Skip to content
Wherever I Look Logo

Wherever I Look

  • HomeExpand
    • About Wherever I LookExpand
      • Our Writers
    • Editorial Guidelines
    • Cookie & Privacy Policy
    • Contact Us
    • HTML Sitemap
  • TV Shows
  • Movies
  • Character Guide
  • Live Performances
  • Videos
Wherever I Look Logo
Wherever I Look

Home - Movies - Good Boy – Review and Summary

Good Boy – Review and Summary

Good Boy lacks the genuine fear that something may happen to its lead, thus taking away from its potential engagement.

ByAmari Allah Hours Posted onOctober 2, 2025 5:35 PMOctober 2, 2025 5:35 PM
Title Card – Good Boy

Spoiler Alert: This summary and review contains spoilers.


Additionally, some images and text may include affiliate links, meaning we may earn a commission or receive products if you make a purchase.


  • "Good Boy" Film Details
  • Movie Summary
    • Cast and Characters
      • Indy (Indy)
      • Todd (Shane Jensen)
      • Vera (Arielle Friedman)
    • What To Expect In "Good Boy" (Rated PG-13) – Content Overview
  • Review and Commentary
    • Highlight(s)
      • While Indy's Fear Doesn't Scare You, It Is Understood [82/100]
    • On The Fence
      • Connecting With Characters Can Be Hard [72/100]
    • Overall
  • What To Check Out Next

“Good Boy” Film Details

  • Runtime: 1 Hour(s) and 12 Minutes
  • Seen Via: Early Screening
  • Released On: In Theaters
  • Public Release Date: October 1, 205
  • Director(s): Ben Leonberg
  • Writer(s): Alex Cannon, Ben Leonberg
  • Primary Language: English
  • Genre(s): Horror
  • Rating: Rated PG-13
  • Distributor: Independent Film Company, Shudder
  • Official Site Link

Movie Summary

Indy’s owner, Todd, is sick. He has been for quite some time to the point that his sister, Vera, is deeply worried, and calls constantly, even visits him frequently. Because he doesn’t like all this fuss, Todd decides to move to their grandpa’s home out in a rural area, far from civilization, and for Indy, the shadows, the sounds, what they smell and sense, make nearly every day a nightmare-inducing experience.

Cast and Characters

Indy (Indy)

Indy looking for Todd – Good Boy
Indy – Good Boy (Independent Film Company, Shudder)
  • Check out other productions we’ve covered starring this actor: [Link to Actor’s Tag]
  • Character Summary: Indy is Todd’s dog, whom he has had since he was a puppy, and who is his best friend.

Todd (Shane Jensen)

  • Check out other productions we’ve covered starring this actor: [Link to Actor’s Tag]
  • Character Summary: Todd is a relatively young man who clearly is sick with a disease that is threatening his mortality. He is coughing up blood, and how much longer he has is debatable.

Vera (Arielle Friedman)

  • Check out other productions we’ve covered starring this actor: [Link to Actor’s Tag]
  • Character Summary: Vera is Todd’s sister, who is immensely worried about him.

What To Expect In “Good Boy” (Rated PG-13) – Content Overview

  • Dialog:
    • Cursing: Occasional
  • Violence:
    • Gore/ Blood/ Body Horror: Bleeding
  • Miscellaneous:
    • Drinking: Yes

Review and Commentary

Highlight(s)

While Indy’s Fear Doesn’t Scare You, It Is Understood [82/100]

It’s clear when it comes to Good Boy that Indy’s fear is rooted in what they can uniquely smell and sense. His owner is dying, and he senses that, and it potentially is manifesting into a dark entity. One that is maybe a version of Todd that is who Indy sees him as, especially as Todd’s anger morphs him into something else. Heck, it could even be Indy’s fear of something happening to him, for while Indy is doing their best to be there for Todd, it isn’t beyond their understanding that if something happens to Todd, Indy is next.

So when it comes to this dark figure, whether it is Todd at his worst, a stranger taking Indy, or maybe whatever is in the basement, you understand why, for a dog, the fear of the unknown is potent.

On The Fence

Connecting With Characters Can Be Hard [72/100]

While having a dog star as the lead is certainly different, it comes with caveats. First and foremost, it creates a double-edged sword. Dog lovers likely aren’t going to like the idea of Indy being put in perilous situations, where it can be teased that they may get scared, hurt, or even killed.

