The initial plan for Good Boy was for the horror film to receive a limited theatrical run before hitting digital onDemand but the response to the first trailer has been so successful that it's now receiving a wide theatrical release.
IFC believes they may have an indie hit on their hands after the trailer quickly topped one million views and social media responses to the trailer showed an incredible amount of investment in learning if the K-9 survives.
Per IndieWire, searches for “Does the dog in Good Boy die?” spiked by more than 2,000 percent.
Scott Shooman, head of IFC Entertainment Group told the site, "We’re a bespoke company and we really pay attention to what people want to see. Last year was our second-best theatrical year ever and we want to continue that. We see an opportunity as the studios are moving to three- and four-quadrant business for the indies to try and find interesting, noisy product and try to make it as big as possible.”
He went on to state, "We have different windows for different types of films, and we’re working on that for ‘Good Boy’ as we speak. We never want to pre-announce a date prematurely. What we can say is we hope everyone sees it in theaters on October 3rd, and that’s really where we’re pointing people right now.”
Set to hit theaters on October 3, 2025, Good Boy offers a fresh twist on the classic haunted house story, this time told through the eyes of a dog. Ben Leonberg co-wrote the script with Alex Cannon, and the unusual perspective is what’s setting the film apart from other horror releases. You can watch the trailer below.
After losing a loved one, Todd (Shane Jensen) moves into his late grandfather’s (Larry Fessenden) creaky old farmhouse, hoping for a fresh start. Locals whisper that the place is haunted, but Todd shrugs off the rumors. His dog, Indy, isn’t so easily convinced. Almost immediately, Indy begins noticing unsettling, otherworldly figures lurking in the shadows, phantoms invisible to Todd but terrifyingly real to him.
Trapped by his inability to warn his owner, Indy is forced to face the sinister entities alone, piecing together their dark intentions before it’s too late. As the ghostly presence grows more violent, Indy’s unshakable loyalty drives him into a harrowing fight to shield Todd, proving that sometimes the bravest protector isn’t human at all.
The cast brings together a mix of seasoned talent and fresh faces, with Larry Fessenden, Arielle Friedman, Shane Jensen, and Stuart Rudin all set to appear. Stealing the spotlight, however, is director Ben Leonberg’s own dog, Indy, who takes on the titular role.
Running a tight 72 minutes, the film was shot on location in upstate New York, giving it an eerie, authentic atmosphere.
After its SXSW debut, the movie is already riding high with a 95% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, based on the first 20 critic reviews, an impressive start for a supernatural horror told through a canine lens.