press release
Opening In Theaters on October 3rd
Directed by Ben Leonberg
Produced by Ben Leonberg
and Kari Fischer
And starring their dog, Indy
"A staggering pet performance... touches bittersweetly on the deep and abiding love a pet can have for his owner."
- Clint Worthington, ROGER EBERT.com
"Primed to be one of the most chilling movies of 2025... thanks to both an incredibly emotive dog and a skilled director who knows how to work with his canine companion."
- Mary Beth McAndrews, DREAD CENTRAL
"It’s easy to ascribe the success of GOOD BOY to the power of its canine star, but the film refuses to let Indy feel like a cheap gimmick... one of the best horror films so far this year."
- Rafael Motamayor, INDIEWIRE
"To say Indy's debut stands out from the pack is an understatement—it's paving the way for horror filmmakers to rethink the genre's limitations."
- Matt Donato, DAILY DEAD
"With an innovative hook and Indy’s mind-blowing lead performance, GOOD BOY is one of the most unique experiences of the year. It is big fun in a cute, furry little package."
- J Hurtado, SCREEN ANARCHY
Synopsis
Our canine hero, Indy, finds himself on a new adventure with his human owner—and best friend—Todd, leaving city life for a long-vacant family home in the country. From the start, two things are abundantly clear: Indy is wary of the creepy old house, and his affection for Todd is unwavering. After moving in, Indy is immediately vexed by empty corners, tracks an invisible presence only he can see, perceives phantasmagoric warnings from a long-dead dog, and is haunted by visions of the previous occupant’s grim death. When Todd begins succumbing to the dark forces swirling around the house, Indy must battle a malevolence intent on dragging his beloved Todd into the afterlife.
About Indy the Dog
“Indy” is a middle-aged, 35-pound retriever who has no idea that he’s a movie star. His favorite things are fetch, food, and his humans, Ben & Kari—in that order. His special talents include finding tennis balls and staring deep into your soul the moment before you fill his dinner bowl. Good Boy is Indy’s feature debut following his break-out role in the short film of the same name.
About the Director
Ben Leonberg applies an Eagle Scout-instilled can-do spirit! to making genre films that feel handmade. With a career spanning narrative, commercial, and VR production, Ben is no stranger to challenging shoots and delivering despite absurd obstacles. His filmmaking pairs fantastical events with deeply relatable stories, and he wields every tool at his disposal to make them a reality: from practical special effects, to innovation techniques adapted from VR, to his experience as a dump truck driver. Good Boy marks his feature directorial debut.
Ben earned his MFA in Directing from Columbia University, where he taught for over five years. He now teaches undergraduate filmmaking at Montana State University. During the making of Good Boy, the screenplay was selected for the Columbia Blue List, the film was a ScreenCraft Film Fund Finalist, and Ben received a 2023 Fellowship from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts.
Director: Ben Leonberg
Written by: Alex Cannon and Ben Leonberg
Cast: Indy the Dog, Shane Jensen, Arielle Friedman, Larry Fessenden
Genre: Horror, Thriller
Language: English
Runtime: 73 min
- Clint Worthington, ROGER EBERT.com
"Primed to be one of the most chilling movies of 2025... thanks to both an incredibly emotive dog and a skilled director who knows how to work with his canine companion."
- Mary Beth McAndrews, DREAD CENTRAL
"It’s easy to ascribe the success of GOOD BOY to the power of its canine star, but the film refuses to let Indy feel like a cheap gimmick... one of the best horror films so far this year."
- Rafael Motamayor, INDIEWIRE
"To say Indy's debut stands out from the pack is an understatement—it's paving the way for horror filmmakers to rethink the genre's limitations."
- Matt Donato, DAILY DEAD
"With an innovative hook and Indy’s mind-blowing lead performance, GOOD BOY is one of the most unique experiences of the year. It is big fun in a cute, furry little package."
- J Hurtado, SCREEN ANARCHY
Synopsis
Our canine hero, Indy, finds himself on a new adventure with his human owner—and best friend—Todd, leaving city life for a long-vacant family home in the country. From the start, two things are abundantly clear: Indy is wary of the creepy old house, and his affection for Todd is unwavering. After moving in, Indy is immediately vexed by empty corners, tracks an invisible presence only he can see, perceives phantasmagoric warnings from a long-dead dog, and is haunted by visions of the previous occupant’s grim death. When Todd begins succumbing to the dark forces swirling around the house, Indy must battle a malevolence intent on dragging his beloved Todd into the afterlife.
About Indy the Dog
“Indy” is a middle-aged, 35-pound retriever who has no idea that he’s a movie star. His favorite things are fetch, food, and his humans, Ben & Kari—in that order. His special talents include finding tennis balls and staring deep into your soul the moment before you fill his dinner bowl. Good Boy is Indy’s feature debut following his break-out role in the short film of the same name.
About the Director
Ben Leonberg applies an Eagle Scout-instilled can-do spirit! to making genre films that feel handmade. With a career spanning narrative, commercial, and VR production, Ben is no stranger to challenging shoots and delivering despite absurd obstacles. His filmmaking pairs fantastical events with deeply relatable stories, and he wields every tool at his disposal to make them a reality: from practical special effects, to innovation techniques adapted from VR, to his experience as a dump truck driver. Good Boy marks his feature directorial debut.
Ben earned his MFA in Directing from Columbia University, where he taught for over five years. He now teaches undergraduate filmmaking at Montana State University. During the making of Good Boy, the screenplay was selected for the Columbia Blue List, the film was a ScreenCraft Film Fund Finalist, and Ben received a 2023 Fellowship from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts.
Director: Ben Leonberg
Written by: Alex Cannon and Ben Leonberg
Cast: Indy the Dog, Shane Jensen, Arielle Friedman, Larry Fessenden
Genre: Horror, Thriller
Language: English
Runtime: 73 min
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