Good Boy Director Reacts To The Horror Movie Going Viral Out Of Fear The Dog Would Die, And Why He’s OK Revealing The Answer

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October is the perfect time for scary movies, and this year there are more horror films coming out than usual. I strongly suggest checking out *Good Boy*, the new horror movie about a dog that’s getting a lot of buzz. Don’t worry if you happen to find out a key detail about how the movie ends – the director actually told me about it, and it made the experience even better.

I first heard about the movie *Good Boy* a few months ago and was immediately curious, but also worried about what would happen to the dog, Indy. I looked at some reviews and saw many other people were wondering the same thing! As the question gained attention online, the director reassured horror fans that Indy survives the film, though they didn’t share any specific details.

It’s definitely strange to see something like that online, so when TopMob got the chance to interview writer and director Ben Leonberg, I was curious to hear more. Leonberg actually cast his own Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever as the main character, and he likened the experience to… *Mission: Impossible*! Here’s how Tom Cruise ended up being relevant.

It’s likely similar to what audiences expect from a Mission: Impossible film. We know Tom Cruise won’t actually die, but the movie still needs to create a sense of real danger – like he could fall from that plane and truly be in peril while we’re watching. This situation requires a slightly different approach to achieving that same feeling of suspense.

That’s a great observation. Even knowing how the movie ends, I was still completely gripped while watching *Good Boy*. I found myself genuinely worried about the dog, Indy, and felt all the tension the filmmakers wanted us to feel. I think Leonberg has made a truly captivating film by showing the story through a dog’s eyes – it’s a unique perspective I haven’t seen before.

But why does he think the movie went viral pre-release?

Why Good Boy Is Resonating So Hard With The Internet

It’s no surprise a movie featuring a dog’s death sparks online discussion, and once people started talking about ‘Indy,’ the horror film quickly gained attention. Ben Leonberg explained that he gets why viewers feel so connected to the story.

A big reason people get so caught up in the movie is the worry about whether the dog survives. It really highlights how horror films have conditioned us to expect dogs don’t usually make it, playing on that familiar feeling of a dog staring into nothingness and hinting something bad is about to happen.

This isn’t a silly movie with animals that talk or act up – it’s a genuinely scary film that puts you right into the experience of Indy, the dog, using clever camera angles to make you feel his growing helplessness as he and his owner deal with a haunted house. What’s really interesting is that the director and his wife, who also produced the film, actually lived in the haunted house for three years while they were filming, to get a realistic performance from Indy, since he wasn’t a trained actor. It’s an unusual approach, and it really shows on screen.

As Leonberg observed, horror films usually portray animals as either helpless victims or frightening monsters, like in the movie *Cujo*. However, *Good Boy* is different – it casts Indy as the main character and the hero of the story. He went on to explain:

You know how in horror movies there’s always a dog that senses something’s wrong, like with the basement or a strange neighbor? That dog rarely survives the first part of the movie. Well, this film is really focused on Indy, so we’re taking that idea and building a much bigger story around it.

After receiving positive feedback at film festivals, the movie will soon be released in theaters nationwide. The filmmaker said he’s been thrilled with the movie’s growing popularity, describing the response as “delightful.”

We were definitely surprised by how people reacted – it’s been wonderful! We think our dog, Indy, is special, but of course, every owner feels that way about their pet. Maybe my wife and I are a little biased now, but it’s been amazing to see how much people care about Indy, his journey, and what happens to him.

You can find his complete thoughts in the video linked above, or catch the movie *Good Boy* in theaters beginning October 3rd.

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2025-09-28 18:24