Dog’s POV Ghost Movie ‘Good Boy’ Impresses SXSW Critics

Just like this year’s very underrated Steven Soderbergh film Presence, the upcoming supernatural film Good Boy utilizes a non-traditional POV to tell its story. Whereas Presence was told through a ghost’s point of view, Good Boy tells it through a cute dog named Indy.

He’s is a loyal pooch that, “moves to a rural family home with his owner Todd, only to discover supernatural forces lurking in the shadows. As dark entities threaten his human companion, the brave pup must fight to protect the one he loves most.”

The movie premiered at SXSW last Friday where it received a positive reception. iHorror wasn’t able to attend this year’s festival, so we will have to rely on the reviews of others to build the hype. And this film really touched the hearts of those lucky enough to see it. According to Daily Dead’s reviewer Matt Donato, the film suffers a little from its human cast:

“Then again, no matter what, there’s a dog on screen outshining his humans. In that regard, Good Boy is a rousing success. It’s freaky and unsettling, brazenly unconventional, but most importantly, commits to creative payoffs that you’ve never seen before. Good Boy is more than a catchy premise or buzzy idea; it’s an original horror gamble that refuses ghoulish conventions.”

Screen Rant, in their review, also faults the human storyline but they say that doesn’t affect the overall experience.

“Instead, it’s Indy’s response to what unfolds that manages to be the most effective. This may ultimately be the point, but I think this speaks to the limits of this premise in only seeing things through Indy’s eyes. Still, Good Boy‘s dedication to seeing it through is admirable, especially in an action-heavy finale that really manages to get the heart racing.”

Over at Collider Nate Richard says:

“One of the big reasons why Good Boy works as well as it does is that it takes itself fairly seriously. This isn’t a comedy or a parody, it’s genuinely unnerving during certain segments, especially as Indy and Todd watch strange old home movies featuring the latter’s late grandfather, or as the former is visited by the ghost of a dog named Bandit, where he’s equally entranced yet terrified of the four-legged spirit. Leonberg steers away from talking down to the audience.”

Those seem like great reviews considering this film is doing something different. Experimental films can be hit or miss such as 2022’s Skinamarink or 2024’s In a Violent Nature. Both of those movies thought outside the box and had critics divided. Good Boy seems to be faring well right out of the gate.

There isn’t a trailer yet for Good Boy and nothing has been announced for when it will be released, but we will keep you updated as more information comes available.

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