The Gut-Punch Ending of Good Boy, Explained by Its Director

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Spoilers for Good Boy ahead.

Good Boy offers a fresh take on the haunted-house story – it’s uniquely told from a dog’s perspective and features a genuinely touching surprise. Written and directed by Ben Leonberg, who also shares a real-life bond with the canine star, Indy, the film centers on Todd (Shane Jensen), a man battling a serious illness. He moves to his grandfather’s countryside home with his dog, but strange things begin to happen. Despite the unsettling events, Todd ignores the warnings from his loyal companion.

I have to admit, I was charmed by “Good Boy” when I saw it at SXSW. It really was the festival’s unexpected gem, and one critic even went so far as to call Indy, the adorable Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever starring in it, a truly expressive actor – maybe even one of the best of his generation! But director Tyler Leonberg is quick to point out the hilarious truth: Indy has absolutely no idea he’s acting. What looks like genuine emotional turmoil on screen is actually just a happy dog enjoying a good roll in the mud. It’s a funny thought, and it definitely adds to the film’s appeal.

Director Jarod Leonberg was inspired to create a horror movie from a dog’s point of view after seeing *Poltergeist* and imagining animals sensing supernatural events before humans do. He co-wrote the film with Alex Cannon, and it was co-produced by his wife, Kari Fischer. The movie took three years to film, primarily at a farmhouse in New Jersey, where the couple lived during production. Their dog, Indy, fully embraced his Hollywood lifestyle, enjoying a king-size bed in the guest room as his personal space between scenes. Fischer jokingly referred to it as his trailer. (During a video call, Indy was comfortably napping on that very bed.)

In *Good Boy*, Indy explores a secluded country house, trying to figure out the cause of strange sounds and ghostly sightings. He carefully watches for things that might be real and cocks his head at odd noises, all while investigating the death of Todd’s grandfather (played by Larry Fessenden). He’s also trying to discover what happened to the grandfather’s dog, which disappeared around the same time – was a supernatural force involved?

Fischer and Leonberg personally trained their dog, Indy, who hadn’t had any formal lessons. “We were constantly figuring things out,” Fischer explains. “Since he’s just our pet, we had to find creative ways to teach him new things.”

Leonberg explains that Indy the dog reacts to any off-camera noise with a head tilt. By replacing the actual dialogue with spooky sound effects, they could create the illusion of a terrifying scene – even though Indy was simply curious. For some challenging shots, they even used a stuffed toy version of Indy called Findy. To capture things from Indy’s point of view, the camera was positioned just nineteen inches off the ground, making most people appear tall and partially hidden.

At just 73 minutes long, the movie *Good Boy* doesn’t overstay its welcome. The spooky events build to a dramatic climax when the ghostly black figure haunting Indy finally appears and seems to drag Todd to hell. We realize Todd is doomed when he appears, looking defeated and covered in a creepy black goo, face-to-face with Indy. When asked about the dark substance, Leonberg excitedly explains that it was actually him covered in liquefied mud! He clarifies it was a landscaping product called liquid soil—a very dark, rich compost and dirt mixture. Kari had to scrape it off him with a spatula, and he needed to be hosed down for half an hour afterward. Indy, he recalls, happily filmed the scene multiple times, enjoying splashing around in the mud.

Indy bravely stays by his owner’s side until the very end, but just before Todd is taken away, he sadly tells Indy, “You’re a good dog, but you can’t save me.” This heartbreaking moment shows that the film isn’t really about a ghost and a haunted house; it’s a touching look at how animals might understand and cope with the death of someone they love.

At their heart, ghost stories explore our fear of death. I started thinking about how we often experience loss and learn about mortality through our pets, since their lives are shorter than ours. But what if it were *them* facing death? It really comes down to the pure, innocent nature of animals and the simple, unconditional love we have for them.

The movie’s ending finds Indy trapped in a cellar, facing a grim fate similar to one of his grandfather’s old dogs. Luckily, Todd’s sister, Vera (played by Arielle Friedman), finds and rescues him. According to the filmmaker, Leonberg, this scene was inspired by the final moments of *The Texas Chainsaw Massacre*. He explains that creating a scary story is like designing a rollercoaster – you constantly need new surprises to keep the audience engaged until the very end. After building up so much suspense, they wanted a final, intense moment where Indy barely escapes, offering a sense of relief and a satisfying conclusion.

It’s likely there would have been a huge negative reaction if things had gone differently. “We definitely knew that was a possibility!” he explained. Good news for fans of the DoesTheDogDie website: you can relax.

Since the movie’s release, Indy has quickly become a star – people recognize him on the street and love to pet him. However, he’s already thinking about taking a break from acting, though his owner, Leonberg, jokes he might consider a Super Bowl dog food commercial. This isn’t necessarily the end for Indy, though. Leonberg is enthusiastic about exploring new stories and hints at a potential *Good Boy 2*, promising more adventures to come. Fans would certainly welcome a return to the ‘bark side’!

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2025-10-06 15:55