On top of that, Indy can make noises, some faces, but this isn’t a movie reliant on how cute they are. This isn’t a movie made for kids; it is for adults, and the appeal of Indy looking like they could star in a family movie wanes quickly. There needs to be a sense of peril for the film to work as a horror. Which Good Boy never does.

On top of that, there isn’t a strong reason to invest in any of the humans who could be harmed, assuming the dark entity isn’t just Indy’s fears manifesting from shadows. Todd, while it is sad and acknowledged that he is dying, as for what he is dying from, who he is beyond Vera’s brother, Indy’s owner, and someone who is sick? That isn’t gone into. Heck, most of the time you can’t even see his face.

Then, with Vera, she is maybe on screen two or three times, and outside of that, she is a voice worried about Todd. Again, who she is is not explored, so this leaves you with a movie that presents no real threat to its leads, no notable reason to invest in them, and lacks scary moments to at least make any of them a medium.

Overall

Our Rating (77/100): Mixed (Divisive)

Good Boy may have an interesting idea, but what is required to make this a good horror movie, one that truly creates a sense of fear, isn’t present. Indy is rarely, if ever, in a state where you think they will notably get hurt. His owner, while in an unfortunate situation, doesn’t have anything to connect with or his sister. Add on a villain that is more so Indy’s fear, maybe things sensed from Todd’s grandfather and his grandfather’s dog, and you get a film which feels much longer than an hour and 12 minutes, and, again, while an interesting idea, it doesn’t go as far as it would need to be a good one.

What To Check Out Next

Check out our movies page for our latest movie reviews and recommendations.

  • Title card for Angels of Death anime.

    Angels of Death: Season 1/ Episode 1 “Kill me… please” [Series Premiere] – Recap/ Review (with Spoilers)

    A seemingly innocent girl trapped in a building that resembles a multi-level hell, one which may just be impossible to escape alive.

    Read More Angels of Death: Season 1/ Episode 1 “Kill me… please” [Series Premiere] – Recap/ Review (with Spoilers)Continue

  • Title Card

    Totally Killer (2023) – Review and Summary

    “Totally Killer,” as its title implies, is a fun horror movie to watch but ultimately is more content to consume than a new movie to put into your annual Halloween rotation.

    Read More Totally Killer (2023) – Review and SummaryContinue

  • Beth (Heather Graham)

    Suitable Flesh (2023) – Movie Review and Summary (with Spoilers)

    “Suitable Flesh” may lack an explanation regarding what is happening, but you’ll be so locked in you may forget your questions until after the movie is over.

    Read More Suitable Flesh (2023) – Movie Review and Summary (with Spoilers)Continue


Follow/Subscribe To Our External Pages

  • YouTube
  • TikTok
  • Amazon
  • Google
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • X

Sending
User Review
0/100 (0 votes)

Listed Under Categories: Movies, Mixed (Divisive)

Related Tags: Alex Cannon, Arielle Friedman, Ben Leonberg, Horror, Independent Film Company, Indy, Rated PG-13, Shane Jensen, Shudder

Amari Allah

Amari is the founder and head writer of Wherever-I-Look.com and has been writing reviews since 2010, with a focus on dramas and comedies.

Facebook Instagram YouTube

Post navigation

Previous Previous
Reasonable Doubt: Season 3 Episode 4 – Recap and Review
NextContinue
Good Boy (2025) – Video Review

Site Pages

  • Home
  • About Wherever I Look
  • Contact Us
  • Cookie & Privacy Policy
  • Disclaimer & Disclosure Policy
  • Editorial Guidelines
  • HTML Sitemap
  • Our Writers
The Wherever I Look logo featuring a film reel, a video game controller, old school TV set, a stage, and more done by artist Dean Nelson.

The overall goal of Wherever I Look is to fill in that space between the average fan and critic and advise you on what’s worth experiencing.

Category Pages

  • Articles
  • Character Guide
  • Collected Quotes
  • Live Peformances
  • Movies
  • Our Latest Reviews
  • TV Series
  • Video Page
Scroll to top

Wherever I Look logo

Welcome to Wherever I Look, your go-to destination for insightful and personable reviews of the latest TV episodes, movies, and live performances. Also, dive into our character guides and discover what’s truly worth your time.

  • Home
    • About Wherever I Look
      • Our Writers
    • Editorial Guidelines
    • Cookie & Privacy Policy
    • Contact Us
    • HTML Sitemap
  • TV Shows
  • Movies
  • Character Guide
  • Live Performances
  • Videos
Search