Kulture Korner: Good Boy Review

By: Jungha Kwon, Staff Writer

Directed by: Ben Leonberg

Written by: Alex Cannon, Ben Leonberg

Starring: Indy, Shane Jensen, Arielle Friedman

THE KELLOGGIAN'S RATING: 3.5/5 Cereals

Source: IMDb

Sometimes, when I'm feeling down, I like to watch cute animals. A movie featuring cute animals? Great. A film where a cute animal is the main character? Absolutely brilliant. For this month’s review, I’ve decided to cast aside my usual critically acclaimed fanfare and instead, review Good Boy (2025), a horror film that subverts the genre with the cutest doggo protagonist you’ve ever seen. Typical animal movies usually feature bright atmospheres and uplifting stories tailored to their target audience. Think Air Bud, Marley & Me, and The Art of Racing in the Rain. This is the first time I’ve seen a horror film told entirely from an animal's perspective.

It’s clear that a lot of thought went into the directing and screenplay to support its highly experimental premise. The narrative flow has quite a few ambiguous elements. Rather than solving a central mystery as the story progresses, there are small mysteries peppered throughout. While there are scattered clues that allow you to piece the story together, the plot is never spoon-fed to the audience. I believe this is an intentional directorial choice, keeping in mind that the story unfolds through the limited perspective of a dog. This approach effectively intensifies the horror elements and draws the audience deeper into the experience.

Above all, what’s most astonishing about this piece is the acting performance of the main character, Indy, a Nova Scotia duck tolling retriever. Having watched over two thousand films, this is the first time I realized an animal could act so incredibly well. And I know what you’re thinking but there was no CGI used. Indy delivers emotional performances better than many human actors. Given the genre, the role requires displaying a wide range of emotions, from trembling in fear to profound sadness, an undertaking that is demanding even for people. Indy completely captivates the audience. The film makes sure not to waste this brilliant act, maximizing its impact by centering the cinematography around the performance. Through various techniques rarely attempted in standard animal movies, such as extreme close ups and dynamic tracking shots, the film successfully captures both emotional depth and thrilling suspense.

Indy. Source: IMDb

However, viewing it strictly through the lens of a horror film, it’s hard to call it an outstanding masterpiece. The occasional jump scares will certainly startle you, but upon reflection, they feel cheap and poorly constructed. While the limitations of a low budget production are obvious, there are noticeably outdated choices in the timing and execution of the scares. The film does a decent job of maintaining a thrilling atmosphere, but I believe it ultimately fails to induce a state of pure terror. Especially in today's landscape where highly unique horror films are constantly being released, its shortcomings inevitably stand out. Looking at the story as a whole, there are many predictable moments, and clichés are relied upon far too often.

For these reasons, I think the film is much better suited for animal lovers than for hardcore horror fans. As you watch the movie, you get a clear sense of how much the director cherishes Indy and how deeply they have thought about the relationship between humans and animals. Indy is actually the director's own pet dog. The film beautifully illustrates, from a canine perspective, the profound love and devotion a dog has for its owner. Naturally, the owner's affection for the dog is also evident throughout the story. The mutual bond serves as the primary theme driving the narrative. Because the film is anchored in the dog's point of view, the owner’s actions dictate whether they are perceived as an object of love or a source of terror. A seemingly trivial action from an owner can feel monumental and terrifying to a dog. I believe this is not just a dramatic exaggeration for the sake of the movie. The actions of a relatively massive human might carry an entirely different and unimaginable weight for an animal.

While the film has some subpar elements, it’s a rare piece with an original premise and fresh directorial choices. Plus, you get to watch the incredibly adorable Indy, an absolute bonus. The extra 0.5 points on my Cereal rating scale is a highly subjective bonus given entirely because Indy really is just that cute. Animal lovers, this one’s for you.

More Kulture Korner Articles by Jungha Kwon: "Hamnet" Review Thunderbolts* Review "The Materialists" Review "Mission Impossible" Review "Piece by Piece" Review"