that King makes use of, however the film deliberately discards it for apparent causes. Cujo, a speaking canine? No method.
Does the Canine Die in ‘Good Boy’?
Properly, Hopefully Not
The next has spoilers for Cujo.
After the trailer was launched, everybody began asking if Indy died in Good Boy. Primarily based on the trailer, Indy does not escape the supernatural forces unscathed, and a few yelping might be heard. Nevertheless, it is unlikely that Leonberg will shock viewers so severely, as audiences are certain to turn into emotionally invested within the furry protagonist. We’ll have to attend till Good Boy is launched, however we simply do not see the canine dying this time.
However, you must know that in Cujo, the canine does die. However on this film, the creature’s a rabid killing machine that can cease at nothing till he can kill everybody he faces, together with his family. We’re unhappy to report that Cujo dies by the hands of Donna. Good Boy is releasing on October 3, 2025.
Good Boy
- Launch Date
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March 8, 2025
- Runtime
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73 minutes
- Director
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Ben Leonberg
- Writers
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Ben Leonberg, Alex Cannon