For weeks, followers of latest horror motion pictures have been buzzing about Good Boy, the indie fright flick informed from a canine’s perspective, and one main concern has dominated the dialog surrounding the 2025 film releases: Does the pup make it out alive? Now, we lastly have a solution, and it’s excellent news for canine lovers all over the place.
Per an IndieWire report, the movie, directed by Ben Leonberg, has been using a wave of viral momentum ever since its trailer debuted earlier this month, racking up greater than one million views in simply 4 days and spiking Google searches for “Does the canine in Good Boy die?” by over 2,000 %. The movie, which screened at SXSW earlier this 12 months, stars Leonberg’s personal Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever, Indy, and sure, a number of sources affirm Indy makes it by means of the story unscathed.
The studio behind it, IFC, was so inspired by the response that they’ve determined to take the film extensive, increasing its theatrical rollout on October 3 as an alternative of retaining it restricted. At simply 72 minutes, Good Boy is reportedly quick, sharp, and fully distinctive in its perspective.
The story follows Indy as he adjusts to a brand new house together with his proprietor, solely to sense {that a} sinister presence lurks in the home. It’s a intelligent spin on a well-recognized horror setup because the human characters can’t see the supernatural risk, however their loyal pet can, and it turns into a query of whether or not the canine can shield his human earlier than it’s too late.
Followers at SXSW who caught the premiere had been fast to share on-line that the canine protagonist survives, immediately easing the largest fear for potential viewers. That revelation alone could also be sufficient to transform cautious canine lovers into curious ticket consumers.
The reassurance about Indy’s destiny isn’t the one issue fueling pleasure. Early critiques have been glowing, with Good Boy holding a 95% rating on Rotten Tomatoes from its first wave of critics. A lot of the reward highlights each the movie’s creative perspective and the emotional bond at its heart, hinting that this might be a horror story with actual coronary heart. And whereas there are many nice motion pictures with speaking canines, this isn’t one in all them — nor will Indy be becoming a member of our listing of the meanest pets from motion pictures and TV exhibits. True to its title, this Good Boy appears to be successful audiences over primarily based on its trailer and early buzz.
For IFC, the momentum couldn’t be higher timed. Following latest success with a number of the greatest horror motion pictures of latest reminiscence, like Late Night time with the Satan and final 12 months’s unrated In a Violent Nature, the corporate seems to have one other style hit on its fingers, one with broader attraction due to its PG-13 ranking. A part of the intrigue right here is how Good Boy faucets into an virtually common concern of one thing horrible occurring to our pets.
That concern was so pronounced that it virtually turned a part of the film’s advertising because the web merely needed to know if Indy survives. By addressing it early (with out spoiling different plot particulars), the filmmakers could have ensured the film appeals to horror diehards and animal lovers alike.
Good Boy hits theaters on Friday, October 3, earlier than finally making its approach to streaming for everybody with a Shudder subscription.