The horror movie Good Boy, starring a dog, will be released in theaters on October 3 in the United States and October 10 in the United Kingdom. This film has captured the audience’s attention since its premiere at the SXSW festival, where it won the Howl of Fame Award and currently holds an impressive 95% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
A movie destined to be a resounding success
The story follows Indy, a loyal Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever, who moves with his owner to a haunted country house, only to discover that supernatural forces want to harm his human. Director Ben Leonberg, along with his wife and dog, undertook a long production process that culminated in this unique film. Leonberg was inspired by the trope of the dog in horror movies, developing a narrative centered on animal behavior in the face of the unknown.
The reception of the trailer has been so positive that the film has moved from a limited release to a wider launch in theaters, something that Leonberg considers a great achievement, although he always believed in the project. “It was an odyssey to make the movie… It was just my wife, my dog, and me for years,” the director commented. The connection between Indy and the audience is undeniable, as he has already been recognized on the street before the premiere. “We went out for coffee and someone asked, ‘Hey, is that the famous dog?'” Leonberg recounted.
The idea of centering the story on a dog comes from the tradition of horror cinema, where canines often “know better.” Leonberg had been working on the script for several years before having Indy, but the little dog quickly became the true protagonist of the film. “We are very happy that Indy is the star of Good Boy, we can’t imagine another dog in this role,” said the director.
