Indy Dog Stars in Horror Film Good Boy Premiered at SXSW

The horror film "Good Boy," released in October 2025, stands out by telling its haunted-house story entirely from the perspective of its canine star, Indy, a middle-aged Nova Scotia retriever owned by director Ben Leonberg and producer Kari Fischer. Originally intended as a short film, "Good Boy" evolved into a feature after Indy’s compelling on-screen presence and strong audience reactions prompted Leonberg to make him the lead. The film explores themes of love and protection through Indy’s relationship with his human owner Todd, as they face supernatural forces in a rural, long-vacant family home. At the premiere, Indy captured significant attention on the red carpet, accompanied by other dogs, and received praise for his intense, expressive performance that conveys deep emotion without dialogue. Critics and audiences have responded positively, with a high Rotten Tomatoes score and buzz around Indy’s unique role as a horror protagonist who sees dangers invisible to humans. Overall, "Good Boy" is described as a deeply emotional and innovative horror film that merges ghost story elements with a heartfelt love letter to the bond between dogs and their humans.