Is there anything that the internet adores more than dogs? (Cat enthusiasts, your voices are drowned out!)
A passion for dogs is an essential element that makes Good Boy an exceptional horror film concept. The trailer for the IFC Films release premiered yesterday, showcasing a chilling image of a lovable dog in grave danger! Co-writer/director Ben Leonberg focuses his movie on Indy, his family’s dog, who possesses remarkable star appeal. The concept is straightforward: a dog finds himself in a haunted house where his owner is oblivious to the spirits that threaten them both. And you can guess what that implies: the dog might perish.
The immediate response to the trailer on X involved movie enthusiasts (and dog fans) worrying about this very issue:
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This aspect is actually a significant source of tension in the film. Certainly, it’s typical for horror films to ramp up the stakes to life or death — but with individuals. The very existence of a site dedicated to discovering if the dog meets its demise in any specific film indicates that we, as a species, are more frightened by the thought of a sweet dog being killed on screen than we are about hordes of amorous teenagers or even children haunted by ghosts. And Indy is not just any dog. As highlighted in the trailer and in my review from SXSW, he’s a star. This led me to admit, “The ensuing horror film had me yelping as if I were a child witnessing her first scary film.”
This reaction was largely due to my uncertainty about how this film would conclude, and I was extremely engaged. However, if your anxiety levels require you to know beforehand how the fate of the titular Good Boy unfolds, we’ve got you covered. Before you receive misinformation from online trolls or are misled by AI chatbots, Mashable will clarify this question, from someone who has watched, reviewed, and adored Good Boy.
One last caveat: Spoilers for the conclusion of Good Boy ahead: