Good Boy (2025): Horror Film Where the Dog Sees Dead People Hits Theaters October 3

Finally, a horror movie that answers the age-old question: what if Lassie met The Conjuring? Good Boy unleashes into theaters October 3rd, featuring Indy the dog as a canine paranormal investigator who didn’t sign up for this ghost-hunting gig.

Director Ben Leonberg takes his Eagle Scout sensibilities and applies them to the urgent task of making us terrified of empty corners and invisible presences. Co-writing with Alex Cannon, Leonberg crafts a 73-minute exercise in “what’s that dog barking at?” anxiety that pet owners everywhere will recognize – except this time, the dog’s actually right.

The plot follows Indy and his human Todd (Shane Jensen) as they trade city life for a creepy country house that’s been vacant for suspiciously good reasons. While Todd sees rustic charm, Indy sees spectral warnings, phantom dogs, and visions of the previous owner’s decidedly non-peaceful demise. It’s basically every dog owner’s nightmare: your pet was right about that weird corner of the house all along.

Indy himself is a 35-pound retriever making his feature debut after starring in Leonberg’s short film of the same name. According to his bio, his special talents include “staring deep into your soul the moment before you fill his dinner bowl” – a skill that presumably translates well to horror acting. His costars include Arielle Friedman and genre veteran Larry Fessenden, who’s appeared in enough indie horror to know when the dog’s the smartest character in the room.

Leonberg brings an eclectic resume to his directorial debut – from VR production to dump truck driving, which honestly explains a lot about someone willing to direct a dog through 73 minutes of ghost encounters. The project earned recognition on the Columbia Blue List and as a ScreenCraft Film Fund Finalist, proving that “dog sees ghosts” is a pitch that resonates in 2025.

At 73 minutes, Good Boy promises a tight, terrifying tale that doesn’t overstay its welcome – much like a well-trained pet. The film asks the essential question: when malevolent forces threaten to drag your owner to the afterlife, what’s a good boy to do?

Good Boy haunts theaters October 3rd, 2025.

Perfect for horror fans who’ve always suspected their pets know something they don’t – and dog lovers who enjoy a little existential dread with their “who’s a good boy?” moments.