Every dog owner has seen it: that unblinking stare at a vacant corner, or an inexplicable bark at seemingly nothing. But what if our dogs can see something we can’t?
The new paranormal thriller “Good Boy,” directed by Ben Leonberg, explores this idea through the eyes of its adorable protagonist, “Indy,” an 8-year-old Nova Scotia Tolling Retriever and Leonberg’s real-life pet.
The film was selected for the 2025 SXSW Film & TV Festival, where Indy took home the “Howl of Fame” award, and opens in theaters on October 3.
Inspiration for the Film
The initial idea for “Good Boy” came to Leonberg over ten years ago while he was revisiting the opening of “Poltergeist,” which centers on a Golden Retriever. As he watched the film, he asked himself, “What if the family dog was the only one who knew the house was haunted?”
Leonberg and his wife, Kari Fischer, who also produced the film, got Indy years before his acting debut. But they realized there were many characteristics of Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retrievers that would make them an ideal fit for a career as a horror star. Tollers are an affectionate, intelligent, and highly energetic breed. Plus, they have those alert and expressive almond-shaped eyes, as a well as their signature high-pitched bark that can sound like a scream. “He does it when he’s excited or when he’s frustrated or both at the same time,” explains Fischer.
So did Leonberg always know Indy was destined for canine stardom? Absolutely not. “We certainly didn’t think he was going to be a movie star. I’d been thinking about this idea for a haunted house movie told from the perspective of a dog. We got Indy to be our friend and trained him just for basic obedience and to go on walks and hikes with us, and the idea to make a film with him slowly came about,” he says.
While he was still developing the film’s concept and script, Leonberg created short proof-of-concept films with Indy, aiming to establish how he could make a horror film centered on a dog. “For a filmmaker, if you have a character who has this really thoughtful look that you can use as an objective shot to then pair with a shot/reverse shot, you can create a performance just out of that kind of intense, ear-turning look,” says Leonberg. “That was one of the early things we figured out that he had that was really specific and special to Indy that we could kind of build an entire movie off of.”
Training and Filming Considerations
Filming “Good Boy” was a unique challenge as its lead actor, Indy, had no idea he was in a film. While Indy has a magnetic on-screen presence, he’s a dog above all else, so he has no understanding of marks or cues and can’t read a script or a call sheet. “It was a constant riddle to kind of figure out how to make it look like Indy was giving a performance,” says Leonberg. “As we figured out what the movie was, we learned a way to work with him that was very unique and embraced his very specific personality.”
Leonberg took over three years and 400 days of filming to complete the film. Actors came in during the final stage of principal photography or provided voiceovers during post-production. But, for the majority of this period, filming took place on closed sets with only Leonberg and Fischer present.
Eliciting Indy’s performance involved making silly noises, enticing him with treats, and utilizing basic obedience training. It also helped that his two favorite people were always around. “He’s definitely a dog who loves to have a job, and that’s part of why it worked really well for the film,” says Fischer. “Every day we had about an hour or so where we were providing him stimulus, which was really exciting for him, where he was essentially having to solve little riddles every day of ‘What am I supposed to be doing? Why are mom and dad making these weird noises?'”
Their Behind-the-Scenes Bond
When watching Leonberg and Fischer interact with Indy, it’s clear they have a genuine and truly special lifelong bond. This deep connection was a crucial aspect of the film’s success, as Leonberg also acted in it, capturing the duo’s real-life chemistry on screen.
“Learning to be patient, learning how to work with him, was really special,” says Leonberg. “We feel incredibly bonded to him, not just because we made a film with him, but because we’ve had to learn all his specific ins and outs, how he works [on set], and how he works as a member of our family.”
Understanding everything that comes with owning a Toller has also made a huge difference in the family’s life on set and at home. “I grew up with Labs and Ben grew up with Goldens, and this is not the same dog at all,” says Fischer. The couple emphasized that while they’ve loved owning Indy and (nearly) everything that comes along with owning a Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever, this breed won’t be a good fit for every household. “With a Toller, you’re getting a very high energy, high drive, cheerful, little banshee,” Leonberg jokes.
More Than a Horror Film
At its core, “Good Boy” is more than your standard horror flick. By centering Indy’s performance, the film invites audiences to see the world through the eyes of a dog, who wishes for nothing more than to love and protect his best friend. But like many horror films, the film was made with some behind-the-scenes ingenuity and features a compelling bond between its characters.
Some dog lovers may be apprehensive about the idea of watching a horror film with a canine protagonist. After all, movies in this genre aren’t meant to leave the viewer with warm, fuzzy feelings. But rest assured, the filmmakers have gone as far as releasing a PSA addressing audiences’ concerns about Indy’s fate.
Whether you’re drawn to thrilling scares or simply want to spend some time following around an adorably fearsome dog star, be sure to mark your calendar and check out “Good Boy” in a theater near you.