Shudder Day: Good Boy (2025)

 Back from the Holidays to end the Month strong.

This is a well-reviewed Indy Film from this Year and now it's on Shudder, so let's see who is in fact a...

A young guy experiences some illness and is taken to the Hospital.

Waiting for him when he returns is his dog.

Even as a cat person, that dog is adorable.

In a weird move to try to and gain some control in his life, he uproots himself from his Apartment in the City (by his Sister) and moves to his Grandpa's Cabin in the Woods.

Nothing good happens in those.

The dog starts to see and hear strange things around the hose.

Our Human Lead (shown mostly in shadow and silhouette) does not.

Can the dog figure out the danger in the House AND manage to warn him?

Or is the guy too far gone?

Given that his Grandpa is Larry Fessenden, the odds are not in his favor.

To find out what our titular Good Boy can do, stream it now.

A Film that gets an A for Effort and a strong C for Execution.

The idea of Good Boy is, well, good.  It's what Bad Moon was kind of supposed to be (the Book Thor follows the events from the dog's POV).

We're getting more creative approaches to basic Horror these days and that includes switching of perspectives.
See the controversial but still recommended In a Violent Nature for a good example.

Indy as the Lead is truly the best part of this.  That's not a knock on the other Actors- obviously.
The Dog is just so emotive and makes the premise work so well.

That said, this has all of the Indy Horror issues- like dark lighting to hide the Effects and an odd Pacing- that make it stand out.

It truly is a double-edged sword.

Jaded Horror Fans will like this, but I'm just not sure if it stands up on repeat viewings.  Time will tell.

A Film that delivers in many good ways.  That said, it is hard to see everything and the pacing is a bit off.