The idea that animals can sense things beyond human perception has been around for a long time, and many people believe it's why we share such a strong connection with dogs—the foundation of the phrase "man’s best friend." Writer-director Ben Leonberg brings this notion to life in his first feature film, a clever horror movie that manages to be both heartwarming and genuinely frightening. When a man named Todd (Shane Jensen) and his dog Indy move into a rural home, the perceptive pup quickly realizes they're living in a haunted house filled with supernatural activity. Indy notices something isn’t right through visions he experiences while awake and asleep. He tries his best to warn Todd, but communication is difficult. Consequently, Indy attempts to protect his owner from increasingly dangerous threats, as Todd’s health also begins to decline mysteriously. While “Good Boy” might seem familiar in some ways, like a traditional horror story, I consider it an intelligent horror film because it strives for something more—a fresh perspective told through the eyes of a dog. The filmmaker keeps things interesting with varied camera angles and unique cinematography and editing techniques, which helped the movie earn an Independent Spirit Award nomination for best film editing, a rare achievement for this type of movie. The director also wisely kept the runtime concise at 1:13:00, long enough to maintain audience interest without feeling padded or drawn out. And then there’s Indy, the incredibly charming and heroic four-legged star who feels like Lassie but with an even more endearing personality. Indy's “performance” is remarkable, though it apparently took the filmmaker four years to gather enough usable footage working with a canine actor—a testament to his dedication. I’ve said before that I generally don’t care for horror films when they are dull, unoriginal, or overly violent. However, I’m increasingly drawn to smart horror movies like this one, films that actively try to avoid those pitfalls and offer viewers something genuinely substantial. And what better way to do that than by including an adorable dog? A film like that is almost guaranteed to win me over, and this one certainly does.

Source on TMDB