Early buzz out of SXSW is that Ben Leonberg’s horror Good Boy signals the arrival of a great new acting talent. No, it’s not some child actor on the rise. It’s Leonberg’s dog, Indy, whose canine acting skills are put on display in the movie’s first trailer. Should we start penciling Indy in for the Best Actor race or what?
Indy apparently puts on an acting showcase as a loyal pup who accompanies his owner into a haunted house in the country, where things go horribly wrong. The entire movie is seen from the pup’s perspective, and while that might sound like an easy gimmick, it looks like there will be plenty of scares and mysteries for genre fans to chew on.
Along with Indy, Good Boy stars Shane Jensen, Arielle Friedman, and Larry Fessenden.
SYNOPSIS: Our canine hero, Indy, finds himself on a new adventure with his human owner—and best friend—Todd, leaving city life for a long-vacant family home in the country. From the start, two things are abundantly clear: Indy is wary of the creepy old house, and his affection for Todd is unwavering. After moving in, Indy is immediately vexed by empty corners, tracks an invisible presence only he can see, perceives phantasmagoric warnings from a long-dead dog, and is haunted by visions of the previous occupant’s grim death. When Todd begins succumbing to the dark forces swirling around the house, Indy must battle a malevolence intent on dragging his beloved Todd into the afterlife.
IFC/Shudder will release Good Boy in theaters on October 3rd.
